HMP Woodhill: Prison staff made insufficient checks on inmate found dead – BBC News

‘Prison staff failed to properly check on a prisoner the morning he was found dead, the prisons ombudsman has ruled.’

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BBC News, 18th March 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

How sex abusers who target their own children keep parental rights – and the mothers fighting back – The Independent

‘A mother is desperate to change her child’s surname – so that they no longer share it with their criminal father. But Emily* is being blocked from doing so by her ex, despite the fact that he is a convicted child sex offender. Her predicament is not unique. Under English and Welsh law, child sex abusers are able to keep their parental rights in the UK, even if they target their own children. This allows them to retain influence over where the child lives, as well as their healthcare and education.’

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The Independent, 17th March 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Woman whose baby was stillborn in HMP Styal praises sentencing changes – The Guardian

‘A former prisoner who gave birth to a stillborn baby in a jail toilet has welcomed changes that campaigners hope will reduce the number of pregnant women locked up, as a “legacy” for the daughter she lost.’

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The Guardian, 18th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court judge makes care order for teenage boy despite local authority seeking to withdraw its application – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 15th, 2024 in adoption, care orders, children, families, local government, mental health, news by sally

‘A High Court judge has refused to allow a local authority to withdraw its application for a care order, finding that an order would be in the “best interests” of a teenage boy with complex needs.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th March 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Kaylea Titford had no care plan in place when she died, review finds – The Guardian

‘A 16-year-old girl with “significant and chronic disabilities” who died in squalor at her family home in rural mid-Wales did not have a care plan in place, a child practice review into her death has found.’

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The Guardian, 14th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Balancing the autonomy and protection of children: competency challenges in data protection law – Information & Communications Technology Law

Posted March 14th, 2024 in children, data protection, news by sally

‘This article considers some complexities surrounding the determination of child competency in matters of data protection. Focusing on the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) guidelines, the article highlights the apparently pivotal role competency plays in granting children the ability to exercise their data protection rights and interests. The article critically examines the inherent challenges arising from the ICO’s approach, emphasising the reliance on data controllers to independently assess the competency of child data subjects. The inherent problematic nature of this approach is scrutinised, shedding light on potential shortcomings and raising questions about the effectiveness and fairness of such assessments.’

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Information & Communications Technology Law, 27th February 2024

Source: www.tandfonline.com

‘Total failures’ in care of baby boy who lived for 14 hours – BBC News

‘A baby boy who lived just 14 hours died after “total and complete failures” in his care, an inquest has found.’

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BBC News, 12th March 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Head teacher sacked for tapping own child’s hand with fingers wins tribunal case – The Independent

‘An experienced primary school head teacher sacked for assault after tapping her own son’s hand to stop him playing with a bottle of hand sanitiser was unfairly dismissed, an employment tribunal has ruled.’

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The Independent, 9th March 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Crown Prosecution Service lawyers trivialise teen sexual abuse, report says – The Guardian

‘Lawyers in the Crown Prosecution Service in England and Wales have trivialised teen sexual abuse, are “obsessed” about the credibility of rape victims and used victim-blaming language, according to a critical official examination into how the service deals with serious sexual crimes.’

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The Guardian, 11th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Mikey Roynon: Teens found guilty of killing 16-year-old boy – BBC News

‘Three teenagers have been found guilty of killing a 16-year-old boy with a zombie knife at a house party.’

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BBC News, 7th March 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Case Update: Surrogacy and Step-Parent Adoption applications – Spire Barristers

Posted March 6th, 2024 in adoption, chambers articles, children, families, news, surrogacy by sally

‘This case concerned two applications made by X and Y in relation to the child, Z, aged 3. Firstly, to vary or discharge a child arrangements order (made in August 2021) and secondly, for a step-parent adoption in favour of X. Both applications were opposed by Z’s mother, G, but supported by the Local Authority and Z’s Children’s Guardian. Taryn Lee KC of Spire Barristers acted for the 3rd Respondent, the Guardian.’

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Spire Barristers, 13th February 2024

Source: www.spirebarristers.co.uk

Family Law Newsletter – February 2024 – Spire Barristers

Posted March 6th, 2024 in chambers articles, children, families, family courts, news by sally

‘Family Law Newsletter – February 2024; Articles, news, legislation updates and case updates from Care Proceedings, Private Law and Financial Remedy matters.’

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Spire Barristers, 26th February 2024

Source: www.spirebarristers.co.uk

Launch of the Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol – Courts & Tribunals Judiciary

‘The Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol comes into effect on 1 March 2024. It replaces the 2013 Protocol and Good Practice Model: disclosure of information in cases of alleged child abuse and care directions hearings.’

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Courts & Tribunals Judiciary, 1st March 2024

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Calls for inquiry after refugee children made to guess who got foster care in ‘game’ – The Guardian

‘Foster families and social workers are demanding an independent inquiry after it emerged that Home Office-employed staff forced refugee children to play a game to guess who would be the next one to be placed in foster care.’

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The Guardian, 4th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court authorises deprivation of liberty of seven-year-old child in registered children’s home – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has granted a local authority’s application to deprive a seven-year-old boy of his liberty, with directions to use the “minimum degree of force or restraint required”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st March 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Father of Brianna Ghey killer Eddie Ratcliffe jailed for sex offences – The Guardian

‘The father of one of Brianna Ghey’s killers has been sentenced to 15 months after pleading guilty to indecent exposure and taking an indecent image of a child.’

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The Guardian, 29th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Hundreds of small boat migrants charged with illegal entry to UK after new powers come into force – The Independent

Posted February 27th, 2024 in asylum, children, immigration, news, prosecutions, young persons by tracey

‘Hundreds of small boat migrants have been charged with arriving illegally in the UK, or arranging the arrival of others, in the year after new powers came into force. New analysis from the University of Oxford and a coalition of charities shows that in the year following the expansion of the government’s new laws on restricting channel crossings, the Nationality and Borders Act, some 240 small boat migrants were charged with illegal arrival to the UK.’

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The Independent, 26th February 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Suffolk couple stole £200K intended for disabled son’s care – BBC News

Posted February 26th, 2024 in benefits, carers, children, disabled persons, families, fraud, imprisonment, news, sentencing, theft by tracey

‘A couple claimed more than £200,000 for care for their disabled son, but kept the money to fund their own “extravagant lifestyle”.’

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BBC News, 25th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Luton drug dealers jailed for modern slavery offence – BBC News

‘Two men who sent a vulnerable teenager more than 100 miles from his home to sell Class A drugs have been jailed.’

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BBC News, 23rd February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Killer nurse Lucy Letby in final bid to appeal convictions – The Independent

Posted February 23rd, 2024 in appeals, attempted murder, children, imprisonment, juries, murder, news, nurses, retrials by michael

‘Lawyers for Letby will ask senior judges for permission to bring an appeal against all her convictions at the hearing in London provisionally listed for April 25, a judiciary spokeswoman confirmed on Friday [23rd February]’

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The Independent, 23rd February 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk