The Guardian Psychoactive substances bill may lead to lack of clarity over whether or not suspects are breaking the law, says Durham PCC Ron Hogg Northumbria University research found the main market for legal highs was vulnerable young people. Photograph: Alamy Police could face extra expense and confusion as a result of discrepancies in the…
The Guardian MPs told fees rise was based on ‘hopeless’ evidence to plug £100m hole and hit small businesses, divorcees and employees The master of the rolls said ‘enhanced fees’ meant users of civil courts were subsiding the family and criminal courts. Photograph: Velar Grant/Demotix/Corbis Court fee increases that were hastily introduced to plug a…
The Law Gazette A Yorkshire firm has been ordered to pay £229,970 to a former client over mishandled property transaction advice almost 10 years ago. Mansion Estates Limited accused Hayre & Co and its principal Rajinder Hayre of fabricating a series of attendance notes and exchanges following the 2007 sale of a £1.7m property in…
BBC The defence secretary has said he is concerned about the “industrial scale” of claims against serving personnel and veterans The prime minister has said he wants to “stamp out” what he called “spurious” legal claims against British troops returning from war. David Cameron said ministers had been asked to draw up plans to…
The Guardian Judge says traditional cabs are ‘devoid of inherent distinctive character’, in legal row involving new eco-friendly taxi group The new Green taxi, Metrocab – the only zero-emissions capable black cab currently operating in London. Photograph: Metrocab A high court judge has ruled that one of London’s most famous sights, the black cab, is…
The Law Gazette The president of the Family Division has proposed introducing mandatory restrictions on the number of pages in court documents for family cases, alleging that lawyers have ignored previous calls for restraint. Last February Sir James Munby (pictured) criticised lawyers for ‘routinely’ ignoring practice directions imposing a 350-page limit on bundles, warning that…
The guardian Appeal court says detention of Miranda was lawful but clause under which he was held is incompatible with European human rights convention The court of appeal rules in the David Miranda case – video A key clause in the Terrorism Act 2000 is incompatible with the European convention on human rights, the master…
Fewer witnesses in criminal cases are turning up at court, a watchdog has warned. Fewer witnesses in criminal cases are turning up at court, a watchdog has warned. Attendance is falling despite an increase in the number of witness summonses issued, HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) said. Chief inspector Kevin McGinty said: “Fewer and…
The Law Society Gazette Motor insurers would net an annual windfall exceeding £1bn from fresh curbs on the rights of injury victims – if the industry booked as profit the savings it says it will make from reform. Industry data shows that the £50 per premium saving promised by the government could yield a massive…
The Law Gazette Health ministers intend to introduce fixed fees for clinical negligence cases by 1 October – despite not yet releasing a promised consultation on the issue. Responding to a written parliamentary question, health minister Ben Gummer (pictured) confirmed the intended start date for fixed recoverable costs for claims, following the outcome of the…
