The Queensgate shopping centre in Peterborough has deployed two Skype-style video conferencing kiosks which enable Brits to speak to specialist solicitors via the electronic interface. The firm Instant Law UK is behind the installation and a range of practice areas are available. Shoppers can pop into the mall and enquire about legal subject matters like employment, personal injury, immigration and family law.

The pilot scheme is said to have been a huge success as an affordable alternative in light of looming legal aid cuts. It is reported that a further 120 law kiosks may be deployed across the UK in the future. Anyone who wants to use the touch screen technology merely follows the instructions on screen, makes payment and the calls take on average 15-20 minutes.

Mike Poore, head of IT communications at Instant Law UK, said: “This is a unique opportunity for technology and a traditional market to come together, to truly open access and deliver a quality customer experience.”

If however you are not very tech-savvy and you want to speak to a human face-to-face for the personal touch, simply check out an online solicitor director for essential information and guidance. When it comes to law advice, you definitely want to be in fully qualified, safe hands. Whatever legal expertise you need, whether it is for bankruptcy, criminal and fraud, or tax, talk to the professionals who are ready to lend an ear and listen. A problem shared is a problem halved so seek knowledgeable legal aid today via a touch screen kiosk or online help.

MPs had raised concerns that televised trials may encourage defendants to play up to the cameras and turn trials into a form of entertainment like in the USA, put those involved in the trial at risk or allow defendants to use legal privilege to abuse their victims with no risk of prosecution

However, Mr Clarke has now announced that under the current proposals it will only be the judge filmed whilst he or she passes sentence or makes comments on the case.

About the proposals, Mr Clarke said: “I strongly disapprove of any attempt for this to be used for people to make allegations against the victims or for the defendant to make a theatrical display in the witness box or for the jurors’ reaction to be filmed, or anything of this kind.

“We are talking about the judgments and what is said as part of his official duties by the judge, and at this stage I am not contemplating going any further.”

Filming in courts in most of the UK has been banned since 1925, but cameras have been allowed in Scottish courtrooms since 1992 in certain cases, such as the trial of Lockerie Bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi.

It is hoped that televising some areas of the legal process would make the law more transparent and accessible to the public, as well as encouraging more confidence in the system and clearing up misunderstandings and perceptions about the justice system.

Mr van Straubenzee, 28, is childhood friends with the Prince and they attended Ludgrove School in Berkshire and Eton together. Mr van Straubenzee is also a close friend of Prince William and was one of his ushers at his wedding in April this year. It is reported in police records that the royal heard the exchange take place and that himself and a security officer drove to the scene immediately and circled the streets looking for his pal. After not finding him and fearing that his friend had been hurt, Harry drove to Wandsworth Police station where he found Mr van Straubenzee reporting the crime.

According to Wandsworth police, a man has been arrested in connection with the robbery. The stolen mobile phone has been recovered and the man was released on bail. An aide has reported how the Prince leapt into action after their conversation came to an abrupt end to offer some comfort and friendly support. It is believed to be the very first time a senior royal has ever walked into a police station to give a statement and the son of Diana, Princess of Wales, could find himself appearing above a judge in court.

In recent months there have been a number of high profile contempt of court cases following allegations published about arrests of suspects in trials, as well as jurors being prosecuted for using the internet to find out information about cases.

Speaking at City University, Mr Grieve said: “The revolution in methods of communication cannot change what the Lord Chief Justice has termed ’essential principles’ and that is why contempt proceedings will be brought by me when required.”

A number of measures have been suggested with Lib Dem peer Lord Thomas even saying that newspapers should be forced to suspend publication for a day as punishment, as editors would often take a gamble that the arrested suspect would be convicted therefore no contempt proceedings would follow.

Although those in the media have been urged to show more restraint in court, the Lord Chief Justice has announced that reporters can now use Twitter as much as they like in the courtroom. Previously, electronic communications were banned but a new pilot system has been trialled which allows journalists to tweet in court as long as they asked permission from the judge on a case by case measure and this has now been extended to allow any reporter to tweet throughout a trial.

However, the public still have to ask for permission to make any electronic communications in a court room and the Lord Judge said it could be revoked at any time if it was shown to be interfering with justice.

The Bill will allow Ministers, by order, to abolish, merge or transfer the functions of the public bodies listed in the appropriate schedules to the Act. The Bill completed its passage through the House of Lords where it underwent significant amendments. Attempts by the fertility regulator and the intervention of politicians to win a reprieve were unsuccessful.

Some of the quangos that were originally listed in the Public Bodies Bill, like the Youth Justice Board and the Forestry Commission, were excluded following lobbying and amendments in Parliament. The proposed revision of the Act that excluded the HFEA was defeated after votes from the House of Lords. It is predicted that the eradication of the HFEA will occur at the end of the current Parliament.

The Government argue that there will be ample opportunity to the British public to consult the transfer of the HSEA’s functions and powers. It is expected that regulation of fertility clinics will be transferred to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) despite the CQC saying it is already overstretched and ill-placed to assume the HFEA’s role. News of the upcoming UK law follows the regulator’s latest published figures which show that the number of IVF treatments continue to rise.