| Sputnik news: Viability of coalition between Syriza, Independent Greeks, doubtful: As news broke on Sunday 25th January that Syriza had ousted the establishment to become the first anti-austerity party to gain power in the Eurozone, Professor Achilles Skordas was interviewed by the global news agency, Sputnik on the viability of the resulting coalition. According to Achilles, Professor of International Law at the Law School, “the coalition depends on a number of factors. Primarily it is contingent on the new government's ability to find a compromise with its European partners on rescheduling or cancelling part of the Greek debt…” Photograph: SigmaLive |
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| The Independent: HSBC Swiss offices searched as prosecutors probe alleged money laundering: As the scandal over HSBC’s alleged tax avoidance deepened in February, Swiss prosecutors commenced their investigation into the country’s arm of HSBC for suspected money laundering. In her response, Emeritus Professor Celia Wells highlighted how the scandal would see the fast tracking of proposed reforms to the 2010 Bribery Act – a subject she knows much about. It was Celia’s detailed critique of the draft Bribery Bill that led directly to a change in language that puts the onus firmly on corporate entities to demonstrate effective anti-corruption practices. The impact of this change is highlighted in a related case study. Photograph: The Independent |
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| The Times: How less privileged teenagers are being helped on the way to a legal career: As a new swathe of applicants received their offers for university places, an article published by The Times highlighted how a national Pathways to Law scheme is opening up what has in the past been an elitist profession for bright teenagers from non-privileged backgrounds. It focused particularly on the benefits of the Law School’s widening participation work, led by Professor Lois Bibbings, profiling Law School student Alex Farrell. Alex got her first taste of law through work experience at the Crown Prosecution Service, Osborne Clarke in Bristol and Pinsent Masons in Birmingham and visited Bristol Crown Court and the Inner Temple in London. “Pathways made me realise that university, especially such a good one as Bristol, wasn’t unreachable. Law is so competitive I didn’t think I’d have had the confidence in myself to aim for it.” Photograph: University of Bristol |
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| The Independent: The four biggest misconceptions about migration: Diego Acosta a Senior Lecturer in European and Migration Law at the School. He has recently co-edited a 28 chapter three volume book entitled Global Migration: Old Assumptions, New Dynamics. In this Independent article he discusses the four biggest misconceptions about migration and illustrates how, in the case of people fleeing persecution at home as refugees – such as in the case of Syrians, Eritreans or others arriving now in Europe, debates based on myths may lead to illiberal practices in societies which consider themselves as liberal and based on the rule of law. Photograph: The Telegraph |
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| Radio Four Woman’s Hour: Is Rape Culture a Myth? Earlier this year the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service published a review, led by Dame Elish Angiolini QC, into the investigation and prosecution of rapes in London. Lawyer, Luke Gittos argued that the report highlighted a contemporary panic about ‘rape culture’ and an exaggerated concern about victims of rape failing to receive justice. In a Radio Four Woman’s Hour interview, Head of School, Joanne Conaghan – an internationally renowned scholar in the field of gender and law – challenged this view; “It’s not about conviction rates, it’s about attrition rates… The evidence shows that too many women are coming to the police and reporting rape and finding that basic investigative steps are not being taken…” Photograph: thenation.com |
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| The Independent: Romanian fraudsters stole the bank details of 60,000 people: In August last year a Romanian gang were jailed for stealing the bank card details of more than 60,000 people using an array of sophisticated spying and skimming gadgets. The arrest was made possible because of Project Sandpiper. Its successor, Project Skynet, is founded on a report conducted byAndrew Charlesworth, Reader in IT and Law. Launched in October, the report makes recommendations for the industry to continue tackling the increasing threat cybercrime poses to the payment industry. The study was produced in partnership with the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU) and with the support of Financial Fraud Action UK. Photograph: Getty images |
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| 24dash.com: Is Shared Ownership Weak?: To mark 2015 Shared Ownership Week (5-11 October), a team of researchers, including David Cowan, Professor of Law and Policy, co-wrote an opinion piece to promote the findings of a two year research project funded by the Leverhulme Trust. The article, which appeared on the UK’s leading Social Housing and Local Government news website, 24dash.com, analysed previous schemes and outlined a series of policy recommendations to help make the products which fall under the label “shared ownership” better, particularly in terms of improving the experience of all the key players. Photograph: Eldon Group |
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| Guardian: Fighting for custody after legal aid cuts: In November, aMinistry of Justice report, which included research from Dr Emma Hitchings, was discussed in a Guardian article. Journalist Louise Tickle highlighted the implications that slow action on the recommendations put forward in it could have, particularly in terms of setting up an authorised, independent government-funded website to assist people heading to court on their own. On this particular issue no action had been taken, and with cuts to legal aid, parents fighting for custody were left with minimal information available to them to “negotiate their way alone through court hearings that will result in vital decisions about their futures.” Photograph: Christopher Hopefitch/Getty Images |
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| Irish Times: State’s inaction on torture protocol is ‘embarrassing’ said Professor of Law: At the end of November, Professor Malcolm Evans, Deputy Director of the Law School’s Human Rights Implementation Centre and Chair of the UN’s subcommittee on the prevention of torture, expressed frustration at Ireland’s failure to adequately implement the UN Torture Protocol. “The first country to tell Ireland to hurry up and get on with it was Cambodia... It really doesn’t do Ireland any political favours not to be a party to what is now one of the two premier global instruments focusing on combating torture and ill treatment.” Malcom’s work is highlighted in University Impact Report. Photograph: A prison officer on patrol in Mountjoy Prison. Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times |
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| Business Reporter: Trade union bill push greeted with threats of industrial action: As planned amendments to the UK’s Trade Union Bill were considered by MPs, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady told the TUC Congress that the Bill “was the biggest attack on unions in 30 years”. In aPolicyBristol blog by Professors Tonia Novitz and Michael Ford QC – explore the impact of the amendments which ‘place alarming restrictions on trade unions and poses major threats to the protection of workers, their organisations and their civil liberties.’ Tonia’s current research relates to the right to strike, and she recently assisted the International Trade Union Confederation to prepare a legal brief on the issue. This year, Michael received the accolade of ‘Employment Silk of the Year’ following his involvement in a number of landmark cases, including his appearance in the European Court of Human Rights in a leading case on the right to strike. Photograph: The Independent |
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| OpenDemocracy: The Immigration Bill is bad news for families: In anOpenDemocracy blog (9 December) Lecturer of Law, Katie Bales outlines how, in an attempt to save money and increase voluntary returns, the UK Government intends to make over 2,900 families refused asylum homeless. But which families, and at what cost? Katie discusses how the 2015 immigration Bill, which is currently making its way through parliament, could have grave implications for asylum seeking families if passed without amendment. Photograph: Jason /Flickr. Creative Commons. |
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| The Guardian: Investigators needed for mental health patient deaths, says report In a recent article, the Guardian explored the issues raised in the latest report on the Mental Health Act produced by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Reader in Law, Dr Judy Laing was an expert advisor on the report, which outlines a need for an independent system for investigating deaths of mental health patients detained in hospitals in England. Judy has published extensively in a number of peer-reviewed journals and edited collections on aspects of mental health and medical law. She was invited to join the CQC's Mental Health Act Expert Advisory Group in October 2014. Photograph: Care Quality Commission (CQC) |
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