News
'Black-cab rapist John Worboys to be freed from jail'
John Worboys, thought to be one of the UK's most prolific rapists, is to be freed from jail. The black-cab driver is believed to have carried out more than 100 rapes and sexual assaults on women in London between 2002 and 2008.
Worboys has spent 10 years in custody including a period on remand. After a hearing about his case in November, the Parole Board decided to approve his release with "stringent" licence conditions. He will have to report to probation staff every week and is barred from contacting any of his victims.
This has ignited calls for a change in the law to allow the Parole Board to publish its reasons.
'Judges have lost all faith in community sentences' £££
An article arguing that the partial privatisation of the Probation Service has resulted in fewer Community Orders being imposed, as the judiciary and magistracy have lost confidence in the way private Community Rehabilitation Companies operate.
Legal Aid for Prison Law
Legal aid will be restored for three areas of prison law following a Court of Appeal judgment, the government has confirmed.
Fine For Inventing a Road Accident in Order to Trace Owner of Vehicle Registration Plate
Miles Savory, 40, a director of Bristol-based Accident Claims Handlers Ltd, sent official forms to the DVLA requesting the identity of the registered keeper of a 4x4 which he claimed had been involved in a collision in the city.
The owner of the 4x4 subsequently received a letter at his home from the defendant, offering to buy his private registration plate, W1 DOW. He complained to the DVLA and an internal investigation revealed Savory had used subterfuge in order to obtain his name and address.
Other
Legal Analysis of John Worboys Decision
An informative blog post on the legal aspects of the decision to release John Worboys (see above).
Obscurity
Causing a 'nuclear weapon explosion'
Causing a 'nuclear weapon explosion' is contrary to section 47 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.