Right-to-buy battle looms in Lords – The Guardian

Posted July 20th, 2015 in bills, budgets, charities, housing, local government, news, parliament, rent, statistics by sally

‘The Tories’ plan to extend the right to buy to housing association tenants will face stiff opposition in the House of Lords this week, amid growing concern that it will compromise the independence of charities and add hugely to government debt.’

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The Guardian, 18th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Knife crime in England and Wales up for first time in four years – The Guardian

Posted July 17th, 2015 in crime, news, offensive weapons, statistics by sally

‘Knife crime has increased in England and Wales for the first time in four years, with the number of assaults with blades rising 13%, according to the latest set of police recorded crime figures.’

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The Guardian, 16th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Gove announces review of Legal Services Act – Legal Futures

‘There will a review of the Legal Services Act 2007 during this Parliament, the Lord Chancellor Michael Gove announced today.’

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Legal Futures, 15th July 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Where is the diversity in law recruitment? – The Guardian

‘Despite recent initiatives, the legal profession remains a bastion of white, middle-class, privately educated males. So what can be done to make it more inclusive? Harriet Swain reports on a roundtable debate.’

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The Guardian, 14th July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Trade Union Bill: Ministers unveil strike law reforms – BBC News

Posted July 15th, 2015 in bills, consultations, industrial action, news, statistics, trade unions by sally

‘Legislation designed to toughen up the laws on strike action is to be unveiled by the government later. The Trade Union Bill proposes minimum turnouts in strike ballots, time limits on mandates for industrial action and changes to political levies.’

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BBC News, 15th July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Archbishop of Canterbury promises sex abuse inquiry – BBC News

Posted July 13th, 2015 in child abuse, Church of England, inquiries, news, sexual offences, statistics by sally

‘The Archbishop of Canterbury has promised to investigate sex abuse in the Church of England if the judge-led abuse inquiry does not look into it within six months.’

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BBC News, 12th July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prisoner book restrictions scrapped by Michael Gove – BBC News

Posted July 13th, 2015 in codes of practice, libraries, news, prisons, rehabilitation, statistics by sally

‘Rules restricting the number of books a prisoner can have have been overturned by Justice Secretary Michael Gove.’

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BBC News, 12th June 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Army head condemns ‘unacceptable’ sexual harassment – BBC News

Posted July 13th, 2015 in armed forces, complaints, harassment, news, sexual offences, statistics, women by sally

‘Army chief General Sir Nick Carter says the level of sexual harassment being faced by female soldiers is “totally unacceptable”. In a survey commissioned by the Army, almost 40% of servicewomen said they had received unwanted comments of a sexual nature in the past year.’

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BBC News, 12th July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

LSB Chief Executive speaks at Westminster Legal Policy Forum event on innovation in legal services – Legal Services Board

‘The Legal Services Board Chief Executive Richard Moriarty spoke at the Westminster Legal Policy Forum event: Innovation in legal services market – growth, skills and new business models.’

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Legal Services Board, 9th July 2015

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

Safety of Tasers to be investigated after death of man in Manchester – The Guardian

Posted July 10th, 2015 in firearms, health & safety, inquests, inquiries, news, police, statistics by sally

‘An independent inquiry is to look into the continued use of Taser stun guns by police in England and Wales after an inquest verdict earlier this week linking their use to the death of a factory worker in Manchester.’

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The Guardian, 9th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Disney wins starwars.co.uk net domain battle – BBC News

‘A Berkshire-based fancy-dress retailer is being made to surrender the starwars.co.uk web address after feeling the force of Disney’s wrath.’

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BBC News, 9th July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Honour crime’: 11,000 UK cases recorded in five years – BBC News

Posted July 9th, 2015 in female genital mutilation, forced marriages, news, reports, statistics by sally

‘More than 11,000 cases of so-called honour crime were recorded by UK police forces from 2010-14, new figures show.’

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BBC News, 9th July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prison staff shortages contribute to suicides, report says – BBC News

‘Understaffing in prisons in England and Wales could be a factor in suicides among inmates, a review has concluded.’

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BBC News, 1st July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

More than a third of police child abuse investigations ‘inadequate’, says watchdog – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 2nd, 2015 in child abuse, child neglect, news, ombudsmen, police, standards, statistics by sally

‘Inspection of response to paedophilia and other types of abuse a ‘damning indictment’ of police.’

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Daily Telegraph, 2nd July 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Domestic abusers to wear GPS tracking devices – Daily Telegraph

‘Northumbria Police unveil a pilot scheme that will allow victims of domestic abuse to be warned when there ex-partners are close by.’

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Daily Telegraph, 1st July 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Essop and others v Home Office (UK Border Agency) – WLR Daily

Essop and others v Home Office (UK Border Agency) [2015] EWCA Civ 609; [2015] WLR (D) 269

‘In order to succeed in claims of indirect discrimination under section 19 of the Equality Act 2010 based upon the protected characteristics of race and/or age the claimants had to prove the nature of the group disadvantage for the purposes of surmounting the section 19(2)(b) hurdle and each claimant had also to prove that he had suffered the same disadvantage for the purposes of surmounting the section 19(2)(c) hurdle.’

WLR Daily, 22nd June 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Detained asylum seekers to be able to apply for bail – The Guardian

Posted June 30th, 2015 in appeals, asylum, bail, detention, immigration, news, statistics by sally

‘Hundreds of failed asylum seekers in immigration detention centres will be able to apply to be freed on bail, the Home Office is expected to confirm shortly.’

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The Guardian, 29th June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Convictions for violence against women hit record high – The Guardian

Posted June 25th, 2015 in domestic violence, news, prosecutions, statistics by sally

‘Changes in the law have made it easier to prosecute men for domestic abuse and leading to a rise in the number of successful prosecutions.’

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The Guardian, 25th June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Met police to step up targeted stop and search amid surge in knife-crime – The Guardian

‘The Metropolitan police are to step up their use of targeted stop-and-search operations in high knife-crime areas of London due to a recent rise in stabbings in the capital.’

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The Guardian, 22nd June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Criminal solicitors berate bar retreat – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Solicitors accused the criminal bar of selling out to a government policy of ‘divide and rule’ as the Gazette went to press, after the bar ditched plans to take direct action over cuts to legal aid.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 22nd June 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk