Legislation / Legal
DCMS: Adverts shown in cinemas will no longer have to be reviewed by the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) under plans announced recently. At the moment all cinema advertisements are subject to the Advertising Standard Authority’s (ASA) Committee on Advertising Practice Code, but also have to be reviewed by the BBFC as well.
DCMS are now looking at the best way to bring about the planned changes, and they will make an announcement in due course.
DCMS are now looking at the best way to bring about the planned changes, and they will make an announcement in due course.
Ofcom: Ofcom has recently asked the UK’s advertising regulators to review the rules that limit children from being exposed to alcohol advertising on TV. This follows Ofcom research, which shows that children saw an average of 3.2 alcohol adverts per week in 2011, compared to 2.7 in 2007.
Monitor: Health sector regulator Monitor will be given additional powers to step in and tackle failing health care providers as part of the Care Bill currently progressing through Parliament. A joint policy statement, published by Monitor, the Department of Health and other health bodies as the Bill makes its way through the House of Lords, explains that Monitor will be able to impose additional conditions to a provider’s licence if the Care Quality Commission has issued a warning notice to a foundation trust.
Failure to comply with these extra conditions would provide grounds for Monitor to remove, suspend or replace the foundation trust’s directors or governors.
MoJ: Serious criminals will face justice as soon as possible with the abolition of committal hearings Justice Minister, Damian Green, said last week. Committal hearings were abolished in local justice areas serving 33 Crown Court locations in November 2012 and have now been extended to the remaining 60 Crown Court locations across the country. This will mean around 60,000 fewer hearings will be needed each year.
Many cases will now be sent straight to the Crown Court as soon as it is clear the matter is serious enough, rather than having to await a committal hearing which can slow the justice process down significantly.
IPCC: Police officers have declined to answer questions during witness interviews in an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation into how a man died after being detained last month. 8 Derbyshire police officers who were at the scene when the car David Stokes was travelling in was stopped were asked to attend interviews, as witnesses, to help the IPCC’s independent investigation into his death. The IPCC is urging anyone with information to contact them.
HMRC: New legislation set out by the government confirms tax rules prevent businesses claiming capital allowances for costs met by other businesses. The legislation, which comes into immediate effect, will prevent gas & electricity distribution companies in particular from making new claims for historic costs dating back decades that have already been paid by their business customers. These claims could result in up to £900m in tax lost to the Exchequer.
SOCA: The Serious Organised Crime Agency has published updated information on individuals who are subject to Ancillary Orders. These include Serious Crime Prevention Orders, Financial Reporting Orders and Travel Restriction Orders, all of which are designed to frustrate criminals both in & out of prison. Restrictions might include use of only one mobile phone, possessing no more than £1,000 in cash, surrendering passports and providing financial information at regular intervals.
Career criminals often regard prison as an interruption which rarely marks the end of their involvement in organised crime. This is why SOCA has a policy of lifetime management. Once a criminal is on SOCA’s radar they will stay on it.
ScotGov: Caring for our older people at home will be vital to ease the pressure on Scotland’s health & social care services, Health Secretary Alex Neil said last week. Mr Neil was speaking as a new bill designed to ensure that the health & social care systems work together effectively to improve the provision of care in our communities was published - Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Bill.
Recent figures show the proportion of people in Scotland who are aged over 75 will rise by 80% by 2035 and the 2011 census shows us that, for the first time, there are more people in Scotland aged over 65 than there are under 15.
