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22 June 2012 / Roger Smith
Issue: 7519 / Categories: Opinion , Human rights
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The Europe effect

Roger Smith rounds up recent human rights developments

Some may hate it, but Europe (through both the Council of Europe and the EU) plays an increasing role in policy-making both here and elsewhere. Increased travel, more expatriate residence and more international transactions contribute to the growing importance of the European dimension to issues once able to be seen as clearly domestic or obviously foreign.

May: the overt attack

Theresa May continued her vendetta against judicial decisions in immigration cases by announcing that the House of Commons would pass a resolution declaring how it thought Art 8 should be interpreted.

May comments were more than somewhat Delphic: “[The right to family life] is not an absolute right…In the interests of the economy, or controlling migration or public order, those sort of issues, the state has a right to qualify the right to a family life.” She plans a Parliamentary vote on government policy which she expects the judges to “follow and take into account”. She had a threat: “If they don’t we will have to look at other measures and that could include primary

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

International hospitality and leisure specialist joins corporate team as partner

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Firm appoints head of intellectual property to drive northern growth

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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