Intelligence services’ interrogation rules banning torture to be published – The Guardian

Posted March 18th, 2009 in intelligence services, news, torture by sally

“The rules that determine how MI5 and MI6 are allowed to interrogate suspects, including strict guidance banning the use of torture, will be published for the first time, Gordon Brown said today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th March 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

£60,000 awarded to terror suspect – BBC News

Posted March 18th, 2009 in news, police, terrorism by sally

“The Metropolitan Police have agreed to pay £60,000 damages to a man arrested during an anti-terror raid.”

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BBC News, 18th March 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New questions over torture policy – BBC News

Posted March 18th, 2009 in intelligence services, news, torture by sally

“The treatment of Binyam Mohamed has raised questions about the ‘policy and procedures’ of Britain’s intelligence agencies, a committee says.”

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BBC News, 18th March 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New boardroom code to ‘draw on lessons’ from bank crisis – The Times

Posted March 18th, 2009 in codes of practice, financial regulation, news by sally

“A leading City regulator will pave the way today for the biggest overhaul of best boardroom practice in six years when it launches a full-scale review of the Combined Code, the corporate governance template for investors and listed companies.”

Full story

The Times, 18th March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Prisoner has murder conviction quashed after 27 years – The Guardian

Posted March 18th, 2009 in appeals, DNA, evidence, murder, news by sally

“A man who spent almost three decades behind bars had his conviction for rape and murder quashed by the court of appeal today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th March 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government strengthens plans for non-jury inquests – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 18th, 2009 in inquests, juries, news by sally

“Strengthened proposals for non-jury inquests that allow for more judicial involvement and discretion were announced today by the government.”

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Ministry of Justice, 18th March 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Why the courts are at breaking point – The Times

Posted March 18th, 2009 in Crown Court, delay, news by sally

“The Crown Court in England and Wales is at ‘breaking point’ after a 5 per cent rise in cases to 136,000 a year, an independent watchdog has found.”

Full story

The Times, 17th March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

UK ‘ignoring men’s torture claim’ – BBC News

Posted March 18th, 2009 in news, Pakistan, police, torture by sally

“The UK government has been accused of ‘doing nothing’ to help two men from Birmingham who were allegedly tortured in police custody in Pakistan.”

Full story

BBC News, 17th March 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

27 years on, judges review murder conviction – The Independent

Posted March 18th, 2009 in DNA, evidence, murder, news by sally

“A man who has spent 27 years behind bars for murder will have the safety of his conviction reviewed by top judges today in the light of new DNA evidence.”

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The Independent, 18th March 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Barclays in court again to halt publication

Posted March 18th, 2009 in banking, confidentiality, injunctions, news, tax avoidance by sally

“Barclays Capital will return to court tomorrow in a bid to prevent the publication of leaked documents that allegedly detail how the bank avoided paying hundreds of millions of pounds in tax.”

Full story

The Times, 17th March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Final say for judges on private inquests – The Times

Posted March 18th, 2009 in inquests, news by sally

“A plan that would allow some sensitive inquests to be held in private is to be watered down after strong opposition from MPs, lawyers and civil libertarians.”

Full story

The Times, 18th March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Parents face gang culture action – BBC News

Posted March 18th, 2009 in children, gangs, news, parental responsibility by sally

“Parents of children involved in gang violence should be ‘held to account’, ministers are to argue as they warn of the growing threat of gang culture.”

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BBC News, 18th March 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Cerebral palsy victim sues over ‘birth blunder’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 18th, 2009 in birth, hospitals, negligence, news by sally

“A cerebral palsy sufferer who won a scholarship to Eton and then achieved a mathematics PhD from Cambridge University has begun a legal battle to sue the NHS for millions of pounds over mistakes he claims were made by doctors at his birth.”

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Daily Telegraph, 17th March 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Report uncovers child trafficking – BBC News

Posted March 18th, 2009 in children, news, trafficking in human beings, Wales by sally

“Children as young as three are being trafficked to Wales from China, Bangladesh and Nigeria for sex, drugs and domestic servitude, a study shows.”

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BBC News, 18th March 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law Soc calls for tax exemption for smaller firms – Legal Week

Posted March 17th, 2009 in law firms, news, taxation by sally

“The Law Society has urged HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to consider suspending the practice of taxing law firms before they have been paid for their services for the remainder of the recession.”

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Legal Week, 17th March 2009

Source: www.legalweek.com

Man jailed over £1.7m Lowry raid – BBC News

Posted March 17th, 2009 in news, sentencing, theft by sally

“A man convicted of an ‘audacious and well-planned’ raid to steal LS Lowry artworks valued at £1.7m has been given an indefinite jail sentence.”

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BBC News, 17th March 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Gurkhas demand government action – BBC News

Posted March 17th, 2009 in armed forces, Gurkhas, immigration, news by sally

“Former Gurkha soldiers who are fighting for the right to settle in the UK are seeking a High Court injunction to force the government to take action.”

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BBC News, 17th March 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Online video regulation structure outlined by Government – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 17th, 2009 in EC law, internet, media, news by sally

“Media regulator Ofcom will take over the regulation of video on demand services, but will delegate it to an industry-formulated co-regulator, the Government has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 17th March 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

HMRC investigates allegations of tax avoidance schemes at Barclays – The Times

Posted March 17th, 2009 in banking, news, tax avoidance by sally

“HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is reportedly investigating alleged tax avoidance schemes run by Barclays.”

Full story

The Times, 17th March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Chairman sends detailed letter to the Legal Services Board – The Bar Council

Posted March 17th, 2009 in barristers, legal services, news, public interest by sally

“The Chairman of the Bar , Desmond Browne QC, has sent a letter to the Legal Services Board in response to its draft business plan. The detailed letter raises various areas of concern, including the fact that “promoting and protecting the public interest” is not set out as a regulatory objective.”

The full text of the Chairman’s letter

The Bar Council, 16th March 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk