Theresa May and senior police officers are to meet today in order to discuss how to respond to a High Court ruling that greatly restricts the use of bail in England and Wales.
The ruling in the Hookway case sees police officers unable to release suspects on bail for more than four days, meaning they have four days to either charge them or find more evidence to justify re-arrest for further questioning or detention. (more…)
The biggest national strike for five years and the first industrial action over the Government’s austerity cuts began this morning as teachers and civil servants started their 24-hour walkout.
The 750,000 public sector workers are striking over the coalition’s plans to reform the public sector pension scheme, which they say will force them to work for longer and pay more in to their pension, only to receive less when they retire. (more…)
Former MP Iris Robinson’s application for an injunction to prevent her medical details being published and to stop her surveillance by journalists can be heard in private, the Northern Ireland’s lord chief justice has ruled.
The reason given by the judge was that the development of social media sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, mean that information can be published, even if reporting restrictions are imposed on those who are present at the hearing. (more…)
‘Undesirable’ or ‘dangerous’ criminals cannot be deported from the UK back to their country if they face ill-treatment or torture, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled.
The ruling concerns the test case of two convicted criminals who are appealing their deportation back to Mogadishu, Somalia. (more…)
Conservative backbenchers have tabled an amendment to the Finance Bill that would allow married couples to transfer unused personal allowances and therefore reduce their tax bill.
The amendment would go some way to fulfil the Prime Ministers pledge in December 2010 to make the tax system more family friendly. (more…)
An investigation by Jack Straw has revealed that motor insurance companies have been selling personal information about customers to claims-management companies and ‘ambulance-chasing’ lawyers.
This has led to a rise in personal injury claims, despite falling numbers of car accidents resulting in injuries, and a rise in the amount of compensation paid out to injured claimants. As a knock-on effect, insurance premiums have been rising as insurance companies attempt to recoup some costs. (more…)
Hearts Football Club is facing increasing pressure to sack Craig Thomson, a Hearts player who has been convicted of indecent behaviour towards two under-age girls over the internet, and who has been placed on the sex offenders’ register.
He pleaded guilty to lewd, libidinous and indecent behaviour at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, but his club have decided to keep him on after they conducted their own investigation into his conduct. (more…)
Over 6,000 schools across the country could close on Thursday 30 June if planned meetings between ministers and union chiefs at the Cabinet Office do not produce a satisfactory compromise.
750,000 public sector workers are due to take part in the strike over the Government’s plans to reform the pension scheme. (more…)
Whistleblowing, or the more official name of ‘making a disclosure in the public interest’, is when an employee ‘blows the whistle’ i.e. highlight any form of malpractice or wrong doing which is occurring in their workplace.
Many employees witness malpractice taking place within their organisation but fail to blow the whistle in fear of being victimised or dismissed. Malpractice can fall into the realms of improper, negligent or illegal behaviour. (More…)
For financial disputes of less than £5,000 in value, the county court has an allocated the ‘small claims track’ to handle such claims. It is said to be a more straightforward process by which reason claimants can represent themselves. However, many disputes are not simple cases and claimants can find the prospect of going through a claim daunting and confusing. Increasingly, people are seeking some form of advice or assistance prior to starting a claim. (Main…)
