The Big Question: Are there illegal government databases and what can we do about it? – The Independent

Posted March 24th, 2009 in data protection, government departments, human rights, news by sally

“The Big Question: Are there illegal government databases and what can we do about it?.”

Full story

The Independent, 24th March 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

We must safeguard all children, including young offenders – The Guardian

Posted March 24th, 2009 in children, news, young offenders by sally

“”Lord Laming’s review of child protection procedures ignores the needs of those in the criminal justice system.”

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The Guardian, 24th March 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Don’t change rules on charges, warns Keir Starmer – The Times

Posted March 24th, 2009 in Crown Prosecution Service, news, police, prosecutions by sally

“The Director of Public Prosecutions delivered a strong warning last night that handing back the job of charging suspects to the police would be a ‘grave mistake’.”

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The Times, 24th March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Two stars of BBC’s Trawlermen series jailed in illegal fishing case – The Guardian

Posted March 23rd, 2009 in fisheries, news by sally

“Two stars of the BBC’s Trawlermen series have been jailed and fined £370,000 after they landed fish illegally.”

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The Guardian, 23rd March 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Prince Charles’ Duchy Originals ordered to remove ‘misleading’ herbal remedy claims – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 23rd, 2009 in advertising, complementary medicine, consumer protection, news by sally

“The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has upheld a complaint over the online advertising of two remedies, Duchy Herbals Echina-Relief Tincture and Duchy Herbals Hyperi-Lift Tincture, which are sold for £10 for 50ml in selected Boots and Waitrose stores.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 23rd March 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Government bid to extend ‘human rights’ prompts fears of nanny state – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 23rd, 2009 in human rights, news by sally

“Entitlement to good health care, education and freedom from poverty could be enshrined in law under the green paper to be published by Justice Minister Jack Straw.”

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd March 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Stars call for end to archaic libel laws – The Times

Posted March 23rd, 2009 in defamation, freedom of expression, news by sally

“The actor and comedian Rowan Atkinson and writer Andrew O’Hagan are heading a coalition of entertainers, writers, lawyers and journalists in a move today for the scrapping of an archaic law that allows people to be jailed for speaking out.”

Full story

The Times, 23rd March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

College sued over sex abuse claim – BBC News

Posted March 23rd, 2009 in child abuse, news, sexual offences by sally

“A former City lawyer is claiming £5m damages against a Catholic school over sexual abuse he alleges he suffered there during the 1970s.”

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BBC News, 23rd March 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal aid reform programme – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 23rd, 2009 in legal aid, news by sally

“Legal Aid Minister Lord Bach has given a speech on the legal aid reform programme at the Advice Services Alliance conference in which he has announced that more people will be eligible for civil legal aid.”

Full speech 

Ministry of Justice, 20th March 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Cuts to forensic watchdog ‘will cause miscarriages of justice’ – The Independent

Posted March 23rd, 2009 in forensic science, news by sally

“Dozens of miscarriages of justice could occur in the next few months because the body that regulates expert witnesses in court is being shut down by the Government, senior scientists warned yesterday.”

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The Independent, 22nd March 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police accused of misusing terror laws against peaceful protests – The Guardian

Posted March 23rd, 2009 in demonstrations, news, police, terrorism by sally

“Laws intended for counter-terrorism are being misused in an increasingly heavy-handed approach to policing protests, a new parliamentary report warns today.”

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The Guardian, 23rd March 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Right to privacy broken by a quarter of UK’s public databases, says report – The Guardian

Posted March 23rd, 2009 in data protection, news, privacy by sally

“A quarter of all the largest public-sector database projects, including the ID cards register, are fundamentally flawed and clearly breach European data protection and rights laws, according to a report published today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd March 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Unfair’ energy bill ban proposed – BBC News

Posted March 23rd, 2009 in consumer protection, energy, news by sally

“Energy companies will be banned from charging ‘unjustified’ prices under new rules proposed by the regulator Ofgem.”

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BBC News, 23rd March 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

£46 award for innocent man’s 27 years in prison – The Observer

Posted March 23rd, 2009 in miscarriage of justice, murder, news by sally

“Sean Hodgson, who spent 27 years in jail for a crime he did not commit, has been given just £46 by the government with which to restart his life. The Prison Service has awarded the mentally ill former prisoner the equivalent of £1.70 for every year he was wrongly imprisoned.”

Full story

The Observer, 22nd March 2009

Source: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/

Gordon Brown signals his opposition to assisted suicide – The Guardian

Posted March 20th, 2009 in assisted suicide, news by sally

“Prime minister would not support proposal backed by more than 100 MPs to allow families to help terminally ill relatives to die.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th March 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New government rules to crack down on rogue clampers – The Times

Posted March 20th, 2009 in news, parking, wheel clamping by sally

“Parking companies will be subject to strict new limits on the penalties and fees they can charge, under government plans to drive rogue operators out of business.”

Full story 

The Times, 20th March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Total liable for Buncefield blast – BBC News

Posted March 20th, 2009 in hazardous substances, health & safety, negligence, news by sally

“The High Court has ruled that oil company Total is liable for damages caused by the explosion at the Buncefield oil depot in Hertfordshire.”

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BBC News, 20th March 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law firm staff win landmark TUPE claim – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 20th, 2009 in news, transfer of undertakings, unfair dismissal by sally

“Firms winning legal service contracts from competitors could face a ‘landslide’ of six-figure claims for unfair dismissal if they do not take on staff on reasonable terms along with the contract, the winner of a landmark employment tribunal case said this week.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 19th March 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Emergency law to halt inmates’ court payouts for slopping out – The Guardian

Posted March 20th, 2009 in compensation, human rights, news, prisons by sally

“Ministers are to introduce emergency legislation to prevent thousands of prison inmates pursuing more than £55m in compensation for a breach of human rights over ‘slopping out’.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th March 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Met chief orders inquiry on beaten terror suspect – The Independent

Posted March 20th, 2009 in news, personal injuries, police, terrorism by sally

“Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson last night demanded an urgent independent inquiry into why officers who arrested a terror suspect refused to give evidence to a High Court hearing into allegations of abuse.”

Full story

The Independent, 19th March 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk