Death Penalty: A History of UK Capital Punishment
A History of Capital Punishment in the UK Capital punishment, the use of the death penalty by the state, originated in the Anglo-Saxon era and continued until 1965 when the death penalty was abolished. Initially, the primary way to carry out the sentence was by a primitive form of hanging, placing a noose around the […]
Right to Repair Law to be Introduced this Summer
A new law is due to be introduced this summer giving consumers in the UK the ‘right to repair’ on the electronic goods they buy. The new law aims to extend the lifespan of appliances such as fridges, TVs and washing machines by up to ten years and to make them cheaper to run through […]
Statutory Declaration: A Complete Guide
Despite their historic origins, dating back almost two hundred years, statutory declarations are still commonly used to allow an individual to declare something to be true for the purposes of satisfying some legal requirement or regulation, often when no other evidence is available to prove the matter in question. The following guide examines the nature […]
Guide to UK Obscenity Laws
The obscenity laws in the UK are not limited to a single piece of legislation, nor indeed any one criminal offence. Following the introduction of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 — the first statute to criminalise the publication of obscene material — there are now a number of obscenity-related offences under several different pieces of […]
How to Get a Non Molestation Order
For victims of domestic abuse, a non molestation order can be used to prevent your abuser from harassing you further. In this article, we explain how to apply to court to get a non molestation order and what to do if you need to make an emergency application. What is a non molestation order? A […]
UK Immigration Rules: Upcoming Changes Announced
The Home Office has published a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules, HC 1248. The majority of the amendments affect UK work and study visas under the points-based system, with most due to take effect on 6th April 2021, unless otherwise stated. Graduate route From 1 July 2021, student visa holders in the UK […]
Discrimination in Recruitment & Selection
The Equality Act 2010 protects individuals from discrimination throughout the employment lifecycle, from recruitment through to contract termination. This means that even before an employment relationship is created, job applicants are protected by law from unfair treatment during the recruitment and selection process. If an employer breaches the provisions under the Equality Act, they risk a […]
Stamp Duty Holiday Extended Until 30 June
The UK Chancellor has confirmed in his Budget today that the £500,000 threshold for stamp duty will remain in place until 30 June. Under the temporary rules, homebuyers in England and Northern Ireland can continue to benefit from a higher threshold for stamp duty on house purchases. The tax break can see some homebuyers save […]
Furlough Scheme Further Extended to September
The UK Chancellor has confirmed in the 2021 Budget that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be further extended until September 2021. The furlough scheme has been subject to earlier extensions. Most recently, it had been scheduled to end in April, following a planned phase out as government contributions were set to decrease gradually in the […]
8 New Freeports Set to Launch in England in 2021
Eight new freeport sites are to be launched later this year in England. The sites will be at East Midlands Airport, Liverpool, Felixstowe, Humber, Plymouth, Thames, Teesside, and Solent. Freeports are international gateways offering a number of benefits to businesses operating on the sites, including “more generous tax reliefs, simplified customs procedures and wider government […]
Short Term Study Visa (Learn English in the UK)
The short term study visa is an immigration route specifically designed for students aged 16 or over wanting to undertake an English language course in the UK of between 6 to 11 months at an accredited institution. The rules relating to short term study visas are set out under Appendix Short-term Student (English language) of […]
Supreme Court Rules Uber Drivers Are ‘Workers’
The Supreme Court has upheld earlier courts’ rulings in a landmark decision that confirms Uber drivers are ‘workers’ and not self-employed subcontractors. The Court unanimously upheld a 2016 Employment Tribunal decision that said drivers are in a “position of subordination and dependancy to Uber“. While the decision relates to a limited number of drivers who […]
Bad Weather Policy (Employer Tips)
Extreme weather conditions can be hugely disruptive to business operations, if employees are snowed in at home, while others arrive several hours late due to travel disruption. Living in the UK, with its unpredictable and varied climate, it makes sense for employers to have a bad weather policy. This will help to minimise operational impact […]
Latest UK COVID travel restrictions
What are the latest COVID travel restrictions affecting arrivals into the UK? Travel corridors closed All quarantine-free travel corridors for people arriving into the UK have been closed indefinitely, and all arrivals from anywhere outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man must now present a negative Covid-19 test issued no more than […]
Dismissing a Director of a Limited Company
Dismissing a director of a limited company can raise complex and sensitive legal issues. Many directors are also employees or shareholders, so before terminating a contract and dismissing them from office you will need to understand the legal implications of dismissal to avoid the potential for a dispute and exacerbating a contentious exit. Check the […]
Sackable Offences List (Avoid Unfair Dismissal)
Dealing with issues of gross misconduct can raise a number of legal risks for employers. Employees are protected by law from unfair dismissal, which means any decision to terminate a contract of employment due to conduct must be the result of a fair and lawful disciplinary procedure. In this guide, we look at examples of gross misconduct […]
How to Appeal a Parking Ticket
You may be able to avoid paying a parking fine if you follow the correct appeals procedure and have a good reason for making the appeal. Simply disagreeing with the parking regulations or returning to your car late will not be sufficient to get out of paying the ticket. In this guide for motorists, we […]
Private Parking Tickets Court Cases
Before you make a decision to ignore or refuse to pay a parking fine, it is best to understand your legal position. In this article, we explain the law on parking tickets and how past court cases have clarified the rights of motorists and the organisation that issued the fine. What kind of parking fine […]
Parking Eye vs Beavis: Law on Parking Penalties
Parking Eye vs Beavis is one of the most well-known cases dealing with the legal issues of parking penalties. Mr Beavis became somewhat of a hero in July 2015 when his case against parking giant ParkingEye Limited reached the Supreme Court, the highest court in the UK. ParkingEye is the biggest private parking operator in […]
Parking Ticket Appeal Letter Template
If you are appealing a parking fine, you may in some circumstances need to write a letter stating your case. It can be helpful to use a parking ticket appeal Letter template to ensure you are providing all relevant information. Before you write the letter, the first step in making an appeal is to clarify […]