WIREDGOV

Home Office: A range of new powers to tackle alcohol-fuelled disorder, knife and gun crime, including realistic imitation firearms and air weapons, have come into force under the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, including:

* An offence to manufacture, import or sell realistic imitation guns

* An offence to modify an imitation gun to make it realistic or convertible into a real firearm

* A doubling of the maximum sentence for carrying an imitation gun in public without reasonable excuse

* Air weapons to be sold only by firearms dealers who are registered by police with all sales taking place face-to-face

* An offence to sell a knife to a person aged under 18 (increased from 16)

Press release ~ Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 ~ Home Office - Gun crime ~ Gun crime: Directgov - Young people ~ Ministers 'covered up' gun crime - Times Online

 

MoJ: A new organisation looking after the interests of some of the most vulnerable people in society started this week. The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), introduced under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, is intended to provide legal protection for thousands of people lacking the mental capacity to make decisions themselves.

 

Under the final clauses of the Act, there will also be:

* a new Court of Protection with a wider jurisdiction than the old court, and

* a new Lasting Power of Attorney replacing existing Enduring Powers of Attorney.

 

Lasting powers of Attorney (LPAs), replacing Enduring Powers of Attorney, will hopefully give vulnerable people greater choice & control over their future and enable people to choose someone they trust to look after their affairs should the need arise.

Press release ~ Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) ~ Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland) ~ Mental Capacity Act 2005 ~ Court of Protection ~ Offices of Court Funds, Official Solicitor and Public Trustee ~ Public Guardianship Office ~ Lasting Power of Attorney ~ Alzheimer's Society