New Series Starts Next Week!

We have been off air for 6 weeks and those lovely people over at UK Criminal Law Blog have been filling your ears with interesting information on the Baby P case, politics, child abuse cases and all sorts.

Whilst we have been off-air, Kirstin has been talking to the MMU Critical Lawyers about anonymity in sex cases - our old friend  She's even been bothering the Beeb's viewers on the subject.  And BBC 5Live.  Such a media-tart!

Ben has been working and trying to keep his sanity as builders have descended on his home to replace the bathroom.  Quite probably some litigation coming there as the first builders disappeared into the sunset!  

Jonathan has been busy with all manner of interesting stuff.  He's going to tell us about some of it at the start of the new series.

We hope that you have all been keeping well and we'd like to know if you have any subjects that have arisen over the last six weeks that you think we should be covering.

Get in touch and tell us what you'd like us to talk about.

The Northpod Law bods - 11th October 2013

Whilst we are off-air....

For the six weeks when we are living the high life and not recording Northpod Law, we are really pleased to announce that those lovely people at UK Criminal Law Blog (most of whom have been on the show at some point or another) will be giving you six weeks of their take on the big crime stories in the press.

Your iTunes, Pocketcast etc feed will update automatically so don't freak out when you see a new logo appear in your podcasts!

We'll be back in six weeks so we'll leave you in their hands for now.

Ben, Kirstin and Jonathan.

S09E06 - Forced Marriages

A cake and bourbon show with no cake.  Or bourbon.  Or Ben.  Or Jonathan.

What we do have though is an in depth look at the work of the family courts of England and Wales with a particular focus on the increasingly common issue of forced marriages.

Have a listen right here.

Joining Kirstin this week (actually in Podcast Towers for a change!) is Joseph Lynch.  He is a family law specialist whose work mainly involves public law cases - where a local authority is seeking to remove the child from the custody of the parents.

Joe can be contacted via his chambers, Central Chambers.

We will be back in <cough> six weeks with a new series.  Series 10 is quite likely to end with a party.  What do you say?  Fancy joining us for a few sneaky drinks at a live show?  Let us know on the Twitter, Google+, email or on 0161 408 5037

Some other stories for which we did not have time this week:

Grayling turns on yet another “valued partner”. Serco this time.

http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/moj-calls-in-police-over-serco-fraud-claims/5037199.article

...but refuses to back down on Legal Aid destruction.

http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/areas-of-law/legal-aid-and-access-to-justice/grayling-refuses-to-delay-legal-aid-cuts/5037170.article

Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Orders or Suspected sex offender restraining orders

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23844385

Jonathan Rayner, writing in the Law Society Gazette, quotes Law Society criminal law committee chair Richard Atkinson told me: ‘It is a dangerous move to take away the requirement for a conviction to make a restrictive order, not least because the order will be interpreted as proof that you committed the offence and that you are indeed a paedophile.

‘Also, if you resort to litigation to resist the restrictions, you are effectively telling the prosecution in advance how you intend to conduct your defence – giving the prosecution two bites of the cherry.’

Also, keep a lookout for a new law-based podcast, coming soon on the Northpod network of podcasts.  Don't worry as we will add the new show to your podcast feed automatically when it's available so you don't miss out.

S09E05 - A Conventional Episode

Two conventions this week - the Hague and the Refugee.  You can listen here.

Jonathan Holt and Dan Bunting discuss s.31 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 which gives special criminal defences to asylum seekers.

You can follow Dan and his musings at Dan Bunting a life in the bus lane.  uk criminal law blog and of course, on the Twitter @danbunting.

The case that sparked the discussion is here

Then we go on to discuss In the Matter of an application by Her Majesty's Solicitor General for the committal to prison of Jennifer Marie Jones for alleged contempt of court.  A case which highlights the need for precision when drafting an order with a penal notice. 

It considers whether you commit a breach if you fail to do something after the time you ought to have done it, why you need to tell someone to do something by four days after you want it doing and revisits who can bring contempt proceedings.  It's a very good place to start if you ever need to research contempt!

Cake and Bourbon Show next week - don't miss it!