16-year-old Kim Swann went on facebook and took the opportunity to describe her job as "boring". She cannot be alone in having done this and, as she was working in the office of a logistics company, it was almost certainly true.

What marks her out though, is the response of her employers, which was to fire her after only three weeks in the job.

Her mother has been quoted as saying: "I think she's been treated totally unfairly. She didn't mention the company's name. This is a 16-year-old child we're talking about. She says Clacton is boring but we're not going to throw her out of the house for it."

Kim herself added "You shouldn't really be hassled outside work. It was only a throw-away comment. "

The employers in question are Ivell a marketing and logistics firm. I note that the "contact us " page on their site has now been taken down - presumably due to abusive e-mails which have been sent to them. I noticed this when I visited the site to not send an amusing message.

When the site is up and running again, perhaps I can ask them (as marketing experts) whether all publicity really is good publicity?

Muppets.

Labels: Employment Law, News, Privacy

The Disabled Persons' Parking Places (Scotland) Bill has been passed - meaning anyone using a designated spaces without a blue badge faces a fine of up to £60.

The law is a private member's bill by Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie. The move won cross-party support, but some MSPs raised concern about the costs of implementing the legislation.

I have long proposed an alternative solution - simply introduce a new statutory defence to a charge of smashing a car with a baseball bat. This way, no-one would dare to park in a disabled parking bay without the proper authority as a smashed car is much more of a deterrent than a measly £60 fine. Also it provides useful (and lawful) exercise for our young people - while allowing them to contribute to a better society.

A classic win-win. Now, what about those people who park in the parent and child spaces, when their child is obviously at least 14 years old and/or at home watching TV?

Image: Department of Transport, Crown copyright.

Labels: criminal law, News, Scottish Parliament

I simply couldn't let the birth of Govan Law Centre boss, Mike Dailly's new blawg, "Vox PopLex" pass without comment. So I haven't.

The blawg offers "life & law from a public interest perspective" - sounds good, no?

And the title? According to TranExp.com it means "Cry, the people, law!". Quite so, the law often reduces me to tears, at any rate!

Labels: Law Centres, News, site updates

Welcome to a new law firm website, Martin & Company from South Ayrshire. You'll also find them listed under various areas of law, including Civil Legal Aid.

Labels: law firms, site updates

News from the Scottish Government of the "Enhanced Tobacco Sales Enforcement Programme" launched today. Under this scheme, Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs and Trading Standards officers throughout Scotland will be working together to:

• stepping up enforcement of tobacco sales law to prevent underage cigarette sales; and
• stemming the flow of smuggled or counterfeit cigarettes.

Public Health Minister Shona Robison said: "With over a quarter of retailers willing to sell cigarettes to under 18s, it's clearly an area that must be addressed."

A "sustained" test purchase programme to identify those who continue to sell to under 18s will be undertaken. Those retailers who flout the age restrictions will face legal sanctions, including a maximum fine of £2,500 upon conviction.

According to the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Abuse Survey (2006) 47 per cent of 13 year old smokers and 82 per cent of 15 year old smokers reported buying cigarettes from a shop. A recent trading standards operation in Glasgow found that a quarter of shopkeepers still sell cigarettes to 16 year olds.

Since October 1st 2007, the minimum age for buying cigarettes was raised to 18.

And, with the health risks of smoking all too clear now, it's perhaps just as well this new crackdown is being launched.

Read here about how Superman helped in the fight against underage smoking back in 1980.

Labels: Children, News, Scottish Government

Dornoch Sheriff Court (exterior, day) as featured on Flickr, courtesy of FoxyPar4, who was on jury duty there.

I am very excited that Damages is back. Series 2 is on BBC One on Sunday evenings. You can still catch the first episode on iPlayer, and from early signs, it looks like it's going to be another cracker!

Labels: News

Comedian Mark Thomas is to join with National Union of Journalists members in an event to highlight the threat of a new UK law that could be used against press photographers taking pictures of the police.

The Counter Terrorism Act allows for the arrest and imprisonment of anyone whose pictures are "likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism".

The union is joining with campaigners to organise a mass picture taking session outside London's police HQ on Monday 16 February, the day the act becomes law.

Mark will be joined outside New Scotland Yard by renowned documentary-maker Chris Atkins, NUJ vice-president Pete Murray and a bevy of photographers.

Photojournalist and NUJ member Marc Vallee said: "The plan is simple, turn up with your camera and exercise your democratic right to take a photograph in a public place."

There have already been cases of photographers stopped from working by police quoting anti terror laws.

John Toner, the NUJ's organiser who looks after freelance photographers, said: "Police officers are in news pictures at all sorts of events, football matches, carnivals, state processions, so the union wants to make it clear that taking their pictures is not the act of a criminal."

"Our members are photographers, not terrorists."

Roy Mincoff, NUJ Legal Officer, said: "Photographers do not want to endanger the health and safety of the police or the public, but it is important in a democracy that they can do their jobs properly without facing unnecessary legal restrictions."

The photo taking will start at 11am outside New Scotland Yard on Broadway, London.

Labels: Events, Human Rights, News

As a Welsh rugby fan myself, I was both heartened and disappointed to note on the BBC News website that a travelling fan had had a scrape with the law.

Kristian Bowen, 19, from Neath, admitted assaulting a police officer in Hawick in the Scottish Borders on Saturday. Sheriff Colin McClorey is quoted as saying "I hope you are thoroughly ashamed - in a real sense you have let the side down here. Welsh rugby supporters have a tremendously high reputation with mutual hospitality with Scottish rugby supporters especially in this area. I hope you show contrition by having a look at your drinking habits and getting them under control."

He was fined £600 and ordered to pay the officer he assaulted £150.

Photo copyright of Brainless Angel.

Labels: criminal law, News

Earlier this week, we reported on the case of Caroline Petrie, a nurse from Weston-super-Mare who was suspended without pay for asking a patient whether she would like to be prayed for. Following keen interest from the media, she has been reinstated by North Somerset Primary Care Trust.

Mrs Petrie, a Christian and mother of two, was suspended after her employers discovered that she had asked a patient whether she would like to be prayed for. Mrs Petrie had been told that she could face disciplinary action. On 28th January she attended a disciplinary hearing on the basis that she had failed to demonstrate a "personal and professional commitment to equality and diversity" by offering to pray for the patient.

North Somerset Primary Care Trust, in a statement issued on 5th February, said that they recognised that Mrs Petrie had been acting in the "best interests of her patients" and that nurses did not have to "set aside their faith" in the workplace, and could "continue to offer high quality care for patients while remaining committed to their beliefs". The Trust also said that for some people, prayer is recognised as an "integral part of health care and the healing process".

Labels: Discrimination, Employment Law, News

News from the Christian Legal Centre that a nurse from Weston-super-Mare has been suspended from her work for offering to pray for an elderly patient.

Caroline Petrie, a community nurse and a Christian, is facing dismissal for an alleged breach of her code of conduct on equality and diversity.

Mrs Petrie, who is married mother of two, has been accused by her employers of failing to demonstrate a "personal and professional commitment to equality and diversity" because of her offer of prayer.

She was suspended, without pay, on 17th December 2008 and will find out the outcome of her disciplinary meeting this week. She says she has been left shocked and upset by the action taken against her.

Meanwhile, the elderly patient in question (said to have been taken aback by the offer, which she declined) said: "Mrs Petrie was a nice lady, did the job properly and was quietly spoken. Personally I wouldn't want to see her sacked for something like that."

Labels: Discrimination, Employment Law, News