Blog
Removal of trustees – factors a court will consider
Cally Brosnan
6 October 2015
A compassionate magistrate and a lamentable government
This is a modern parable, with an unfortunate ending.
Nigel Allcoat, a magistrate from Leicester, had to decide what to do with a debtor, a young man who had been unable to pay a criminal court charge of £180. The man was destitute, surviving on the £36 a week provided to him by the state. There was no prospect of the charge being paid, yet Allcoat was not permitted by law to remit it.
1 October 2015
Stoptober and new offences: the month of nicotine
Stoptober is upon us. Part of the NHS’ Smokefree national campaign, it encourages people to give up smoking for the month of October. Individuals are given celebrity-endorsed messages of support and told that smokers are 5 times more likely to quit for good if they stop for just 28 days.
21 September 2015
Countering Extremism: Free Speech considerations
On 17 September 2015 David Anderson QC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, published his annual report on the operation of the Terrorism Acts 2000 and 2006. In the report he discusses the significance of proposals for a new Counter-Extremism Bill in terms of the limits the State may place on “some of our most basic freedoms". That same day David Cameron also announced a new duty requiring universities and colleges “to stop extremists radicalising students on campuses” which will come into force today.
18 September 2015
Rugby World Cup: tackling corruption
The Rugby World Cup 2015 kicks off today at a time when corruption in sport is firmly in the limelight. Following the indictment in the US in May of 14 FIFA officials and marketing executives on a range of corruption charges, the US Attorney General confirmed this week that there will be more charges in the FIFA investigation involving both individuals and entities.
8 September 2015
Further calls for anonymity for victims of revenge porn
The charity Victim Support has urged the Government to grant anonymity to revenge pornography victims. Lucy Hastings, director of the charity, has said: "Without anonymity a victim testifying in court faces the very real risk of their name and details being reported in the press, which could also lead to the offending images or videos being shared more widely”.