Questions tagged [united-kingdom]
For questions specific to the United Kingdom. Note that the UK does not have a common legal system across its jurisdictions - consider using [scotland] or [england-and-wales] or [northern-ireland].
2,141
questions
21
votes
3
answers
9k
views
Can a company adopt a child?
With apologies for the (only somewhat) click-bait title, in an answer to another question (see this answer) the statement
Typically the only thing a legal entity that is not a natural person cannot ...
21
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Is buying counterfeit goods illegal?
There are fake Rolexs being sold on the internet for around £250. This is illegal, and those engaged in selling such items have been charged with unauthorised use of a trademark. It appears that ...
- 373
21
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Is mere accusation without evidence other than testimony of the accuser, grounds for arrest in the UK?
Several years ago I was stopped in public by the police. Someone had 'identified' me as abusing them in terms of their gender two years before that. Had that happened, I suppose it would have been ...
- 1,045
20
votes
3
answers
6k
views
When speaking to a judge in court, what do barristers mean by "May I take instructions?"
I know what instructions to a barrister are, BEFORE court.
When it is appropriate to use a barrister, the barrister is sent ‘Instructions' (when asked to give an opinion on a case) or a 'Brief' (if ...
user42021
20
votes
2
answers
7k
views
In the UK, can residents leave their gate open taking pavement space?
I walk my kids to school and pick them up, on my way, there is a house that -most of the time- keeps both of their gate doors open across the pavement perpendicular to their house, taking around 80% ...
- 395
20
votes
3
answers
11k
views
Is it illegal to turn off someone’s loudspeakers in public?
Let’s suppose someone goes to a certain street and plays an audiobook recording about their political program every day on the speakers at loud volume. If someone walks up and switches the recording ...
20
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Has a common law defence ever held water?
The UK is a common law country. It is a widely held belief of many people that statute Acts of parliament (i.e. most 'laws') only apply with the "consent of the governed"; and that one may be a "free ...
- 871
19
votes
6
answers
9k
views
Is there anything illegal about working for another party while on paid leave from one's job?
Meet Bob. Bob has 20 days' paid leave from his work. When he is taking this time off and being paid for it, is there anything wrong with him doing other paid work for another person or company?
19
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Is it legal for a business to refuse service to a former customer in retribution for them leaving negative online reviews of the business?
The workers of the business are excellent at what they do and lovely people, while the manager is always a mean jerk to everyone. I don’t want to stop going there just because of him but I’m finally ...
19
votes
3
answers
10k
views
Is it legal to bribe a private eye?
Suppose I ask a private eye to find out if my wife is having an affair, they do, and she pays them to keep quiet. Is this against the law of my wife and the private investigator?
user52187
19
votes
4
answers
7k
views
What would be Julian Assange's expected punishment, on the current English criminal law?
Currently, the only charges form the British side against him are, that he avoided the criminal procedure (he was, on the British law, a fugitive) by his "visit" on the Ecuadorian Embassy.
Meanwhile, ...
- 899
19
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Can everyone name Soldier F now that an MP has named him in Parliament?
Recently, the MP for Foyle, the Hon Colum Eastwood, named "Soldier F", who is facing charges of murder over Bloody Sunday in 1972. A judge in Northern Ireland had made an anonymity ...
- 199
18
votes
5
answers
7k
views
Is this "Bait-And-Switch" defence possible?
I was kind of inspired by a television programme I was watching recently - I won't spoil it by saying its name.
Let's say my friend committed a murder and wanted to get away with it. So together we ...
- 797
18
votes
5
answers
7k
views
Is it legal to describe something exactly as "cheese" without asterisks or other qualification if it doesn't contain any dairy?
Is the marketing statement "our cheese is made of 100% plant ingredients" false advertising and is it legal?
- 777
18
votes
4
answers
3k
views
What legal basis existed or may have been argued in defence, as to why the "Colston Four" should be acquitted?
In this weeks UK news, we read that the Colston Four were acquitted. For those unaware, these were four individuals who played an active role during BLM protests, in pulling down and dumping in the ...
- 3,189