Indefinite jail terms forecast to treble in the next five years – The Times

Posted May 8th, 2007 in news, sentencing by sally

“An explosion in the use by the courts of a new indeterminate sentence is predicted to nearly treble the number of prisoners serving an indefinite term in jail to a ‘crisis’ level of 25,000 in five years.”

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The Times, 8th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Softer line on crime vetoed as jails fill up – The Times

Posted May 8th, 2007 in news, prisons, sentencing by sally

“A package of measures to head off a summer prison overcrowding crisis, including abolishing the option of custody for shoplifting offences, has been vetoed by Tony Blair, The Times has learnt.”

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The Times, 8th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Teachers backed over Muslim wear – BBC News

Posted May 8th, 2007 in education, human rights, Islam, news by sally

“Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer will tell headteachers common sense decisions stopping Muslim pupils wearing Islamic dress would not breach human rights.”

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BBC News, 6th May 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK justice ministry set for launch – Financial Times

Posted May 8th, 2007 in Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“The official launch on Wednesday of a newly titled Ministry of Justice as part of the biggest reform of the Home Office in decades will mark the final Whitehall shake-up of the Blair premiership.”

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Financial Times, 8th May 2007

Source: www.ft.com

How the law turns desperate people into criminals – The Independent

Posted May 8th, 2007 in assisted suicide, news by sally

“British courts regard euthanasia as murder and can impose a penalty of life imprisonment. Helping someone to commit suicide is also a criminal offence, punishable with a maximum 14-year jail sentence.”

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The Independent, 8th May 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Home Office rejects jail corruption squads – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 8th, 2007 in corruption, news, prison officers by sally

“Proposals for a powerful anti-corruption unit to tackle widespread bribe-taking by prison officers have been rejected by the Home Office.”

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Daily Telegraph, 7th May 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Judges ‘may be forced into lighter sentences’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 8th, 2007 in Ministry of Justice, news, sentencing by sally

“Criminals may receive lighter sentences as the result of a new ministry being launched tomorrow, according to England’s most senior judge.”

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Daily Telegraph, 8th May 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

3,000 ‘freed early’ to ease prison crowding – The Observer

Posted May 8th, 2007 in news, prisons by sally

“The government is considering plans for the early release of up to 3,000 prisoners, after being told by senior members of the judiciary and Prison Service that there is no more room in Britain’s overflowing jails. The news is likely to prompt fresh criticism that ministers failed to anticipate the overcrowding crisis.”

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The Observer, 6th May 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Preventing the Ministry of Justice causing injustice – The Times

Posted May 8th, 2007 in Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“Tomorrow the Ministry of Justice will begin work. It will be responsible, in particular, for the courts and tribunals, and for criminal justice, including prisons. George Orwell cautioned that political language ‘is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.’ Many members of the legal profession are worried that the creation of the Ministry may promote substantial injustice.”

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The Times, 8th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Teachers are treated unfairly in this culture of allegations, says Falconer – The Times

Posted May 8th, 2007 in anonymity, child abuse, news, teachers by sally

“Teachers accused of abuse of pupils should be guaranteed anonymity while the allegations are investigated, the Lord Chancellor said yesterday.”

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The Times, 7th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Stricter rules will govern premium rate TV quizzes – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 8th, 2007 in media, news by sally

“Callers to television programmes which use premium rate phone lines must now be told how many others are calling the programme and must be told when their charges reach £10 in a single day.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 4th May 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

You owe £23 million, court tells Zambian leader – The Times

Posted May 8th, 2007 in news by sally

“The former President of Zambia and 19 of his subordinates were ordered to pay back £23 million looted during his rule by London’s High Court today.”

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The Times, 4th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

MoJ legislation disarray – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 4th, 2007 in Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“The government working party tasked with ironing out the problems associated with the creation of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) still cannot say if it can be established without legislation – despite the Lord Chancellor’s determination that the department will come into being next week.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd May 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

LCS to approach thousands of miners over fees – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 4th, 2007 in compensation, fees, industrial injuries, miners, news, solicitors by sally

“The Legal Complaints Service (LCS) is to canvas thousands of former miners directly to determine whether solicitors wrongly deducted fees from their compensation claims.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd May 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Foreigner escapes sex case by extradition – The Times

Posted May 4th, 2007 in extradition, news, sexual offences by sally

“Two High Court judges yesterday gave warning that the extradition laws may need reform after ruling that a Lithuanian fugitive accused of attempted rape and sexual assault can avoid trial in Britain.”

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The Times, 4th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

How pruning dispute grew into an £80,000 legal bill – The Times

Posted May 4th, 2007 in defamation, news by sally

“A woman who sued her neighbours for libel and slander after they told police that she had pruned their trees without permission has paid a high price for her action.”

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The Times, 4th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Russian oligarch blocks £1.5bn lawsuit – The Times

Posted May 3rd, 2007 in domicile, news, service by sally

“Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska this morning won the first round of a legal battle to block a £1.5 billion lawsuit filed against him by a former friend and business partner.”

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The Times, 3rd May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Gypsies lose Olympic site battle – BBC News

Posted May 3rd, 2007 in compulsory purchase, news, travellers by sally

“Gypsy families have lost a High Court battle over plans to make them move to make way for the Olympic village.”

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BBC News, 3rd May 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BCCI working party to push for robust use of judges’ powers to limit rising dispute costs – Legal Week

Posted May 3rd, 2007 in Commercial Court, news by sally

“A top-level, post-BCCI commercial litigation working party, chaired by the judge in charge of the commercial court Mr Justice Aikens, is to lay out its proposals in an ambitious bid to reform the way complex cases are managed.”

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Legal Week, 3rd May 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

Bar Council wins lobbying victory in Lords vote – Legal Week

Posted May 3rd, 2007 in legal services, news by sally

“The judiciary looks set to win the right to influence appointments to the Legal Services Board following a successful lobbying campaign by the Bar Council for amendments to the Legal Services Bill.”

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Legal Week, 3rd May 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com