Road Traffic Offences
In recent years the number of fixed and moveable speed cameras have increased considerably and continue to do so. This has resulted in an increase in all types of motoring offences including speeding convictions, points on licence and disqualifications. Road Traffic violations can often be life changing events resulting in the loss of your driving licence which can often also mean the loss of an income. In many cases these offences can even lead to a custodial prison sentence. We have the expertise to advise and assist you in relation to every aspect of these matters from initial arrest or police ...
Dispute Resolution and Litigation Specialists
Our commercial solicitors realise that disputes arise all too often in business and commercial dealings and these can become a major drain on management time and resources unless handled efficiently. We take a robust approach to protecting your interests at all times to achieve the best possible result for you and your business. We are able to provide you with a friendly, proactive approach to your problems with the aim of resolving the same as quickly and cost effectively as possible. We have the best resources at our disposal to assist you in relation to the full range of commercial litigation ...
Immigration
Our team have over 18 years of experience in advising and assisting clients in all aspects of UK immigration law and matters. We are a leading immigration law firm Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority of England & Wales and all our immigration advisers are solicitors registered at the Law Society of England & Wales, therefore providing every client with the certainty that we will always act professionally in every aspect of your matter and that we are accountable to the extremely high standards demanded of us by the Law Society. Our immigration solicitors have the experience and in-depth knowledge ...
Criminal Defence Solicitors
We have a long-established and Platinum Standard criminal defence law team, which handles Serious Fraud Office, Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs, DTI and Crown Prosecution Service investigations and prosecutions. We specialise in providing a highly personalised and efficient service from the very beginnings of a criminal investigation at the police station through to providing highly specialised defence teams for major criminal trials and offences including murder, ABH and GBH offences, kidnap, armed robbery, sexual offences and major drug importation offences as well as insider dealing, money laundering, OFT and EU cartel inquiries, and regulatory work. We have extensive expertise in all ...
Divorce
Divorce procedure and how to get started Divorce can be due to many reasons and is often very emotionally challenging. Mansouri & Son have the expertise and experience to help relieve some of the pressures and complexities of the divorce procedure; leaving you with much needed peace of mind to start to reconstruct your new life without your partner. Often during divorce you will see a side to your spouse, which you never knew existed. We can help to allay some of your concerns and we will advise you, in plain English, what your rights are and what you can expect ...
Business & Commercial Litigation Solicitors
Our commercial solicitors realise that disputes arise all too often in business and commercial dealings and these can become a major drain on management time and resources unless handled efficiently. We take a robust approach to protecting your interests at all times to achieve the best possible result for you and your business. We have the best resources at our disposal to assist you in relation to the full range of commercial litigation areas including: Building disputes/property litigation Corporate/partnership disputes Debt recovery Disputes with customers Insurance ...
Changes to the Immigration Rules March 2012
March 21st, 2012
Changes to the Immigration Rules
On Thursday 15 March 2012, a written ministerial statement was laid before Parliament outlining a number of new proposed changes to the Immigration Rules.
Most of the changes will come into effect on 6 April 2012. Some of the changes to Tier 2 will affect those who were granted leave after 6 April 2011.
The changes will now include the following:
Migrants under the points-based system
Tier 1 – high-value migrants
- Closing the Tier 1 (Post-study work) route.
- Introducing the new Tier 1 (Graduate entrepreneur) route.
- Introducing new provisions for switching from Tier 1 (Graduate entrepreneur) or Tier 1 (Post-study work) into Tier 1 (Entrepreneur).
- Renewing the 1000 place limit for Tier 1 (Exceptional talent) for each of the next 2 years.
Tier 2 – skilled workers
- Limiting the total amount of temporary leave that may be granted to a Tier 2 migrant to 6 years (which applies to those who entered after 6 April 2011).
- Introducing a new minimum pay requirement of £35,000 or the appropriate rate for the job, for Tier 2 general and sportsperson migrants who wish to settle here from April 2016 (with exemptions for those in PhD level and shortage occupation categories).
- Introducing a ‘cooling-off period’ across all the Tier 2 routes. Tier 2 migrants will need to wait for 12 months from the expiry of their previous visa before they may apply for a further Tier 2 visa.
- Introducing new post-study arrangements for graduates switching into Tier 2.
Tier 4 – students
Implementing the final set of changes to the student visa system that were announced in March 2011, including:
- Extending the interim limit for sponsors that have applied for educational oversight and Highly Trusted Sponsor status and have not yet been assessed.
- Introducing limits on the time that can be spent studying at degree level.
- Tightening work placement restrictions.
Tier 5 – temporary workers
- Limiting the length of time temporary workers can stay in the UK, under certain Government Authorised Exchange schemes, to a maximum of 12 months. The schemes affected are intern, work experience and youth exchange type programmes.
- Allowing sportspersons who enter under the Tier 5 creative and sporting sub-category to undertake some guest sports broadcasting work where they are not filling a permanent position.
Changes in all tiers of the points-based system
- Making curtailment mandatory where a migrant under Tiers 2, 4, or 5 of the points-based system has failed to start, or has ceased, their work or study with their sponsor. This includes cases where a sponsor notifies us, via the sponsor management system (SMS), that a migrant is no longer pursuing the purpose of their visa. The Rules will also set out the limited exceptions to mandatory curtailment.
- Reducing the curtailment threshold (the level of leave you have left which means that we will not normally pursue curtailment) from 6 months to 60 days.
- Increasing the funds applicants will need to provide evidence of, in order to meet the maintenance requirements for all routes in the points-based system. For Tier 4 and Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme the changes will come into effect on 6 April 2012. For Tier 1, Tier 2 and temporary workers under Tier 5 the changes will come into effect on 14 June 2012.
Visitors
- The new visitor route will allow a small group of professionals, artists, entertainers and sportspersons who are invited to come to the UK to undertake short-term permitted fee paid engagements for up to 1 month.
Overseas domestic workers
- Restricting all overseas domestic workers (ODW) to only work for the employer with whom they entered the UK, or whom they came to join.
- Removing the right for all migrants under the ODW category to apply for settlement.
- Strengthening the requirement for the employer of an ODW to provide evidence of an existing employer relationship, and introducing a requirement for agreed, written terms and conditions of employment to be produced, as part of the application for entry clearance.
- Permitting all ODWs who have applied for leave to enter or remain on or before 5 April 2012, to continue to be treated under Immigration Rules in place on that date.
- Restricting ODWs in private households to work for an employer who is a visitor to the UK. Permission to stay in the UK will be limited to a maximum of 6 months or the period of the employer’s stay whichever is shorter. Removing the current provision for ODWs to be accompanied by dependants.
- Permitting ODWs in diplomatic households to apply to extend their stay for 12 months at a time up to a maximum of 5 years, or the length of the diplomat’s posting, whichever is shorter.
Sponsors
- Introducing a Premium Customer Service for those A-rated sponsors in Tiers 2 and 5 who wish to apply and pay for a range of benefits. We will publish the full range of service benefits in due course. The service will launch in the 2012-13 financial year.
In addition to these changes, the government is also making amendments to the extension of leave to remain.
The Home Office also published 2 financial impact assessments: one on settlement and another on Tier 5 and overseas domestic workers, as well as a policy equality statement.
The written ministerial statement, impact assessments and the policy equality statement can be found on the Home Office website.
Chinese man convicted of running brothel network faces deportation
March 21st, 2012
Chinese man faces deportation for running brothel network
A Chinese man faces deportation after being found guilty and sentenced to over 3.5 years for running a network of brothels across the south and east of England.
Kun Yi He, aged 39, of Hunters Road in Chessington, though formerly of Totteridge Road in High Wycombe, was arrested during a series of raids by our officers on suspected brothels and addresses linked to them in June 2011.
The raids were part of 1 of the biggest operations of its kind ever undertaken in the UK, involving around 150 of our officers and 8 different police forces targeting 13 addresses.
Investigations by our south east region criminal and financial investigation team identified Kun Yi He as the head of a network of 10 brothels across the south and east of England.
They included 5 addresses in Cambridge, 4 in Berkshire (2 in Maidenhead and 1 each in Slough and Wokingham) and 1 in Surrey (Godalming). All the brothels identified have since been closed.
Kun Yi He was found guilty of conspiracy to manage brothels on Monday 19 March following a 2 week trial at Reading Crown court.
Anyone from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who is sentenced to 12 months years or more is automatically eligible for deportation on completion of their sentence.
Two other people charged in connection with the same conspiracy had already pleaded guilty to the same charges. Ai Ju Su, aged 35, of Abbey Barn Road in High Wycombe, and Manjit Singh, aged 35, of Knowl Hill, Maidenhead, will be sentenced at a later date.
Budget 21 March 2012
March 21st, 2012
Today’s Budget announcement has important practical implications for business owners.
With the British economy in a dangerous state, the government was under pressure to deliver a programme for growth.
Here is our quick guide to help you assess what this Budget mean for you:
Forecasts
• The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) expects the British economy to avoid recession. It now expects growth of 0.8 per cent during 2012, 2 per cent in 2013, and 2.7 per cent in 2014, and 3 per cent in 2015 and 2016.
• The OBR still expects unemployment to peak at 8.7 per cent this year, with 1 million more jobs created during the next five years.
• The OBR expects inflation to fall to 1.9 per cent in 2013.
• The OBR expects the eurozone to contract by 0.3 per cent in the next two years.
Business tax
• The headline rate of corporation tax will fall to 24 per cent from April, and then to 22 per cent from 2014.
• The smallest firms will get a simplified tax reporting system, in line with an EU directive.
• The government will “remove loopholes and exemptions” on VAT – meaning that more products will be subject to the tax.
• Tax incentives will be offered to the video game and filmmaking industries.
Personal tax
• The income tax threshold will rise to £9,205 from April 2013. The threshold is already scheduled to rise to £8,105 from next month.
• The top rate of income tax will be cut to 45 pence from 50 pence, from April next year.
• Taxpayers will receive a personal tax statement.
• There will be a new cap on income tax relief for those claiming more than £50,000 in reliefs.
Lending and finance
• Prior to the Budget the government announced a new National Loan Guarantee Scheme that it says will help small firms secure cheap credit. Loans will be available under the scheme at 1 per cent cheaper than those outside it.
• The Finance Partnership and Enterprise Finance Guarantee will be expanded.
• ‘Enterprise loans’ will be provided to young entrepreneurs on a similar basis to student loans.
Infrastructure
• Private firms will be asked to invest in infrastructure, with parts of the road network potentially being privatised.
• Network Rail will improve rail lines in the north of England.
• New plans for airport expansion will be announced later this summer.
• Enhanced capital allowances will be offered to businesses in the new Scottish Enterprise Zones, and in one London Zone.
• The government will fund ultrafast broadband in ten cities across the country, with a further £50 million for smaller cities.
IAS – Immigration Advisory Service immigration files to be destroyed
March 9th, 2012
Former Immigration Advisory Service clients can retrieve their files until 28 May 2012
The Chief Registrar, Mr Registrar Baister, announced that any former UK Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) clients will be able to retrieve their files from the archives from now 27 February 2012 until 28 May 2012.
The IAS was a free charity service that gave legal advice and representation to immigrants and asylum seekers in England and Scotland. From April 2009 until March 2010, the charity handled more than 24,000 cases. On 11 July 2011, IAS went into unannounced administration, blaming financial difficulties caused by government strangles attached to the legal aid system. As a result thousands of immigrants awaiting the outcome of their immigration applications were left stranded without any legal advisers.
A statement released by Mr Registrar Baister stated, “If you are a former client of IAS and want to retrieve your file, pursuant to a court order made on 27 February 2012, you now have only until midnight on 28th May 2012 to make a request for retrieval.”
If former clients of the IAS don’t make the request for the file within this time frame, any files held by IAS will be securely destroyed. Former IAS clients are advised to contact the IAS immediately.
Any former IAS clients seeking immigration or asylum representation can contact us on 020 8401 7352 for an appointment. We are currently offering an expedited service to former IAS clients who have urgent circumstances. However; please note, for obvious reasons, we do not accept Legal Aid work.
Police Officer convicted of assaulting a child
March 9th, 2012
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A Metropolitan Police Service officer has been convicted of a common assault following an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. PC Karl Bartlett, from the MPS’s Territorial Support Group, was convicted of assaulting a 14 year-old-boy, a passenger in a vehicle he had stopped, following a four day trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. PC Colin Nye was acquitted of the same offence and PC Anthony Read, was acquitted of assaulting Lee Rosier, 24, during the same incident. The investigation related to an incident where Mr Rosier, his 14 year old passenger and a nine year old boy were returning home from a classic car event in North West London on March 1, last year when their vehicle was stopped by a police van. Mr Rosier, who admitted using his mobile phone while driving, and his passenger were then forcibly removed from their vehicle. The IPCC undertook an independent investigation following a complaint from Mr Rosier and his passenger that the three officers had used excessive force. Both complainants sustained cut lips and facial injuries. Mike Franklin, IPCC commissioner, said: “After a full trial, the judge decided that PC Bartlett’s actions towards his victim were criminal in nature. This young man had committed no offence and offered no resistance when officers stopped the vehicle he was travelling in. We do not expect our police officers to abuse their power and positions and, as this case shows, when they do so in this way they will be held accountable by the courts.”
BBC - Metropolitan policeman guilty of headbutt attack
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