Tony Hatfield's Retired Ramblings

Are Abrahams and Watt Conspirators?

Any first year law student would be able to advise the Labour Party what constitutes a criminal conspiracy: Section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977 provides: "...if a person agrees with any other person or persons that a course... Read more →

Money Laundering and Political Donations.

Before anyone clambers onto their high horse, I know that the Money Laundering Regulations (MLR) don't apply to political parties. In the light of the latest breach of the rules relating to political donations perhaps they should. I remember, with... Read more →

Newbiggin by the Sea

One of our local authorities, Wansbeck District Council is in the dog house. The council are in charge of the beach at Newbiggin by the Sea. They have just spent ten million quid bringing back the beach and sea front... Read more →

Thank God England are out of Euro 2008

Listening to the radio and TV this morning I must be the only English resident not queuing at the doctor's in a state of near collapse asking for large quantity of industrial strength Prozac. The cause of this national depression... Read more →

Computer Down at the Legal Services Commission

It seems that yet another government computer system may be in trouble. A lawyer has pointed me to the Legal Services Commission letter sent out to by them on the 16th November. Most lawyers now submit their bills for work... Read more →

It's Not "Discarding" Fish it's Slaughtering Them!

I'm to the first to admit I do not know everything about commercial fishing. But when I watched a news report today I was perplexed. I remain none the wiser. The report , by the BBC's Rural Affairs Correspondent Jeremy... Read more →

Why Jane Tanner's Evidence is useless!

On Monday, one of the BBC's flagship current affairs programme, Panorama, will be shown to have been infiltrated by Team McCann. But if the grovelling interview Richard Bilton conducted with one of the "Tapas Nine", Jane Tanner, is an example... Read more →

Why did Tony Help Ian to Authorise the IPPC's Exclusion from the De Menezes Investigation?

I mentioned a couple of days ago that the IPCC report (here in PDF), would present more problems to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair. I suggested that what may prevent the Commissioner from going to this year's Scotland... Read more →

More Money squandered on Lawyers!

I've already blogged here on the way the Met wasted public money to fight the De Menezes Health and Safety prosecution. To the judge, the defence advanced by the Met appeared to have little or no merit. Shortly after I... Read more →

The Met is wasting YOUR money?

I'm sure Sir Ian Blair will have to go as a result of his dreadful handling of the De Menezes killing. Perhaps he won't be clearing his desk until the IPPC reports this week on the unacceptable way he dealt... Read more →