Bribery Act Alert

The Bribery Act is due to come into force in April 2011 with a short consultation period which will begin and conclude some time before that date. The Act introduces four new offences:

1. Active bribery including giving or offering a bribe in the private or public sector

2. Passive bribery including agreeing to receive or accept a bribe, which also applies in the public or private sector.

3. An offence of bribing a foreign public official

4. A corporate offence which applies when a commercial organisation fails to prevent bribery Read more »

No butts: Smokers liable for cigarette fines

Stuart Page (Associate)

I have been asked by a client today to advise on the position of flicking a cigarette butt out of the window of a car.

There have been lots of cases on this since the smoking ban was introduced in 2007 because people have to smoke outside and drop cigarette ends. Under the Environmental Protection Act any dropping of litter is an offence, arguments have been used such as biodegradable but these have been unsuccessful. Read more »

When to press that panic button…

Gillian Nuttall (PR & Marketing Manager)

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The first time I heard the expression “panic button” was around 25 years ago, when I felt unnerved by a reported burglary in my neighbourhood.  Unnerved enough to have an intruder alarm system installed in my house, the guy who installed it explained the benefits of having panic buttons, one by the bedside and one by the front door.  It made sense to me. 

If I was in a panic I could just press it and all hell would break loose.   I had visions of it being like a scene from The Bill, police cars arriving from all over the place, burglars in stripey jumpers carrying swag bags and jumping over hedges.  

Read more »

Barrow FA Trophy Victory Raises Interesting Legal Issues

Michael Forrester (Solicitor)

The FA Trophy Cup final victory of Barrow FC over Stevenage Borough at Wembley on 8 May 2010 raises some interesting legal issues.

Barrow were victorious with an extra time 2-1 win over the holders, but a furore has erupted over the challenge by Barrow’s Robin Hulbert on Charlie Griffin.

As reported in numerous media outlets, Stevenage Manor Graham Westley commented “I don’t think there’s any place for GBH in football”.  Westley’s comments raised two interesting legal issues, notes Ralli Solicitor Michael Forrester who was present at Wembley, his great-grandfather having played for the North West club and his grandfather being their official Solicitor for many years.  Read more »

Marketing Excellence Rewarded With Second Award

Ralli continued a successful start to 2010 with Marketing Executive, Robert Illidge, awarded a Commendation in the Emerging Marketer of the Year category.

Robert was awarded for embracing web 2.0 strategies allowing Ralli to share our expertise using digital outlets and establishing an excellent social media presence, including the use of Twitter and LinkedIn.

The results of the 2010 Drum Marketing Awards were revealed at the gala black tie awards ceremony held at the Ramada Manchester, rewarding those who had shown marketing excellence. Read more »

Deborah Rainford elected as MJCC President

(L-R) Adrian Anderson, Deborah Rainford, Stephen Fox

Solicitor Deborah Rainford has been appointed as president of the Manchester Junior Chamber of Commerce to lead the organisation’s ambitious growth plans.
 
Deborah, a specialist in business law at Manchester law firm Ralli, was officially appointed as President at the Chamber’s Annual General Meeting on 22nd April 2010.
 
Her plans include to increase individual and corporate membership, raise the profile of the organisation and position the Chamber as an essential resource for the business community in Manchester. Read more »

“One system must apply to all” including MP’s legal aid

Andrew Cowan (Solicitor)

Following on from Stuart’s comments, it is right that the public and David Cameron should feel outraged at this particular decision on legal aid.

However what people must realise is that to be fair, one system must apply to all – and financial means testing in the Crown Court is presently being phased in across the country. It has been in place in magistrates’ courts since 2007. Read more »

Granting Expense MP’s legal aid could “cost the public less”

Stuart Page (Associate)

Although the MP’s have been granted legal aid, and this may be distasteful in the eyes of the public, it has to be remembered that should they be found guilty an assessment will be made by the judge of their ability to pay legal costs, and the judge can make a defendant cost order for them to pay some or all of their legal fees.

The granting of legal aid will also ensure a swift trial for the defendants as one must remember that if they were unrepresented a trial would obviously take a lot longer, with the judge having to explain to unrepresented defendants every step of the legal process. Read more »

Can a criminal trial remain fair without a jury?

Stuart Page (Associate)

Four men were recently convicted of a £1.75m robbery at Heathrow airport – in Britain’s first serious criminal trial without a jury.

With three previous abortive attempts to try the case, new laws were introduced meaning the trial could be heard by a judge alone after the Court of Appeal ruled there was a serious danger a jury could be tampered with.

It is very worrying on a number of fronts that a trial such as this is conducted without a jury, whilst jury tampering is a real concern, in most cases a jury will still be used as there will be no evidence or allegation of such behaviour.

A number of factors have to be considered here:

1. What is the evidence that a jury has been interfered with? Read more »

Facebook says NO to Government backed Panic Button

Gillian Nuttall (PR & Marketing Manager)

Ralli’s resident Auntie Gill has her say:-

I am not new to Social Media, I started to use Facebook a few years ago when my daughter went to live in France.   She’s been there nearly 3 years now and I still miss her very much.

Facebook is a great way for us to keep in touch.  If I don’t receive a call or a text from her every couple of days, I start to wonder if she is alright.  A quick look at her Facebook page will tell me what I need to know:-   She is working very hard and very tired, or she is burning the candle at both ends, with the same result, very tired! Read more »