Month: September 2013
30.09.13
Justice secretary says cautions to be scrapped for serious offences
Justice secretary Chris Grayling has said that the government will ban the police from issuing unconditional cautions to suspects who admit ‘indictable-only’ offences. These are offences that can only be tried in the Crown Court such as manslaughter, robbery and rape. It is also proposed that unconditional cautions will be scrapped for other serious offences, specifically…
Read more25.09.13
Brett Wilson LLP listed in Legal 500 in four categories
Brett Wilson LLP has been listed in the 2013 edition of the Legal 500 in four separate categories: Defamation and Privacy, Fraud/White Collar Crime, Crime and Fraud/Civil. The directory lists firms who have been recognised as being leaders in a particular field. Partners Nick Brett and Iain Wilson were also separately recommended in the editorial sections…
Read more19.09.13
Controversial ruling on ˜elephant in the courtroom
On 16 september 2013, HHJ Peter Murphy handed down a controversial ruling in relation to the wearing of the niqab, a full face veil, during a criminal hearing at Blackfriars Crown Court. The defendant, a Muslim woman who cannot be named for legal reasons, is standing trial at Blackfriars Crown Court for witness intimidation. she…
Read more18.09.13
Government launches consultation on defamation/privacy costs protection proposals
The Ministry of Justice has published details of its proposals for a cost protection regime in defamation and privacy cases. The proposals follow Lord Justice Leveson’s recommendation that an adequate costs protection system be put in place for defamation and privacy cases (and harassment cases involving the media) once the cost of ‘after the event insurance’ policies cease to be recoverable from the…
Read more16.09.13
Court will not accept jurisdiction for internet libel where there is no evidence of readership in England
The majority of internet publications can be viewed from anywhere in the world, and therefore the possibility exists for people to bring libel proceedings in the English High Court for defamatory content originally published on the other side of the globe. This is a potentially attractive option where the home of the original publication is…
Read more5.09.13
MoJ announces new 'super-prison' while also confirming closures
The Ministry of Justice has confirmed its plans to build a super-prison at an estimated cost of £250 million while simultaneously announcing the closure of four existing prisons. HMP Reading, HMP Blundeston, HMP Dorchester and HMP Northallerton will close within six months (by March 2014). The closures will mean that around 700 jobs are at…
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