Changes to the Law on Using a Mobile Phone While Driving – 4 King’s Bench Walk

‘In 2003 the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations created a specific offence of using a mobile phone while driving. Subsection 110(6)(a) of those Regulations states that a mobile telephone is to be treated as hand-held ‘if it is, or must be, held at some point during the course of making or receiving a call or performing any other interactive communication function’.’

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4 King's Bench Walk, 25th March 2022

Source: www.4kbw.co.uk

Dance teacher who ‘bombarded’ boy, 13, with sexual Whatsapp messages after he asked her to stop is spared jail – The Independent

‘A married dance teacher who “bombarded” a 13-year-old boy with sexual messages has been spared jail.’

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The Independent, 5th April 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New Highway Code rules for phone usage come into force – everything you need to know – The Independent

‘Drivers could face a fine for just touching a mobile phone while behind the wheel – and the same goes for passengers in certain circumstances under tough new rules.’

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The Independent, 29th March 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK High Court rules blanket seizure of asylum seekers’ phones breached Article 8 ECHR – EIN Blog

‘On 25 March 2022, the UK High Court ruled that the Home Office acted unlawfully and breached human rights and data protection laws by operating a secret, blanket policy of seizing, retaining and extracting data from the mobile phones of asylum seekers arriving by small boat to UK shores between April and November 2020.’

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EIN Blog, 25th March 2022

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Mobile loophole for gaming drivers is closed – BBC News

‘A loophole allowing drivers to escape punishment for handheld phone use if they are taking a photo or playing a game has closed in Great Britain.’

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BBC News, 25th March 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BT asks Court of Appeal to amend second-ever CPO – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 16th, 2022 in appeals, class actions, compensation, news, telecommunications by sally

‘Telecoms giant BT today asked the Court of Appeal to amend the second collective proceedings order (CPO) granted in the UK in order to make it an ‘opt-in’ claim.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 15th March 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Companies fined for marketing calls targeting elderly – BBC News

Posted March 16th, 2022 in consumer protection, elderly, fines, insurance, news, ombudsmen, telecommunications by sally

‘Five companies who made thousands of unwanted marketing calls to “older, vulnerable people” must pay fines totalling £405,000.’

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BBC News, 16th March 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Two convicted in first murder plot case involving EncroChat messaging system – The Guardian

Posted March 15th, 2022 in computer programs, conspiracy, murder, news, telecommunications by sally

‘Two men who planned a revenge shooting have been convicted at the Old Bailey in the first murder plot case involving the use of the encrypted messaging system EncroChat.’

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The Guardian, 14th March 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

The director of an English mobile phone company, now in liquidation, has been held liable for both fraudulent trading and misfeasance for participation in missing trader intra-community (MTIC) VAT fraud. – OUT-LAW.com

‘The High Court upheld an application made by the liquidator of JD Group Ltd (“the company”) claiming that Deepak Bhatia, the company director, was engaged in fraudulent trading owing to knowledge that the company was associated with VAT fraud. Judge Agnello QC found that the manner in which the respective transactions were carried out provided clear evidence of this knowledge and that Bhatia’s conduct was dishonest in accordance with the objective standards of ordinary decent people.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 3rd March 2022

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Mirror publisher makes £2m interim payment in ‘phone hacking’ litigation – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 7th, 2022 in costs, damages, interception, media, news, privacy, telecommunications by sally

‘The publisher of the Daily Mirror and the People has agreed to make an interim payment of just over £2m on account of costs racked up in the most recent ongoing “phone hacking” litigation, which has seen nearly 600 claims settled so far.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 4th February 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Tougher rules from March for drivers using mobile phones – The Independent

Posted February 2nd, 2022 in dangerous driving, fines, news, road safety, telecommunications by sally

‘Drivers will face tougher rules from March when it comes to the use of mobile phones and other devices behind the wheel.’

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The Independent, 1st February 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Research Briefing: The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill 2021-22 – House of Commons Library

Posted January 26th, 2022 in bills, government departments, internet, news, parliament, telecommunications by sally

‘This briefing explains the background and main provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill 2021-22.’

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House of Commons Library, 24th January 2022

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Financial Remedy Update, January 2022 – Family Law Week

Posted January 24th, 2022 in appeals, children, divorce, families, family courts, interception, news, telecommunications by sally

‘Stephanie Hawthorn and Abigail Pearse, associates, and Rob Jackson, trainee solicitor, at Mills & Reeve LLP consider the most important news and case law relating to financial remedies and divorce during December 2021.’

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Family Law Week, 19th January 2022

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

End-to-end encryption protects children, says UK information watchdog – The Guardian

Posted January 21st, 2022 in children, data protection, delay, internet, news, ombudsmen, privacy, telecommunications by sally

‘The UK data watchdog has intervened in the debate over end-to-end encryption, warning that delaying its introduction puts “everyone at risk” including children.’

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The Guardian, 21st January 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK data watchdog warns No 10 staff not to erase messages amid party probe – The Independent

‘The UK’s data watchdog has warned that it is important “official records are kept” as Downing Street staff face an investigation over allegations of lockdown-breaking.’

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The Independent, 13th January 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Speech by Dame Victoria Sharp DBE: The Challenges and Opportunities Created by Digital Evidence in Criminal Cases – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

‘Dame Victoria Sharp DBE, the President of the Queen’s Bench Division, has given a speech to the National Criminal Justice Conference.’

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Courts and tribunals Judiciary, 5th January 2022

Source: www.judiciary.uk

First things first – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 17th, 2021 in competition, damages, local government, news, public procurement, telecommunications by michael

‘Hot on the heels of Draeger Safety v London Fire Commissioner the High Court (Mr Justice Kerr) has again declined to lift the automatic suspension in a procurement dispute because an expedited trial was possible. As well as evidencing the court’s increased willingness to do so, the judgment in Vodafone Limited v (1) Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs; and (2) The British Council [2021] EWHC 2793 (TCC) contains some interesting observations on trials of preliminary issues in procurement disputes.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th December 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Determined’ Carlisle paedophile jailed in vigilante snare – BBC News

Posted December 14th, 2021 in child abuse, news, sexual grooming, sexual offences, telecommunications by sally

‘A “determined paedophile” who sent sexual messages to what he thought was a 14-year-old girl has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 14th December 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

2021 c. 32 – Social Security (Up-rating of Benefits) Act 2021

2021 c. 31 – Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021

2021 c. 30 – Environment Act 2021

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

UK drivers face £200 fines in mobile phone clampdown – The Guardian

Posted November 19th, 2021 in fines, government departments, news, road safety, telecommunications by sally

‘Drivers will be banned from scrolling through playlists on handheld devices from next year as part of a UK government crackdown on road safety.’

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The Guardian, 19th November 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com