News

The Guardian World Justice Project survey sheds new light on troubling link between legal issues and mental illness Almost one-third of those with legal problems in the UK report developing a stress-related or physical illness as a result of their experience, according to a new international survey comparing people’s perceptions of justice around the world.…

The Guardian CPS or forces’ failure to disclose stopped 900 criminal cases in England and Wales going ahead Police forces have a “cultural problem” with disclosure of evidence, a chief constable has said, after it emerged that 900 criminal cases in England and Wales were dropped last year. Figures obtained by the BBC under freedom…

The Guardian Regulator says UK forces failing to meet standards, with routine outsourcing of great concern Police forces are failing to meet the official standards for forensic science, making miscarriages of justice inevitable, the government’s forensic regulator has said. In her annual report, Gillian Tully highlighted her growing concerns about the failure of some forensic…

The Guardian Michael Spurr accepts findings that HMP Nottingham is ‘unsafe’ and HMP Liverpool ‘appalling’ The head of the prison service has accepted the findings of two damning inspection reports on Liverpool and Nottingham prisons but blamed the failures on government cuts and the influx of drugs into jails. Peter Clarke, the chief inspector of…

The Guardian System of intermediaries helping to give evidence is struggling to cope, says commissioner Hundreds of the most vulnerable victims of crime are being prevented from testifying against their attackers because of a shortage of experts to help them give evidence, the victims’ commissioner warns in a report on Wednesday. Helen Newlove is calling…

The Independent Rates of assault and murder decreasing in regions near Mexican border where cannabis use has been partially legalised In US states where marijuana can now be grown legally, the demand for illegal cannabis is falling Getty Images The legalisation of marijuana for medical purposes has led to a significant reduction in violent crime in…

The Independent Victim’s own experience of ‘serious harm and neglect’ leaves her without ‘foundation’ to care for infant daughter, says Judge Jessica Pemberton in recommending adoption A woman who was abused and raped as a child is not capable of caring for her toddler daughter, a family court judge has ruled. Judge Jessica Pemberton said the woman,…

The Guardian Committee chair says it is clear the current system is broken, and TUC boss says abuse is happening on ‘industrial scale’ The government must urgently strengthen laws around sexual harassment to stop abuse continuing on “an industrial scale”, according to a coalition of MPs, union leaders and women’s groups. Under increasing pressure to…

The Independent Police Service of Northern Ireland warns method is being used to avoid security at air and sea ports Drug dealers are increasingly using the post to send large consignments of cannabis around the UK in efforts to evade checks at ports, police have warned. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and Border Force…

The Guardian Met officers failed to disclose messages between complainant and her friends – which cast doubt on the case – until the trial was about to close A judge called for a review of disclosure of evidence by the Metropolitan police. Photograph: Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA Scotland Yard is carrying out an “urgent assessment” after a…

The Guardian Police investigate alleged manipulation at Manchester lab in mass recall of samples from criminal cases in England and Wales The alleged manipulation emerged earlier this year when a data anomaly in a drug-driving case was reported. Photograph: Andrew Brookes/Getty Images/Cultura RF Ten thousand criminal cases in England and Wales are being reviewed after…

The Independent HM Inspectorate of Constabulary warns forces against ‘suppressing’ offences to reduce demand Police officers have said terror attacks and rising crime are putting an ‘unsustainable strain’ on resources Getty Police forces are failing to respond to low-priority crimes because of “significant stress” caused by continued budget cuts amid a huge rise in demand, a…

Mirror The days of endless bills for everything from a broken light to a new name on a lease are about to be over – and the better news is that if your landlord tries it on they’re risking a £5,000 fine the first time and jail time the second No more letting agency fees.…

The Independent Property developers drop plans to build thousands of affordable homes each year due to ‘viability assessments’ as number of new social rented homes falls to lowest level on record Housing charity Shelter is calling on the Government to change national planning laws so developers can no longer use this loophole to get out of…

The Independent Bogus email used in attempt to extort money The ‘Notice of Intended Prosecution’ emails claim to have ‘photographic evidence’ of the ‘offence’ Greater Manchester Police Motorists in the UK have been warned to delete any emails claiming they have been caught speeding. The “Notice of Intended Prosecution” emails have been sent by fraudsters…

The Guardian Ministers are reviewing regulations that will also bring and end to time-wasting offers New rules should make buying and selling houses easier. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters A clampdown on gazumping and other tactics that cause misery to housebuyers and sellers is being drawn up by the government as part of a renewed attempt to…

The Guardian Campaigners are granted permission to apply for judicial review of policy, which stops benefits being paid for more than two children Child Poverty Action Group argues the limit is discriminatory and breaches the right to a private and family life. Photograph: Alamy The government is facing a high court challenge to its two-child…

The Independent Proposals aim to ‘close loopholes’ to enable ‘greater scrutiny of foreign investment in a changing market’, Business Secretary Greg Clark says Key British companies would receive protection from foreign takeovers where deals raise national security concerns, under new proposals announced by the Government on Tuesday. Greg Clark said the new rules will allow the…

The Guardian Senior officer says need to save £400m means crimes of low value or with slim chance of prosecution will be dropped If there is little chance of identifying a crime suspect, Met police will not investigate further. Photograph: Alamy The Metropolitan police are to stop investigating many lower level crimes as a result of spending…

The Independent The government criticized the technology that messaging apps use to keep private messages from being read by anyone. WhatsApp is a shelter for paedophiles and gangsters and needs to make messages available to the government, the home secretary has said. Amber Rudd has complained that apps like WhatsApp are not doing enough to help the government catch…

The Guardian Sex offenders among 141 people given tougher punishment last year under Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, which lets public appeal to attorney general Jeremy Wright, the attorney general, said the scheme allows reviews of cases where there ‘may have been an error in the sentencing decision’. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA A record number of criminals…

The Independent Bird has been repeating what is thought to have been couple’s last conversation An African Grey parrot similar to the one thought to have witnessed the Michigan murder PA A woman has been convicted of murdering her husband after his last words were repeated by the pet parrot who witnessed the attack – and…

The Guardian Police recorded 10% rise in crime, with 18% increase in violent crime and a 26% rise in murder rate in year to March The home secretary, Amber Rudd, at Southwark police station in London this month. There has been a 20% surge in gun and knife crime. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Police-recorded crime has…

The Independent A failure to address disclosure ‘undermines the principles of a fair trial, which is the foundation of our system’ In more than half the reviewed cases, there were ‘obvious disclosure issues’ Getty The police and Crown Prosecution Service have been accused of failing to disclose crucial information about cases, resulting in defendants’ right to a…

The Independent Criminal justice experts warn ban will lead to rise in illicit substances and increased levels of self-harm and violence The smoking ban is being introduced to help protect the health of staff and inmates, of whom more than 80 per cent smoke, bringing prisons in line with the UK wide ban on smoking in workplaces…

The Independent From May 21, cigarettes will be sold in plain packaging and 20g will be the minimum size for a bag of tobacco From 20th May, smokers will be unable to buy a 10-pack of cigarettes after a new law comes into force. The laws, which have been introduced to deter young people from starting…

The Guardian ‘It is wholly unsatisfactory that the system conspires against a vulnerable individual like this,’ Worcester court told Malvern in Worcestershire, where Marie Baker breached an anti-social behaviour injunction. Photograph: Alamy A judge who sentenced a “fragile and vulnerable” woman to five-and-a-half months in jail for begging has expressed alarm that no lawyer could…

The Independent The Great Repeal Bill will require ‘800 to 1,000’ laws to be passed via statutory instrument, a legislative mechanism that allows laws to be made without a parliamentary vote David Davis said some EU laws ‘will not work’ in the UK after Brexit Sky News A thousand laws will be passed unilaterally and…

The Guardian Penalty points and fines to double from Wednesday, meaning newly qualified drivers will lose their licence if caught The new penalties will affect drivers across England, Scotland and Wales. Photograph: Alamy Newly qualified drivers will lose their licence if caught using a handheld mobile phone at the wheel, under tougher penalties that come…

The Independent Exclusive: Investigation exposes serious allegations of international human rights breaches at young offenders institutions in the UK Solitary confinement for juveniles is expressly forbidden under UN policy iStock British prisons are holding child inmates in solitary confinement in an alleged breach of UN torture rules and British law, The Independent has found. Lawyers in one…

The Independent The feature looks and works almost exactly the same as Snapchat Ryan Falconer, 24, apologised to the 21-year-old on WhatsApp after llegedly raping her iStock WhatsApp has introduced “Statuses”. And it all feels a little familiar. The company has re-invented the status tool – which until now has only offered the option to…

The Independent Term-time holiday father Jon Platt is taken to Supreme Court as Isle of Wight Council seeks to overturn a landmark ruling in his favour Jon Platt, who successfully challenged a conviction for taking his daughter on an unauthorised holiday during school term time, speaks to the media outside the Supreme Court in central…

Manchester Evening News She planned to use the Calpol syringe “like a turkey baster” to get pregnant A love-struck prison officer who tried to smuggle a Salford gangster’s sperm from behind bars has been jailed…for nine months. Grandmother Alison Sharples, 47, was caught out when a medicine syringe containing traces of the young convicted kidnapper’s…

The Guardian Retired judge Dame Laura Cox will lead review for Fawcett Society as campaigners highlight risk of rights being eroded Protest banners at the Women’s March in London this month. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA A major review into the UK’s gender discrimination laws is to be launched amid fears a potential post-Brexit move towards a…

The Independent Self-harm incidents also increased There were 119 self-inflicted deaths in England and Wales last year PA A record number of people killed themselves in prisons in England and Wales in 2016, official figures show. There were 354 deaths in custody last year, including 119 self-inflicted deaths. Self-harm incidents jumped by 23 per cent to…

Manchester Evening News Can you stay at home to look after your children? Do you have to take the day as leave? Here are your rights if you can’t get into work   With snow falling across Greater Manchester a few of us could find ourselves unable to get to work in the morning. Whether…

The Independent Peter Herbert, a crown court judge, says legal system pervaded by ‘casual discrimination’ Peter Herbert had criticised the decision to ban former Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman from standing for office PA Archive/PA Images Britain’s justice system is racist and should not be trusted by ethnic minorities, one of the UK’s only black judges…

The Guardian Decision follows cross-party pressure in parliament and high-profile cases involving public figures High-profile cases involving the likes of Emily Maitlis and Lily Allen have raised awareness of stalking. Composite: Getty/Getty The maximum prison sentence for stalking is to be doubled to 10 years, the Ministry of Justice has announced. Under government amendments to…

The Law Gazette MPs have said the immigration appeals system is on the verge of a crisis as delays continue to plague the process. Hackney South MP Meg Hillier has told the Gazette that the number of people reporting problems with the immigration appeals process has reached record levels. Her Labour colleague Keith Vaz, MP for…

The Independent The Bill received large opposition from petitions, but not within parliament Theresa May addresses the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) annual conference in London REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth Britain’s intelligence services have officially been given the “most extreme spying powers ever seen”. The Investigatory Powers Act has now been given royal assent, meaning that those…

The Law Gazette The Ministry of Justice has reversed plans for six-fold increases in some fees for asylum and immigration cases, it told parliament today. The announcement was warmly welcomed by the Law Society. In a written ministerial statement, justice minister Sir Oliver Heald said the department had listened to the representations it received on…

The Independent Landlords pledged to raise rents in response to the policy Tenants and housing charities rejoiced at the move Reuters Letting agents and landlords have reacted with rage to the Government’s announcement that it will ban charging tenants agency fees. The hated charges, levied on renters on top of deposits and rent, cost hundreds…

The Independent Prisoners at HMP Pentonville walk through an atrium Getty Thousands of prison officers will stop working today in protest over health and safety concerns, their union has announced. The Prison Officers Association (POA) has directed all its members to take part in a day of protest after negotiations with the Government broke down.…

BBC News Police in England and Wales are conducting a week-long crackdown on motorists who use their mobile phones while driving. The operations will include dedicated patrols and messages on road signs. The move follows government plans to double fines and points for using a mobile while driving. The National Police Chiefs’ Council said the…

The Independent Equity laws restated during the recent High Court Brexit case could provide hope for those being ‘exploited’ by ‘mis-sold’ student loans, argues Estelle Clarke Graduates in England rack up debts higher than anywhere else in the English speaking world Getty Government student loans are “illegal” and “unenforceable”, a top lawyer has said, arguing…

Prime minister repeatedly attacked Labour for signing up to EU social chapter that includes part-time workers’ directive In a column for ConservativeHome in 2007, May cited Labour’s decision to sign up to the EU’s social chapter as a sign it had capitulated to trade union pressure. Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA Theresa May’s commitment to protect workers’…

Manchester Evening News The move comes after the M.E.N revealed the use of smuggled smartphones and a drug known as ‘spice’ is widespread within the facility Salford’s Forest Bank prison is to introduce new body scanners in a bid to stem the flow of drugs and phones getting into the jail. The move comes after…

The Independent The legal challenges follow a Supreme Court decision in February that the application of the law on joint enterprise, otherwise known as common enterprise, had taken ‘a wrong turn’ and been misinterpreted for 30 years Three of the country’s most senior judges are to give rulings in the first criminal “joint enterprise” cases…

The Independent ‘The Ministry of Justice has not clearly articulated to us why it has not acted decisively to develop a systematic new approach to young adults, given the weight of evidence’ Young offenders are still developing neurologically up to age of 25 and should be kept out of adult prisons, a group of MPs…

The Law Gazette Thousands of staff at retailer Asda have scored a significant victory in their battle for equal pay following an employment tribunal ruling today which could open the floodgates to further claims. The tribunal in Manchester ruled that lower-paid women who work in Asda stores can compare themselves to higher-paid men who work…

The Guardian Senior judges will hear claims that the government cannot trigger article 50 without parliamentary approval Amid death threats and intensifying political disagreement, three of the most senior judges in England and Wales will hear claims that the government cannot trigger Brexit without parliamentary approval. Scores of QCs and lawyers will cram into court…

The Independent The Bill would require councils to help people given eviction notices The Bill would put more duties on local councils to house people Getty Ministers are considering backing a new law to strengthen local councils’ duties to stop people becoming homeless. The Homelessness Reduction Bill, put forward by Tory backbencher Bob Blackman, would…

The Independent Ministers say the move is necessary amid ‘vexacious’ claims brought by lawyers Soldiers could be shielded from legal action brought under the European Court of Human Rights in future conflicts, in a bid to protect troops from “vexatious” court claims. Ministers argue the step is needed because ECHR judgments in recent years have over-extended the…

The Independent Damning inspection of HMP Bedford talks of ‘abject failure’ and conditions that ‘do not offer basic levels of decency’ Inmates find it easier to get drugs than clothes or bedsheets at a prison where standards have deteriorated to “unacceptable levels” that “do not offer basic decency”, according to a watchdog report. Inspectors found the availability…

The Independent Legislation aimed at tackling a range of conducts, including controlling victims through social media, spying on them online or stopping them from socialising At the end of last year new laws were introduced to tackle perpetrators who subject spouses, partners or other family members to ‘controlling or coercive’ behaviour Rex Features Frontline police will…

The Guardian Official inquiry highlights a record six homicides and a 38% increase in assaults involving weapons in 2015-16 There were 4,000 assaults involving a blade or other weapon in English and Welsh prisons in 2015-16. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images An official inquiry has criticised the “wholly unacceptable level of violence” in English and Welsh…

The Independent The Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee has launched an inquiry to combat millions of tonnes of food waste In France, where is it against the law for supermarkets to dump surplus food, retailers redistribute 100,000 tonnes to charity Reuters The UK Parliament is considering legislation to ban people from wasting food in Britain. The…

The Law Gazette The cost of motor insurance will not come down for at least two years – even if the government forges ahead with whiplash reforms, according to a leading credit ratings agency. Fitch Ratings says insurance premiums will continue to rise because the levels of reserve releases that have supported profitability in recent…

The Independent The data did not specify if the women’s victims were male or female, however campaigners say the statistics serve as a reminder that while the overwhelming majority of abusers are male, women can also commit serious abuse Data from 2015 suggests that 93.9 per cent of convicted abusers are male, while 6.1 per cent…

BBC NEWS All UK letting agency fees should be paid by landlords who can shop around, rather than tenants – as is the case in Scotland, Citizens Advice has said. The charity said that renters in much of the UK faced rising fees as they had no choice over the agent they dealt with after…

The Law gazette law firm which helped conveyancing clients avoid paying a total of £1.3m in stamp duty land tax has been penalised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Gloucestershire firm BPE Solicitors LLP agreed to the publication of a regulatory settlement agreement following the regulator’s investigation. The SRA identified that the firm had acted in…

The Independent A two-tier structure for the crime of murder would not be accepted by the public and could blur the lines between accidental and intentional killings, MPs have heard. The House of Commons’ justice committee today discussed proposals by the Law Commission to introduce new categories for murder – first-degree, where a murder is…

The Guardian Case review concludes there is no evidence Yasser Alromisse located daughter’s safe house via accidental disclosures Mary Shipstone with her mother, Lyndsey. Photograph: Family handout/PA The safe house address of a seven-year-old girl murdered by her estranged father was accidentally sent to him by her mother’s solicitor, a serious case review has revealed.…

The Independent Department for Exiting the European Union spends an estimated £268,711 in eight weeks Lawyers are being paid more than £33,000 every week for legal advice on how to deliver Brexit, official figures show. Nick Clegg, who uncovered the spending, said it was further evidence of “how ill-prepared Whitehall is” for the enormous task of…

The Independent Parliamentary committee charged with scrutinising arms exports said it was likely British weapons had been used to violate international law The Saudis stand accused of bombing multiple international hospitals, as well as schools, wedding parties and food factories in Yemen AP Theresa May has staunchly defended selling arms to Saudi Arabia despite the…

The Independent Everything you need to know about the controversial policy British Prime Minister Theresa May at a press conference after the G20 Summit in Hangzhou EPA The points-based immigration system used by Australia and championed by a series of prominent politicians for the UK appears to have been dismissed by Theresa May. Here’s everything you…

The Independent Introduced in April 2015, the offence carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison Anna Richardson presented a Channel 4 documentary investigating ‘Revenge Porn’ in August last year Channel 4 More than 200 prosecutions have been brought since new laws to tackle revenge porn were rolled out across the UK, an official…

The Independent The recommendation in a new report goes against the advice of some women’s campaign groups An MPs’ committee says sexual offence and domestic violence victims should have the option of meeting their abusers Rex Features Rex Features Victims of sexual crime and domestic violence should be able to take part in “restorative justice”…

The Guardian Select committee says legal system in England and Wales should work towards ensuring right of restorative justice Prisoners taking part in a scheme to promote restorative justice. Photograph: Richard Saker for the Observer Victims of crime in England and Wales should be given the right to restorative justice – where they can confront…

Manchester Evening news Businesswoman Nosheen Sadaf produced fake letters saying her ‘sister in Pakistan’ had been driving the BMW Nosheen Sadaf, 36, has been given a six-month sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of perjury A businesswoman who twice fraudulently claimed her sister had been driving her car after being caught speeding was rumbled…

The Independent Authorities must launch a ‘star wars’ task force that would monitor the networks and stop them being used for terrorist recruitment, according to senior MPs Anjem Choudary, who was convicted for inciting extremism over social media, during a rally in London EPA Authorities should launch a new “star wars” to take on Google,…

The Independent Man who changed his name to Free Cannabis was former winner of flower show featuring the plant Hemp shop owner Free Cannabis said the removal of the plant was ‘shocking’ Getty A man who runs a hemp shop in Glastonbury has been surreptitiously dropping cannabis seeds into public flower displays for two decades,…

Sky News One drone crashes as another is intercepted by police carrying a haul of drugs and mobile phones bound for Pentonville Prison. Officers intercepted a drone carrying drugs and mobile phones mid-flight   Police have stopped a drone carrying a large quantity of drugs and two mobile phones into Pentonville Prison in north London.…

The Independent Andrew Rosindell calls for review of legislation because it singles out specific breeds, but not others which can be highly dangerous in the hands of irresponsible owners The Dangerous Dogs Act, brought in 25 years ago in the wake of a child’s horrific death, has “never really worked” and should be overhauled, a Tory MP claims.…

The Independent ‘The police do not have the capability to remove any material from any platform’ Social media giants had the last word on Anjem Choudary’s online posts, even after he was arrested for inviting support for Isis. British authorities made repeated efforts to get his Twitter posts and YouTube videos taken down after an…

The Guardian From Thursday, those convicted of making, lending or selling the items can face up to four years in prison Anyone who manufactures, sells, hires, imports or lends a ‘zombie knife’ is committing a crime as of Thursday. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA Sellers of “zombie knives” could face a prison sentence from this week as…

The Guardian Jails in England and Wales can seek orders requiring mobile network operators to blacklist handsets and disconnect sim cards Home Office security minister Ben Wallace said it was ‘totally unacceptable’ for prisoners to orchestrate crimes from behind bars. Photograph: Paul Faith/PA New powers to cut off illicit mobile phones used by prisoners to…

The Independent Theresa May has long been a critic of human rights laws The Government has repeatedly failed to meet its manifesto promise of abolishing the Human Rights Act PA The so-called British Bill of Rights could be “junked” or rewritten by Theresa May in the wake of the vote to leave the European Union,…

The Independent Lewis Clarke stabbed William Cowley in their shared cell at Werrington Prison in Stoke-on-Trent Clarke was sentenced to seven and a half years in a young offencers’ institution after being convicted of several firearms offences Merseyside Police A “vulnerable” teenager was hospitalised after he was put in the same cell as a former…

The Guardian Drivers in areas with high density of minority ethnic households are each charged up to £450 a year more, says study Millions of people living in areas with a high density of minority ethnic households are paying an “ethnic penalty” of up to £450 a year each in higher car insurance premiums, according…

The Law Gazette Police have released footage of a driver caught making an entirely bogus injury claim, as the authorities bid to deter other fraudsters. The City of London police posted a video of a minor shunt between a reversing car and another parked in a Slough car park last November The owner of the…

The Independent The number of convicted paedophiles in UK prisons has soared in recent years, as high profile cases such as Jimmy Savile have encouraged abuse survivors to report such crimes to police. The police officer has called for more ‘alternative’ thinking about how to deal with child sex offenders Getty Images One of the…

The Independent ‘His nose was very badly damaged, literally bent the other way. He’s got external and internal stitches, including several inside his mouth. He can’t feel a thing on the left side of his face’ The attack reportedly occurred in the canteen at Wayland Prison, Norfolk Wikipedia A prison governor was so badly wounded…

The Guardian High court rules in favour of group who said decision to bar 130,000 new members from ballot denied them legal right Labour party vote placards. Five new members have won their case to be allowed to vote in the leadership battle. Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images Labour’s governing body was not entitled to bar…

The Law Gazette ecovery of criminal assets is poor and will remain so unless government adopts radical recomendations from an influential committee of MPs,  a leading international law firm has said. However, Pinsent Masons’ stance places the firm at odds with respected defence lawyers at City practices. Pinsents, whose specialist fraud team provided evidence cited…

The Law Gazette The criminal justice system is replete with examples of ‘everyday’  institutional racism, a practitioners’ group has claimed in a hard-hitting response to a government-sponsored review of possible racial bias. Labour MP and barrister David Lammy (pictured) is currently investigating evidence of possible discrimination against black defendants and other ethnic minorities in the…

The independent Exclusive: Airline urged to apologise after honeymooner ‘made to feel like a culprit’ Faziah Shaheen was quizzed under terror laws after Thomson Airways cabin crew saw her reading a book about Syrian art on her honeymoon flight A Muslim NHS worker was detained at a UK airport and questioned under terror laws after a cabin…

The Law Gazette Two non-solicitor police station representatives authorised by the Legal Aid Agency have been banned from working in the legal profession after being convicted of criminal offences. The Solicitors Regulation Authority said it would be undesirable for Derek Martin Parker and John Bull to be involved in a legal practice without seeking permission…

The Times With so many innocent men having their reputations ruined, it’s time we went back to a system of automatic anonymity The media searchlight sweeps briefly over the face of the wrongly accused man: cleared of sexual offences; bathed in the light of vindication; the ordeal telling in the hollows and lines of his…

The Law Gazette Following a landmark Supreme Court decision last week, insurers have vowed to seek to overturn personal injury settlements if they believe dishonesty has been involved. Ruling in Hayward v Zurich, the court ordered a claimant to repay around £120,000 after his claim against an insurer was proved to be false. The claimant,…

The Independent Sometimes, the delete option is your best friend. WhatsApp brought you the two-tick (so you can’t hide the fact that you’ve received a message) and then the blue ticks (so you can’t hide the fact that you’ve read a message). In April – despite much controversy following the San Bernadino attack, in which…

The Guardian High court judge says case involving British woman in Saudi Arabia raises serious issues that need to be heard in public Amina al-Jeffery moved from Swansea to Saudi Arabia at her father’s insistence. Photograph: PA An academic accused of imprisoning his 21-year-old daughter at their home in Saudi Arabia has failed in an…

The Independent Comments made as recent report shows New Zealand’s grads leave with just £23,300 in student debt, compared to England’s almost £45,000, one of the highest in the world ‘Tax evasion and benefit fraud rip taxpayers off. Defaulting on your student loan could be regarded as just as bad,’ says Hepi director Getty Images/Susan Chiang Graduates who move…

The Law Gazette In a landmark ruling for lawyers and insurers, the Supreme Court has paved the way for personal injury settlements to be successfully challenged if the claimant is subsequently found to have lied. The court ruled that a settlement in Hayward v Zurich for almost £135,000 be set aside and the claimant instead…

The Guardian In wide-ranging interview, soon-to-retire Peter Thornton QC says bereaved families are entitled to ‘equality of arms’ Peter Thornton QC, the outgoing chief coroner of England and Wales. Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi for the Guardian Legal aid should be provided for families at inquests in which the government pays for lawyers to represent police officers…

The Independent Children are being sent back to a centre resembling a prison The Government has been accused of quietly ditching its policy of ending child detention in prison-style immigration centres after it announced the closure of new flagship accommodation for families being removed from the UK. On the final day of parliament before summer…

The Guardian Cross-party committee says there is no need for a new law, adding that proposals are alarmingly vague and will lead to people being wrongly suspected Armed police at St Pancras station in London after the Brussels airport blasts in March 2016. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA The government’s planned laws for countering extremism and terrorism…

The Independent The case was originally brought by a member of Ms May’s own cabinet During her speech at the 2011 Conservative Party conference, Theresa May announced plans to clamp down on illegal immigrants hiding behind the human rights act Getty A European Court of Justice ruling could deal a “serious blow” to Theresa May’s…

The Guardian Employment law’s ‘case of the year’ will assess claim by 19 drivers that they are not technically self-employed The case involving Uber is part of a growing drive for workers’ rights for self-employed people in the UK’s ‘gig economy’. Photograph: Eric Risberg/AP Uber is facing a legal challenge from drivers who say that…

The Law Gazette The UK legal profession has led international expressions of concern about the threat to the rule of law in Turkey in the aftermath of the attempted military coup. According to the Turkish judiciary, 2,745 judges and prosecutors have been dismissed since the coup attempt on Saturday.Profession condemns threat to rule of law…

The Guardian Lawyers representing a British citizen bringing the case claim article 50 can only be triggered if authorised by parliament The lawyers say David Cameron’s resignation speech made it clear the government considers it in the prime minister’s power to trigger article 50. Photograph: Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images The first legal challenge aimed at preventing…

The Independent MP says Government can’t make such a big decision without parliamentary approval Dominic Grieve said Theresa May should not be rushed into triggering Article 50 BBC The UK’s former attorney general has said the Government would need Parliament’s approval to trigger Article 50.  Dominic Grieve said it is “extremely farfetched” to believe the Government…

The Independent Migrants from outside Europe who have lived in the UK for more than five years will have to prove they will be paid the new minimum threshold in order to stay in the country Theresa May is facing calls to rethink the “discriminatory” new earnings threshold of £35,000 for non-EU migrants that could starve…

The Guardian Committee says £100bn is being laundered each year and its chairman says system for tackling problem is ‘futile and impotent’   A street in Kensington, west London. The committee said properties in the capital were a major route for money laundering. Photograph: Alamy Government attempts to stop the UK property market being exploited…

The Guardian Force becomes first in the country to adopt a separate category for misogynistic incidents in attempt to tackle sexist abuse Unwanted physical approaches in the street can be reported to Nottinghamshire police as a hate crime. Photograph: Alamy Uninvited sexual advances and unwanted verbal contact with a woman, including catcalling or wolf-whistling in…

The Guardian James Brokenshire says post-Brexit system won’t definitely be styled on Australian model, as promised by Vote Leave Brokenshire is a close ally of Theresa May and has been tipped as her potential successor as home secretary. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images Britain’s new immigration system will not necessarily be modelled on the Australian-style points-based…

The Independent Co-creator Philip Kolvin QC says parliament is ‘the guardian of our democracy’ Anti-Brexit demonstrators protest outside Parliament PA More than 1,000 lawyers have signed a letter addressed to Prime Minister David Cameron saying the EU referendum result is merely “advisory” and not legally binding. Arguing the vote for Brexit, which was opposed by world…

The Independent The overall number of people arrested on suspicion of terrorism-related offences has dropped, but continues to rise marginally for women A record number of suspected female terrorists have been arrested in the UK in the past year, government figures have shown. The official figures, released by the Home Office, show 36 female terror…

The Independent Campaigners and lawyers say the sales are unlawful British courts could ban the Government from signing off arms sales to Saudi Arabia after the first hurdle to a legal challenge was cleared. The High Court on Thursday granted a judicial review into the legality of UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia after a…

The Law Gazette The Law Society today warned government that now is the ‘wrong time’ for a shakeup of legal services regulation – stressing that the profession will be focusing on supporting its clients through a period of unprecedented change in the wake of last week’s Brexit vote.   Speaking before giving evidence to the…

The Independent ‘MPs will have to do their duty to vote according to conscience and vote for what’s best for Britain’ Geoffrey Robertson QC says the UK parliament must vote to repeal the 1972 European Communities Act before the country can leave the European Union Rex Parliament must still vote on a bill to allow…

Government spends millions to keep ex-home secretary out of court The government has spent at least £600,000 of taxpayers’ money trying to prevent a civil case being brought against it by a husband and wife who allege that British intelligence was complicit in their detention, rendition and torture. Figures released under the Freedom of Information…

The figures are three times as high as the same time in 2015 The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg Rex A record number of top UK lawyers are applying to work in Ireland amid fears of a Brexit. The Republic’s Law society has revealed figures showing 186 British lawyers have been admitted to practice in…

Hearings will decide whether people were wrongly convicted after supreme court found judges misinterpreted law for 30 years The cases of at least six men convicted under joint enterprise laws will go before the court of appeal on Tuesday. Clockwise from top left: Nicholas Terrelonge, Tyler Burton, Asher Johnson, Reece Garwood, Jerome Green, Lewis Johnson.…

Proceedings are due to be issued in the High Court The leaflet the triggered the legal action Nissan has announced it is taking legal action against the official campaign for Britain to leave the European Union after the group used the Japanese car manufactueres’ logo in leaflets calling for voters to back Brexit on June…

Repeat offender must wear device for at least six months, allowing police to track his movements GPS tracking anklet (file photo) iStock A 15-year-old boy has been ordered to wear a GPS tracking device that will allow police to track where he is at all times following a string of criminal offences. The boy, who…

Group sets out six bills they want to see introduced by the end of this Parliament Chris Grayling said there would need to be ‘immediate action’ following Brexit Getty A vote to leave the EU should trigger immediate Government action to deport European criminals and block the automatic entry of EU citizens into the UK, Vote…

Justice select committee issues warning over proposals to allow offenders reduced sentences in return for prompt guilty pleas The changes to sentencing could also have an adverse impact on offenders with mental health problems, say MPs. Photograph: Paul Faith/PA Plans to tighten rules allowing offenders to receive reduced sentences in return for early guilty pleas…

Survivors of an IRA bomb blast in Manchester have said their compensation claims are being ignored because they do not live in Northern Ireland. They are demanding a pension, for which Northern Irish victims of the Troubles could be eligible. One person injured in the 1996 blast, has called on the UK government to “support…

Move is part of a drive for schools to be more open to children questioning their gender identity       Diversity campaigners have warned current policies risk discriminating against LGBT pupils Getty School boys will be allowed to wear skirts and girls to wear trousers under new “gender neutral” uniform policies introduced across the UK. Eighty state…

625 arrests were made for alleged section 127 offences in 2010  The number of people being arrested for “online crimes of speech” have increased dramatically in London. While arrests for aggressive, threatening or hateful speech on social media declined between 2010 and 2013, the numbers rose last year. According to the Register, a total of…

roposed fee increases of more than 500% at the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal would deny justice to people appealing Home Office decisions, the Law Society has warned. Responding to Ministry of Justice (MoJ) proposals, Law Society president Jonathan Smithers (pictured) said: ‘Everyone should be able to access the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, irrespective of their financial…

A coroner has said the parents of a soldier found shot at Deepcut barracks in Surrey have waited far too long for a proper examination of her death. Pte Cheryl James, from north Wales, was found dead with a bullet wound to the head in 1995. The 18-year-old was one of four recruits to die…

Transport minister says government is ‘interested’ in bringing policy to UK to improve safety Figures suggest cyclists are 17 times more likely to be killed on the road than those travelling in vehicles Getty Images On-the-spot fines of up to £5,000 could be handed out to careless motorists who drive too close to cyclists, under new…

Judge says election results could be declared void in the event of a conviction The Conservative’s ‘Battlebus’ transported young activists around the country to campaign on candidate’s behalf Matt Cardy/Getty Images An attempt by a Conservative MP to block a police investigation into allegations his party broke election spending rules has failed. Kent Police last…

TWO men have been fined after pleading guilty to defrauding a train firm of almost £2,500 by claiming to have travelled on delayed trains and seeking compensation. Stephen Hudson, 40, and Andrew Craig, 36, both of Park Lane, Baildon, yesterday admitted making 23 fraudulent claims in total to Virgin Trains over a period of two…

Law firms’ bank debts have jumped 36% in the past year to an average of £38,000 per equity partner as firms seek to expand, according to research by a specialist accountant. Hazlewoods, a top 40 firm which carries out the Law Society’s financial benchmarking, says that many firms are increasing headcount and staff salaries as…

Errors that led to fingerprint and DNA records of hundreds of terror suspects being deleted were more widespread than thought, it has emerged. The Biometrics Commissioner said two months ago that 450 profiles had been wrongly deleted from a police database in England and Wales. But in an updated report, Alastair MacGregor revealed the figure…

Inquiry finds that a shortage of judges is contributing to two-thirds of trials in the Crown Court being delayed, or not going ahead at all Nearly half of people who had been witnesses in trials said they would not be prepared to do so again following their experience of the court system Getty The court system in England…

Critics fear the new law will drive users into the clutches of criminal drug dealers, whom it won’t be able to prosecute Concerns have been raised that the legal highs ban will be unenforceable Getty Images A blanket ban on legal highs has come into force amid warnings it is “unworkable” and drug dealers will be able to escape…

Exclusive: The man was seen as such a threat to national security that Theresa May personally signed an order removing his British nationality Armed police patrol the Eurostar platforms at St Pancras station Getty A Nigerian closely connected to a notorious group of British Islamists has been stripped of his UK citizenship amid fears he would…

Police expect high street shops selling new psychoactive substances to close after ban, but trading could head to dark web Shops that have built their business around legal highs will ‘reduce in number or cease to be’, said Simon Bray of the National Police Chiefs’ Council. Photograph: Alamy People who are caught sharing new psychoactive…

The substances are being outlawed amid concerns they have been linked to deaths and are fuelling anti-social behaviour Commander Simon Bray says those determined to get hold of the drugs might turn to illicit websites Getty Images Dealers of so-called legal highs could move to the “dark web” as a blanket ban on the drugs…

The High Court ruling that found that two branches of the bakery chain should be obliged to provide toilets to its customers A High Court ruling that found that two branches of Greggs should be obliged to provide toilets to its customers could force thousands of independent takeaways to close, according to public convenience campaigners.…

Smoking costs the NHS £2.7 billion and the wider British economy a further £2.5 billion in sick leave and lost productivity The new law bans the selling of cigarettes in 10 packs A new EU law has come into effect that will change the way people buy cigarettes and other tobacco products. From today, tobacco companies…

The proposed legislation aims at reintroducing a measure of One Nation conservatism into the goverment’s policies, but some measures have been met with controversy 1. Digital Economy Bill •    Give every household the legal right to fast broadband – but if they live in some remote areas, they’ll have to pay part of the cost themselves •  …

Despite the rise in arrests, one-fifth of motorists do not know it is an offence to drive while impaired by prescription drugs Drug driving arrests have rocketed since tough new laws were brought in last year Joe Raedle/Getty Images The number of motorists being charged for drug driving offences has soared by 140 per cent…

A proposed new offence targeting businesses that fail to prevent fraud or money laundering could be the most significant shakeup in corporate criminal law in a century, specialist lawyers have said. The Ministry of Justice announced last week that it will consult on proposals to extend the scope of the ‘failure to prevent’ criminal offence…

Oliver Wright takes a look at the biggest changes to be expected in Wednesday’s Queen’s Speech – and assesses how controversial they will be The Queen will open the new session of parliament on Wednesday AFP/Getty David Cameron is expected to announce a whole set of new laws in the Queen’s Speech on Wednesday. Here’s what…

Estate agent predicts some billionaire clients will sell property if no longer able to keep identity secret via offshore firms   A third of mansions on the richest stretch of ‘Billionaires’ Row’ in north London are owned offshore. Photograph: Alex Segre/Alamy Super-rich international investors in London property are likely to sell off some of their…

The news follows recent research which revealed 312,000 children in the UK have such low living standards that they are ‘living in destitution’ Cambridge police say they have seen an increase in young people shoplifting basic personal hygiene items such as underwear, sanitary items and toiletries iStock Police are to begin giving young people free underwear,…

English police figures reveal thousands of potentially dangerous criminals at large after failing to attend court hearings Figures from 30 police forces in England showed there were 13,492 known warrants outstanding. Photograph: Jeff Morgan/Alamy More than 13,000 suspected and convicted criminals facing charges including murder, rape and child sex offences are on the run after…

A police chief has been forced to apologise for featuring a fake Muslim shouting “Allahu Akbar” in a major counter terrorism training exercise against Isil. The exercise had depicted a suicide bomber detonating explosives and opening fire in the middle of a busy shopping mall. But critics claimed the depiction of the terrorist “stereotyped” Muslims during the…

Cardiff-born Reyaad Khan was killed in a precision airstrike by an RAF remotely operated aircraft near Raqqa in Syria The legal case for using drone strikes outside of armed conflict needs “urgent clarification” from ministers, a cross-party parliamentary committee has said. The government insisted it did not have a “targeted killing” policy, but was clearly…

A major counter-terrorism exercise is due to be staged in one of England’s largest shopping centres. A mock terror attack will begin at The Trafford Centre in Greater Manchester when it is closed between midnight and 06:00 BST on Tuesday. The three-day exercise will continue in locations including Redbank Community Home in Newton-le-Willows on Wednesday.…

We have received an allegation of electoral fraud and an investigation has been launched’ It comes amid claims the Conservative Party may have breached spending rules Matt Cardy/Getty Images A police force has launched an investigation into an allegation of electoral fraud relating to the 2015 general election amid claims the Conservative Party may have…

Government says aim is to remove foreign national offenders from Britain but critics say bill is a toxic recipe for race relations Concerns have been raised by civil liberties groups that people will be targeted because of how they look, their accent and their skin colour. Photograph: John Stillwell/PA Government measures making people prove their…

The UK has 10 universities in the top 100 of the world’s best when it comes to global reputation, but many have slipped down the rankings this year. Cambridge and Oxford remain in the top five, at fourth and fifth place respectively, but both have moved down two places on their 2015 ranking. The US…

Parliamentary committee warns of complex negotiations to determine rights of UK citizens living in other member states British tourists play pool at an English bar in Benalmádena, Spain. The country is the top European destination for British expats. Photograph: Getty Validating the rights of the 2 million Britons living in the EU after Brexit –…

The number of unrepresented defendants in criminal courts is increasing – but no one knows how big the problem is. That is the conclusion of research published in a week when the lord chief justice complained that civil courts are having to abandon the adversarial system to deal with the increasing number of litigants in…

Professional indemnity insurance renewal in 2015/16 was plain sailing for most firms, with average costs falling 8% year on year, latest research reveals. The Law Society survey of 560 firms also found that one-third have abandoned the traditional October renewal date. More than three-quarters (76%) of firms, ranging in size from sole practitioners to 25…

The Court of Appeal dismissed a legal challenge by the Government The Court of Appeal quashed the Government’s legal challenge AFP/Getty Images Sanctions imposed on thousands of benefit claimants for not taking part in the DWP’s so-called “back-to-work” schemes are unlawful, a court has ruled. Three Court of Appeal judges upheld an earlier decision by…

Court challenge brought by 94-year-old second world war veteran living in Italy and lawyer resident in Belgium fails British lawyer Jacquelyn MacLennan, who lives in Belgium, outside the high court in central London. Photograph: Niklas Halle’N/AFP/Getty Images The high court has rejected an attempt to force the government to grant millions of UK citizens living…

Gambling Commission says bookmaker failed to inquire about source of man’s wealth before he was jailed for theft Gala Coral has promised to improve its anti-money laundering and social responsibility processes. Photograph: Islandstock/Alamy The bookmaker Gala Coral has agreed with the gambling regulator to pay out nearly £880,000 after taking hundreds of thousands of pounds…

Criminal defence solicitors are expected to oppose proposed replacement guidelines on sentence reductions for early guilty pleas. The Sentencing Council says it wants to ensure that reductions for guilty pleas ‘should be applied fairly and consistently and that the guideline should encourage defendants who are guilty to plead guilty as early in the court process…

‘Call me an old fashioned bobby, but that is criminal,’ says officer whose statement was changed A banner reading ‘Truth’ and ‘Justice’ hangs from Liverpool’s Saint George’s Hall Getty Police officers and Hillsborough survivors whose testimonies were altered by police to create the impression that Liverpool fans caused the 1989 football stadium tragedy have called for…

The Guardian Report finds rise in number of people appearing in court without lawyer, while experts warn vulnerable defendants are having to fend for themselves Magistrates reported that 25% of defendants who came before them in 2014 were unrepresented by a lawyer. Photograph: Alamy Miscarriages of justice and long delays in the criminal justice system…

The Independent The change is expected to be enforced from May Getty Images Cold callers will soon be forced to display their telephone numbers. If companies withhold their identities and persistently break the rules they can expect to face fines from the Information Commisioner’s Office (ICO). The minister responsible for data protection Baroness Neville-Rolfe –…

BBC NEWS A victim of the Alton Tower’s Smiler crash described the aftermath as being like “a horror movie” as the theme park admitted health and safety breaches. Chanda Chauhan and her daughter Vanisha Singh spoke out for the first time about their ordeal riding in the second carriage. Merlin Attractions, which owns the Staffordshire…

BBC NEWS The owner of Alton Towers has been told it faces a large fine after admitting responsibility for the Smiler rollercoaster crash. Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd indicated a guilty plea to charges of breaching the Health and Safety Act. The firm’s counsel, Simon Antrobus, told a court Merlin accepted it could have taken additional…

The Law Gazette A solicitor has been fined £5,000 for sending flirtatious texts and WhatsApp messages to a vulnerable client he was representing in a domestic violence matter. Andrew Lee, formerly an associate at Liverpool-based firm Gregory Abrams Davidson, was found to have acted inappropriately after he sent messages referring to his client as ‘lovely’,…

The Guardian Steep increases likely to prevent those with few resources from challenging decisions to deport them The rises are being brought in to help pay off the Ministry of Justice’s funding deficit. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Asylum and immigration tribunal fees are set to increase by more than 500% in order to help pay…

BBC NEWS Footballer Ched Evans has had his conviction for rape quashed at the Court of Appeal in London, but will face a new trial. The ex-Wales international was jailed in 2012 for raping a 19-year-old at Premier Inn near Rhyl, Denbighshire. The former Sheffield United, Manchester City and Norwich player was released from jail…

The Law Gazette MPs have criticised the Solicitors Regulation Authority for what they say is a failure to examine the conduct of a magic circle firm over its role in a cashback guarantee scheme allegedly mis-sold to consumers. A report published today by an all-party parliamentary group (APPG) chaired by Conservative MP Andrew Percy claims…

The independent Home Secretary announces aggressive proposals to avoid Britain’s financial system ‘being undermined by illicit finance and the funding of terrorism’ Home Secretary Theresa May will set out the potential new powers on Thursday Getty Images Suspected money launderers could be forced to declare their wealth under aggressive proposals set to be unveiled by the Government. Those who…

BBC NEWS The government is paying more than £4m each year in compensation to people who were held unlawfully in immigration detention centres, figures show. The centres hold people the government is trying to deport, including failed asylum-seekers and foreign prisoners. A BBC Freedom of Information request found the government paid £4m in 2014-15, and…

The Law Gazette A former solicitor has admitted pretending to work for HM Revenue & Customs in an attempt to obtain information about a disciplinary investigation into his own misconduct. Paul Baxendale-Walker, 52, was struck off as a solicitor at a tribunal hearing in 2007, but then wrote to the Law Society to try to…

The Independent The men are accused of having links to Al Qaeda Home Secretary Theresa May Getty The Government has been barred from deporting six men to Algeria because there is a “real risk” they could be tortured there, judges have ruled. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism reports that the Special Immigration Appeals Commission ruled…

The Guardian Father went to court after mother of the boys, aged four and six, objected to the procedure at a young age Mrs Justice Roberts said no one involved could be identified. Photograph: David Wilcock/PA Archive/Press Association Images A devout Muslim has failed to persuade a high court judge to rule that his sons…

The Law Gazette Three years after the government scrapped legal aid across swaths of civil law, more ‘advice deserts’ are materialising in the sectors that remain in scope. Several parts of England and Wales now have inadequate housing law cover which could give rise to potential conflicts of interest, it has emerged. A number of…

The Guardian Home secretary to defy Lords’ demand for all-out ban after outcry greeted news that 99 pregnant women had been held at Yarl’s Wood Protesters outside Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre in Bedford. Photograph: Andrea Baldo/NurPhoto/Corbis Theresa May will announce plans to place a 72-hour time limit on the detention of pregnant women at…

The Guardian Defendant solicitors have had a personal injury claim struck out in court after persuading the judge that fundamental dishonesty was involved. It is believed to be the first time section 57 of last year’s Criminal Justice and Courts Act (CJCA) has been invoked when a case has gone all the way to trial.…

The Guardian Police launch new campaign as number of items removed by special police unit trebles over past year Junead Khan had viewed Isis propaganda online before being convicted of terrorism offences. Photograph: CPS/PA British counter-terrorism officials are launching a campaign to try to drive back Islamic State’s efforts to use the internet to foster…

The Independent Vote Leave has been designated the official campaign to leave the EU The EU referendum is due on 23 June PA One of the groups campaigning to leave the European Union has said it will launch a legal challenge against a decision to designate its rival as the official Out campaign. The Electoral…

The Guardian Stephen Kavanagh, in charge of national strategy on digital crime, says confidence of victims is being undermined Kavanagh insisted the police were determined to improve how they deal with the ‘explosion’ of online abuse Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi for the Guardian The police chief in charge of combating digital crime has admitted that an…

The Guardian Parliament’s equalities chair warns against internet providers being allowed to hide behind free speech argument Maria Miller has called for tighter laws on online abuse Composite: The Guardian Britain needs better internet laws to stop online abuse that may be creating a nightmare for society in future, Maria Miller, the Conservative former culture…

The Guardian Traffickers are increasingly using less busy ports to get people ashore and have a range of tariffs depending on the route and method of transportation Migrants attempting to reach the UK are paying smuggling gangs as much as £13,500 to arrange their journey, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has revealed. Some of those…

Lancashire telegraph HERE’S what drivers should do if they believe they are a ‘crash for cash’ victim after it was revealed the scam is on the rise across the country. Aviva has revealed 14 things you should do if you are in an accident and are suspicious it may be fraudulent: 1. Stay calm. Don’t argue…

The Guardian David Davis says data retention laws turn ‘entire nation into suspects’, while UK lawyers argue they are critical to securing convictions David Davis said the British government was retaining far more data than necessary. Photograph: Niklas Halle’N/AFP/Getty Images The UK government is “treating the entire nation as suspects” by ignoring safeguards on retaining…

The independent It comes after a ‘well-known’ public figure took out a court injunction to prevent the UK media from publishing details of an extra-marital ‘three-way sexual encounter’ “It’s an issue which has been under active consideration,” a Whitehall source said Rex Government ministers are “actively considering” plans to water down celebrities’ ability to prevent the British…

The Guardian Home Office granted powers to snoop on detention centre refugees three years ago by amendment to 20-year-old Police Act Two women detained at Yarl’s Wood in Bedfordshire beg for help. Now it has been revealed that their phones can be legally hacked. Photograph: Guy Corbishley/Demotix/Corbis Immigration officials have been permitted to hack the…

The Independent After the riot, police officers looked through photos of the disturbance on Facebook and saw the man in the photos with tags to his profile page The man had tagged himself in photos at the riot Alamy A man has been jailed after tagging himself in Facebook photos showing him taking part in…

The Independent At least nine employees have been suspended and around 500 clients are thought to be affected A union banner hanging from a fence in front of the Tata steelworks in the town of Port Talbot, Wales Reuters The Serious Fraud Office has opened a criminal investigation into Tata Steel’s UK operations. Police officers are investigating…

BBC NEWS The jury in the trial of two girls convicted of murdering a vulnerable woman heard graphic evidence of how they tortured and beat her to death. But the crime sparked such abusive comments on Facebook that a judge feared the girls could not have a fair hearing. He scrapped the case and ordered…

The Guardian Home secretary announces a new criminal offence for those who try to leave UK or fail to hand in passports while on pre-charge bail Theresa May said: ‘We are determined to give the police the tools they need to fight terrorism and keep people safe.’ Photograph: Nick Ansell/PA Terror suspects in the UK…

BBC NEWS Instant messaging service Whatsapp has announced it will encrypt all its users’ communications from Tuesday. With end-to-end encryption, messages are scrambled as they leave the sender’s device and can only be decrypted by the recipient’s device. It renders messages unreadable if they are intercepted, for example by criminals or law enforcement. Whatsapp, which…

The Independent It is now a legal requirement for dog owners to have their pets microchipped Ruby, a two-year-old Yorkshire Terrier, has a micro-chip implanted in Wolverhampton Getty Images Following the introduction of the National Living Wage and unwelcome increases to council tax, today sees another wave of new laws come into force in the UK.…

BBC NEWS Cases of UK police officers and staff taking long-term sick leave for psychological reasons have risen by 35% over the last five years, statistics obtained by BBC Radio 5 live suggest. The figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, show cases rose from 4,544 in 2010-11 to 6,129 in 2014-15 despite police…

The Guardian Study shows cheapest firm charged £150 for uncontested divorce involving children, while the most expensive was £17,000 The study adds credence to judges’ claims that high fees and legal aid cuts tip the scales of justice firmly in favour of the wealthy. Photograph: Reuters An investigation into lawyers’ fees has found major disparities…

Lancashire Telegraph TOUGH new powers for police and council officers to tackle nuisance and aggressive behaviour including going to the toilet in public, throwing missiles and setting fires have been proposed for the Ewood area of Blackburn. A new order to tackle vandalism, harassment of residents, and general disorder has been proposed for a 50…

The Guardian Andy Burnham says party will withdraw its support for investigatory powers bill if its privacy concerns are not resolved Andy Burnham has written to Theresa May setting out Labour’s seven areas of concern over the bill. Photograph: Lynda Bowyer/Demotix/Corbis Labour has written to Theresa May, the home secretary, setting out seven areas of…

The Independent It is hoped that a new method of displaying the mileage on cars digitally will prevent it being adjusted, a practice known as ‘clocking’ Getty Government plans to close what ministers warn is an “alarming” loophole allowing firms to ‘fix’ mileage on cars has been welcomed by motoring organisations. Responding to concern over…

The Guardian Doctors are challenging legality of decision by Jeremy Hunt to impose new terms and conditions on 45,000 medics A doctor wearing a BMA campaign badge. Junior doctors believe the new contract will discriminate against female doctors. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA Junior doctors have begun legal action against the government to try and stop it…

The Law Gazette A new formula for determining which of two innocent parties of a land fraud should keep the property in question is among proposals for reform of the legal framework governing land registration in England and Wales to be published today. The Law Commission’s consultation opens within a week of the government publishing…

The Independent The prison, which is operated by the private company G4S, will see its official operating capacity rise by almost a third from July, which campaigners say is a recipe for overcrowding and violence Some single cells will be converted into double rooms Getty Images Inmates at the UK’s largest privately-run jail are to start sharing…

Politics Delayed: Police letters shows Psychoactive Substances Act still some way off We got confirmation yesterday that the psychoactive substances bill has been delayed while the police and the Home Office try to work out what to do with it. It’s been clear for some time that this was going to be the case, but…

The Law Gazette The government spent more than £400,000 on an abortive attempt to impose new criminal legal aid reforms, the Gazette has learned. In January, 14 months after the procurement process for 527 duty provider contracts began, justice secretary Michael Gove (pictured) announced that he had decided not to introduce the controversial new contracting…

The Guardian Bernard Hogan-Howe blames online theft on ‘bad behaviour’ of customers who have poor internet security and says focus should be on prevention Cybercrime victims have themselves to blame for not keeping their security up to date, the Met chief has said. Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty Images Banks should not refund victims of online fraud…

The Independent Party drug removed from list of substances due to be criminalised when the law comes into force next month There have been calls to ban poppers in the United Kingdom Poppers will not be banned in a crackdown on so-called legal highs, the Government has said. Selling the party drug was originally earmarked for…

The Guardian If an inquiry into discredited undercover operations takes place in secret, justice will be denied again Helen Steel and John Dines: ‘I now know the truth about who my ex-partner was, although not how and why he was in my life.’ Photograph: Courtesy of Helen Steel I am one of seven women who…

The Law Gazette The Solicitors Regulation Authority has said it is ‘concerned’ that some personal injury firms are failing to act within the rules and encouraging fraudulent claims. The regulator was urged in January to take a ‘tougher approach’ to rogue solicitors in the sector after a finding from the Insurance Fraud Taskforce that more…

The Law Gazette Every 1% of growth in the legal services market creates 8,000 jobs – and every policy decision that hits the sector by 1% would have a near-opposite effect. That is one of the headline findings to emerge from what the Law Society says is the first study of the contribution that legal…

The Independent They include 170 rapists – 27 of whom raped people under the age of 16 More than half of applications made by criminals to be removed from the register since 2012 were successful Getty Nearly 700 sex offenders have been removed from the register in the last four years, including 157 child abusers,…

The Guardian New tax will add 24p a litre to soft drinks with the highest sugar content and cost £1bn to implement Suing the government is one option that companies are considering over the sugar tax. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Soft drink makers are considering taking legal action against the government over its controversial…

The Guardian Universities UK says rules must be updated to bring them into line with human rights laws and institutions’ duty of care to students Nicola Dandridge: ‘Universities have a clear duty of care when it comes to their students and we need to revisit the guidelines to make sure this duty is at the…

The Law Gazette he Ministry of Justice has slipped out confirmation of a 34% hike in divorce fees expected to take effect next Monday, despite strong opposition from family lawyers. Last summer the MoJ consulted on a round of court fee rises, including a proposed rise in divorce fees from £410 to £550. But despite…

The Law Gazette The advertising watchdog has banned two online ads for bank refund claims which made unsubstantiated promises about compensation. The Advertising Standards Authority today upheld complaints about two separate claims firms following challenges from the Lloyds Banking Group. One ruling concerned the website claimback.com, which promoted a PPI service and included a box…

The Law Gazette Claims management companies will be forced to pass a ‘fit and proper test’ and record all client calls if they want to continue practising, Whitehall announced today. In a joint response to an independent review of the sector, the Ministry of Justice and Treasury agreed on the need for a tougher regulatory regime…

The Guardian Senior Tories and opposition MPs demand tighter controls in legislation that will overhaul state’s surveillance powers The law would give the state powers to force communications firms to store individuals’ internet connection records. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA Theresa May is facing calls from senior Tories and the opposition to improve the investigatory powers bill…

The Law Gazette Fundamental weaknesses’ in a system to deprive criminals of the proceeds of their crimes remain, according to the public spending watchdog, which says offenders now owe £1.6bn to the state. The government clawed back only 26p out of every £100 of identified criminal proceeds, the National Audit Office (pictured) reported in December…

The Guardian Delays and miscommunication between Ministry of Justice and Home Office mean that law passed a year ago to tackle online grooming still not being used The NSPCC has criticised the government for failing to enact section 67 of the 2015 Serious Crime Act, aimed at protecting children from online grooming. Photograph: Government blunders…

The Law Gazette A Cheshire solicitor convicted of multiple counts of fraud has been barred from the profession by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Andrew John Taylor, who practised from his firm in Cheadle, misappropriated £624,000 through payments and transfers from the firm’s client account for his own personal use. Taylor’s victims had been clients vulnerable…

The Guardian Woman says staff threatened to refer her son to counter-extremism programme thinking he had drawn a ‘cooker bomb’ The child’s drawing of a cucumber caused concern Photograph: BBC Asian Network Staff at a nursery school threatened to refer a four-year-old boy to a de-radicalisation programme after he drew pictures they thought showed his…

The Independent Former driving instructor Aslan Kayardi denied he was travelling at more than 50 mph on the 30 mph stretch The defendant, Aslan Kayardi, insisted he was a regular cyclist himself Getty Images Britain’s first private prosecution of a motorist accused of dangerous driving by overtaking a cyclist too close and too fast has failed.…

The Guardian European arrest warrant that Piotr Kupiec was detained under withdrawn after police arrested another man with same name Piotr Kupiec was wanted by Interpol at the time of his arrest in Devizes, Wiltshire. Photograph: Interpol A Polish murder suspect who was on Interpol’s most wanted list before he was found working in a…

The Independent The dire situation at privately run HMP Doncaster should force Mr Gove to tackle over-population in UK jails Britain locks up the most people in Western Europe Getty Images The early stages of Michael Gove’s career as Justice Secretary have involved tearing down the work of his predecessor, Chris Grayling. Mr Grayling considered…

The Guardian Court finds David Dinsmore guilty of breaching Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act after paper printed pixelated photo Judge said he was satisfied Dinsmore did not know he was committing offence, ordering him to pay £1,300 costs and to offer to pay £1,000 compensation to girl. Photograph: Sarah Lee for the Guardian The former editor…

The Guardian Government lawyers had argued that a compulsory ban could cause discipline problems and risk staff and prisoner safety The ban on smoking in public places does not apply to state prisons and other crown premises in England and Wales, the appeal court has ruled. Photograph: Alamy A compulsory, immediate ban on smoking in…

The Guardian Labour’s mayoral candidate hopes to put an end to money laundering at the expense of Londoners Khan said: ‘Londoners who are struggling to scrape together a deposit will be shocked that dirty money is flooding into the city, unchecked and anonymously, causing prices to rise.’ Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA Labour’s mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan…

The Guardian New guidelines for prosecutors are response to increasing use of false social media accounts to post humiliating images online Alison Saunders, the director of public prosecutions, said she would support a change in the law to allow victims of online abuse to be granted anonymity. Photograph: PA Social media trolls who set up…

The Independent Footballer ‘smiles’ as he is cleared of one charge Adam Johnson arrives at Bradford Crown Court on March 2 Reuters Adam Johnson has been found guilty of sexual activity with a child but cleared of another count of the same offence. The jury at Bradford Crown Court had been deliberating since Tuesday lunchtime…

The Guardian Latest version of investigatory powers bill will allow police to hack people’s computers and view browsing history Powers for the police to access everyone’s web browsing histories and to hack into phones are to be expanded under the latest version of the snooper’s charter legislation. The extension of police powers contained in the…

The Law Gazette Divorce cases could begin shifting almost entirely online by 2017, the president of the family division has said. Sir James Munby (pictured) told barristers this week that in the future some court processes will be almost entirely digitised, citing online divorce and online probate as early examples. He said plans to digitise…

Lancashire telegraph Blackburn is number four on the list BLACKBURN is one of the most economically struggling towns and cities in the country, according to new research. It is number four on the list – after Rochdale, Burnley and Bolton – followed by Hull and Grimsby. Ten of the UK’s top 12 economically struggling cities are in the North, according…

The Guardian Andy Burnham says Conservative claims to have presided over a fall in crime while cutting police budgets would be proved false The shadow home secretary, Andy Burnham, said: ‘Crime hasn’t gone away, it’s moved online’. Photograph: Lynda Bowyer/Demotix/Corbis Crime figures for England and Wales will double once cyber offences are included in official…

The Guardian Prime minister summons lawyers to challenge Michael Gove’s assertion that reforms could be thrown out by European court David Cameron launches the Conservatives In campaign in London. Photograph: Alex B Huckle/Getty Open warfare has broken out in Conservative ranks over the legal status of David Cameron’s EU deal after leading out campaigner Michael…

The Independent The fastest speed recorded was clocked by a driver in a BMW M4 Coupe doing 156mph – more than double the speed limit Average speed traffic cameras in place on the M27 Rex Features More than five motorists a day were caught speeding over 100mph in 2014-15, police have said. The fastest speed…

The Independent ‘The only safe option was to run the dog over at sufficient speed to ensure that it was destroyed and would not suffer’ An officer who had tried to take hold of the dog was bitten Getty Images A dog running loose on a motorway was run down and killed by traffic police…

The Independent The Justice Secretary says the European Court of Justice did not have to follow the plans Justice Secretary Michael Gove is government head of the British legal system PA David Cameron’s EU renegotiation is not legally binding because it has not been enshrined in European treaties, the Justice Secretary has said. Michael Gove,…

The Guardian Minimum income of £18,600 to be able to bring over non-EU spouse is ‘unachievable’ for many people, supreme court hears The supreme court in London will decide whether the rules contravene the European convention on human rights Photograph: Alex Segre/Rex UK citizens are being forced into exile by the Home Office’s “irrational and…

Rochdale Online New guidelines on children ‘sexting’ Children who text intimate photographs of themselves to friends will no longer face prosecution and the possible lifelong effects of a criminal record under changes to the police guidance on how to deal with ‘sexting’, which could come into force within weeks once approved by MPs. The proposed…

The independent NHS already facing risk of a workforce crisis as junior doctors in England consider the new contract imposed on them Many foreign doctors could leave the UK to pursue their career ambitions elsewhere Getty Images The NHS could be starved of doctors from overseas because of proposed new visa rules that would leave…

The Guardian Judge rules Joy Williams can make claim against estate of Norman Martin, with whom she lived in ‘loving and committed’ relationship Joy Williams: ‘What has been traumatic for me is that this level of serious relationship is not recognised by the law.’ Photograph: Jan Colley/PA A woman has won a legal battle after…

The Guardian Government after government makes bold claims about eradicating these awful crimes, yet the statistics remain damning ‘Perpetrators of violence against children are frequently the same people who are responsible for looking after them.’ Photograph: Alamy It is a disturbing fact that nearly a third of female rape victims in England and Wales are…

The Guardian Proposal aims to restrict ‘Surinder Singh’ route that gives UK residence rights to non-European spouses of low-income British citizens Critics argue the current law on spousal visas penalises around 43% of the UK population, particularly mothers of young children, public sector workers and those living outside London and the south-east, who are more…

The Independent Critics say move amounts to a ‘gross attack on democratic freedoms’ A Palestinian protester near the Jewish settlement of Bet El Reuters Local councils, public bodies and even some university student unions are to be banned by law from boycotting “unethical” companies, as part of a controversial crackdown being announced by the Government.…

The Guardian Minister reveals number of injuries during restraint is almost five times higher than Youth Justice Board figure Adam Rickwood hanged himself after being restrained in a secure training centre. Photograph: Christopher Thomond Thousands more children have been injured in custody through the use of controversial restraint techniques than the government had previously disclosed,…

The Law Gazette The High Court has told a law firm it has no chance of winning back insurance costs from an intermediary it paid to make referrals. Yorkshire firm PM Law Limited had an arrangement with insurance intermediary Motorplus to supply details of potential litigants for more than four years. The arrangement worked through…

The Independent Broadcaster says it has received legal advice that the evidence would provide reasonable grounds for a police investigation Campaign spending in by-elections is limited to £100,000 to ensure a level playing-field Getty Senior Conservatives appear to have flouted electoral law by failing to declare spending amounting to tens of thousands of pounds during three…

The Independent Disciplinary action is being taken against more than 20 officers Met Police chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe PA A specialist riot squad at the centre of a probe into allegations its officers wrongly claimed for overtime has been decommissioned to cut costs, police said. The Metropolitan Police said the withdrawal of the Territorial Support…

BBC Plans to overhaul the “failure” of the prison system in England and Wales are to be set out by the prime minister. David Cameron will say high reoffending rates and violence in jails are “scandalous”. A pilot scheme will see six governors given autonomy over how prisons spend their budgets and which education services…

The Independent Prison is probably the single biggest indictment of state failure yet we are still waiting for the “rehabilitation revolution” promised when the Tories took power in 2010 For many years ministers privately complained that even the most carefully chosen chief inspector of prisons rapidly went “native”, undermining their tough stances by bleating on about…

BBC Funding cuts to the Crown Prosecution Service could lead to miscarriages of justice, a senior barrister has warned. Jonathan Elystan Rees said a lack of resources and lawyers in court as a result of less funding was making it difficult for staff to do their jobs. His criticism comes after the CPS was blamed…

The Guardian Centre for Policy Studies says large rises are restricting access to justice Lord Neuberger, the president of the supreme court, blamed excessive reliance on hourly rates among City firms for inflating legal fees and promoting inefficiency. Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian Partners at top City law firms are charging clients more than…

The Law Gazette Lawyers sitting up for the count in the 2020 general election will be spared the ritual of explaining why it is always the acting returning officer who announces the number of votes cast, if proposals published by the Law Commission today become reality. In a wide-ranging call for rationalisation of electoral law,…

The Law Gazette The High Court has rejected a professional negligence claim from an injured pedestrian who felt her legal team had under-settled her case. The Honourable Mrs Justice Elisabeth Laing (pictured) said Yorkshire firm W Brook and Co, and the instructed barrister named as Mr Crossley, did not breach their professional duties in advising…

The Independent Judge Wendy Joseph QC says schools and policymakers should do more to make judiciary more diverse Schools and policymakers have a responsibility to address the lack of diversity in the judiciary to better reflect society as a whole, a top judge has said. The UK’s “white, middle-class, middle-aged, male” courtrooms do not represent the…

The Law Gazette Conveyancers risk becoming a police force as part of unintended consequences of the government’s higher stamp duty rates, a trade body has warned. In last year’s autumn statement and spending review, the government announced higher rates of stamp duty land tax on the purchase of additional residential properties as part of a…

The Law Gazette Further details have emerged about the demise of London-headquartered firm Blavo & Co Solicitors, which was shut down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in October. Mr Justice Garnham continued a freezing order against the firm’s former managing director John Blavo in a High Court judgment handed down on 28 January. A freezing…

The Law Gazette Defendant lawyers say they will put forward an ‘independent and principled’ stance on personal injury reforms that will differ from the one taken by insurers. The Forum of Insurance Lawyers has said it opposes moves to increase the small claims limit to £5,000 for personal injury and to remove general damages for…

BBC A draft deal to meet David Cameron’s EU reform demands – including new powers for national parliaments to block unwanted laws – will be unveiled later. European Council President Donald Tusk will publish the text at 11:00 GMT. Mr Cameron is aiming to convince the rest of the EU to sign up to his…

The Guardian Highly critical report says proposed legislation must be reviewed to ensure obligations on tech industry are clear A draft of the bill. MPs said there were still many unanswered questions about how the legislation would work. Photograph: Philip Toscano/PA The government’s investigatory powers bill lacks clarity and is sowing confusion among tech firms…

The Law Gazette The government has today announced it is scrapping a controversial new contracting scheme for criminal legal aid. In a written ministerial statement this afternoon, justice secretary Michael Gove (pictured) said he had decided ‘not to go ahead with the introduction of the dual contracting system’. He will also suspend, for a period…

 Independent The ruling follows a legal challenge by a domestic violence victim and the family of a disabled teenager The tax has been ruled unlawful The Government’s so-called “Bedroom Tax” policy has been declared discriminatory and unlawful by the Court of Appeal. Judges made the decision following a legal challenge against the Government by a…

BBC The inquest, the longest in UK legal history, began on 31 March 2014 The jury at the Hillsborough inquests has been told one of its options is to consider whether the 96 victims of the disaster were unlawfully killed. The coroner has begun summing up nearly two years’ evidence into the disaster. Sir John…

The Law Gazette George Osborne today announced a raft of trade deals with his counterpart in India that include opening up the country’s legal market to foreign lawyers. The chancellor and Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley have reached a number of agreements following the eighth UK-India Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) in London, according to…

The Guardian Government accused over refusal to suspend export licences in wake of strikes on Yemen A house destroyed by a Saudi-led coalition airstrike last week on the Yemeni capital, Sana’a. Photograph: Chen Lin/Xinhua Press/Corbis The government has been put on notice that it is in breach of international law for allowing the export of…

The Guardian Lib Dem ex-MP says judge Heather Anderson wrong not to name council that failed to consult man over daughter’s placement in foster care The judge decided that the child should be placed for adoption. Photograph: Alamy A family court judge has come under fire after refusing to name a council that violated a…

Insurer lashes out at ‘outrageous scale’ of fraud as it revealed successful fight against 46 claimants whose party bus collided with a Ford Fiesta The UK has become known as the whiplash capital of Europe due to the high level of claims made by those involved in accidents. Photograph: Chris Rout/Alamy When a Ford Fiesta…

The F Word Emma Snaith interviews Sisters Uncut, a campaign group who take direct action to oppose cuts to domestic violence services. They discuss the successes of activism in 2015 and look towards the next stage in their fight to save the lives of women in and escaping abusive relationships Although only formed in November…

The Law Gazette Ministry of Justice officials have told lawyers they have yet to decide on the scope of the rise in the small claims limit – but there appears little inclination to water down plans to remove whiplash compensation. Ministers are said to be convinced that low-value injury cases should be ‘easy enough’ to…

The Law Gazette Conveyancers will need to ‘raise their game’ in what will be a challenging year, a major trade body has warned. Announcing today its aims and ambitions for the new year, the Conveyancing Association believes solicitors will have some obstacles to overcome in 2016. These include a ‘very busy’ quarter-one period as buy-to-let…

From April 2016, migrant workers will need to earn at least £35,000 to qualify for settlement in the UK. Will this affect your life in the country? UK Border control at Terminal 5 Heathrow Airport London United Kingdom. Photograph: Gregory Wrona / Alamy/Alamy Non-EU migrants who have spent more than five years working in the…

The Guardian Labour leader joins Shami Chakrabarti to condemn cuts to legal aid while row continues over duty criminal solicitors’ contract                       Barristers and solicitors demonstrate outside parliament against cuts to legal aid in March 2014. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images Entitlement to legal aid is…

The Independent Britain’s most scandal-hit police force faces a slew of legal claims after being accused of using controversial anti-terrorism powers to snoop on officers blowing the whistle on racism. Cleveland constabulary faces claims that it secretly obtained details from confidential emails between Asian officers and their representatives and solicitors to defend against employment cases…

Lancashire Telegraph A LAW firm in East Lancashire has been given a clean bill of health over a £700,000 loan to a suspected mortgage fraudster in the West Midlands. Alton and Co, which has offices in Accrington and Longridge, was taken to the High Court by Birmingham-based Brook Properties Ltd over the December 2007 transaction.…

The Guardian Getting back into the swing of work at the beginning of the year can can be tough for any student. But for second-year law students there’s the added stress of upcoming vacation scheme application deadlines to contend with. Vacation schemes – a period of two to four week’s work experience with a commercial…

Lancashire Telegraph A CONCERNED resident is calling for action about the poor condition of his road after claiming it has become a ‘health hazard’. Dr Mridul Datta, 75, of Whinney Lane, Langho, contacted Lancashire County Council about the state of the road after noticing an increasing amount of pot holes appearing week by week. The…

Law Gazette A 66-year-old law that governs how and where couples in England and Wales can marry is restrictive, confusing and inconsistent, the Law Commission said today. The Marriage Act 1949 has its roots in legislation passed in 1836 and ‘reflects the needs of society at that time’, the commission says in a scoping paper.…

The Guardian Persistent offenders will be given four penalty points under proposals The government is targeting repeat offenders. Photograph: Ian Waldie/Getty Image Motorists who use handheld mobile phones while driving are to face increased penalties and higher fines under proposals from the Department for Transport. As part of the government’s Road Safety Plan, to be…

lancashire telegraph A BLACKBURN teen who attempted to travel to Syria to fight for Islamic State has been jailed for four years. Ednane Mahmood, 19, was convicted last month by a jury of preparing terrorism acts. The trial at Manchester Crown Court heard that university student Mahmood had downloaded videos showing British aid worker David Haines being…

Nottingham Post A Nottingham barrister will spend Christmas behind bars after being charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine. Omar Khan appeared before Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Saturday and was remanded in custody until next year. The 31-year-old was working at The Johnson Partnership, but the company says he was due to launch his own chambers…

Law Gazette Litigation over the government’s award of new criminal legal aid contracts will not be ‘straightforward’, the High Court heard yesterday during a lengthy hearing on how 115 procurement law challenges and a judicial review should be managed. Hearing the lord chancellor’s application for a possible group litigation order in the Technology and Construction…

Figures released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have shown that accidents at work has increased and reveal that, in the years, 2013/2014, 15 people lost their lives while at work across the North West, and 9,432 were injured in the workplace. These figures compare to 14 deaths and 9,401 work-related injuries across the…

Lancashire County Council has paid out £672,094 in compensation and costs over the last four years to people with conditions linked to asbestos. Asbestos claims It has been revealed in new figures that, since 2010, 17’people have contacted Lancashire County Council regarding asbestos claims. Of these 17 claims one of the cases was related to…

Before 1987, the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 prevented military personnel from making personal injury claims against the Crown. The Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act 1987 has suspended that rule and since 15th May 1987, much the same as employees in normal jobs, military personnel, who have sustained injury during service, can claim compensation if the…

Thousands of people could be denied free hearing aids on the NHS because of funding cuts. Hearing aids have been free on the NHS ever since the health service was founded in 1948 however NHS leaders are considering saving £1.2 million by no longer giving the aids to people with mild or moderate hearing loss.…

Spending cuts mean some children are waiting more than two years for a disability diagnosis, missing out on vital therapy and support as a result. A new survey by the British Academy of Childhood Disability (BACD) contacted 200 paediatricians who lead child development teams across the UK. More than a third of the respondents said…

The NHS Litigation Authority which is responsible for indemnifying the service against legal action has set aside £26.1bn to cover its existing and future liabilities – almost one quarter of the £113bn annual health budget. The Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is now expected to unveil new plans to fine hospitals which are dishonest about medical…