Judge criticises regular misunderstanding of Lady Hale’s “nothing else will do” adoption comment – Local Government Lawyer

‘It appears there is a regular misunderstanding or misapplication of the words of Lady Hale in the Supreme Court case of Re B that in relation to the test for adoption, “nothing else will do”, a Family Court judge has warned.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th February 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Police failed to investigate officer abuse complaints, say women – BBC News

‘Seven women are accusing Devon and Cornwall Police of failing to investigate serving and former officers for domestic abuse and sexual violence.’

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BBC News, 12th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Husband jailed for killing wife in car fire – BBC News

Posted February 9th, 2024 in domestic violence, families, imprisonment, married persons, murder, news, sentencing by michael

‘An 80-year-old man who killed his wife in a “uniquely savage” car fire has been given a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years and eight months.’

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BBC News, 9th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Fatal domestic abuse reviews renamed to better recognise suicide cases – Home Office

Posted February 6th, 2024 in bereavement, bills, consultations, domestic violence, homicide, news, suicide by tracey

‘Domestic Homicide Reviews will be renamed to Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews following calls to better recognise deaths from domestic abuse related suicide.’

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Home Office, 5th February 2024

Source: www.gov.uk

Neath Port Talbot: Mathew Pickering jailed for life for murder – BBC News

‘A man who murdered his on-off girlfriend has been sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 17-and-a-half years.’

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BBC News, 5th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High Court judge gives guidance on use of intermediaries in Family Court – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has given guidance on the use of intermediaries in the Family Court, in a case concerning a 2-and-a-half year old girl, which was in week 127 at the hearing last month.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 25th January 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Sexual assault victims charged tens of thousands of pounds for court documents – The Independent

‘Domestic abuse and sexual violence victims are being charged up to tens of thousands of pounds to access court scripts after being wrongly advised not to attend court, The Independent has learned.’

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The Independent, 21st January 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Court of Appeal moves to reaffirm “wide and flexible powers” of family court in care case – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Court of Appeal has allowed a Guardian’s appeal against a family judge’s conclusion that she did not have jurisdiction to grant an injunction.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 12th January 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Women harmed after Wiltshire police failed to disclose partners’ violent pasts – The Guardian

‘At least two women were harmed after a “catastrophic” failure in the way a police force dealt with applications under Clare’s law, which gives people the right to ask whether a partner has a violent past, it has emerged.’

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The Guardian, 11th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Domestic abuse victims to be given up to £2,500 to help them flee partners – The Independent

Posted January 10th, 2024 in domestic violence, government departments, news, victims by sally

‘Domestic abuse victims will be given up to £2,500 to help them escape their situation under a new government scheme.’

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The Independent, 9th January 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Revealed: police refusing requests for background checks on violent partners – The Guardian

Posted January 8th, 2024 in disclosure, domestic violence, families, news, police, statistics, violence by tracey

‘Police in England and Wales are leaving people at risk of domestic abuse by refusing to release information on suspected violent partners, the Observer can reveal, with one force declining 95% of requests for checks.’

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The Guardian, 6th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Campaigners condemn 12-year sentence for man who killed partner in Birmingham – The Guardian

Posted January 4th, 2024 in domestic violence, homicide, news, sentencing by sally

‘The 12-year manslaughter sentence given to a man who had been violent to his partner and admitted killing her in a text message to a friend “shows how the criminal justice system fails to deliver justice for women”, campaigners have argued.’

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The Guardian, 3rd January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Alice Wood who dragged partner under car guilty of murder – BBC News

Posted January 3rd, 2024 in domestic violence, imprisonment, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A woman who used her car “as a weapon” to kill her fiancé after a row at a party has been convicted of murder.’

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BBC News, 2nd January 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Thousands of women at risk as police reject over 10,000 background checks on potential abusers – The Independent

Posted January 2nd, 2024 in criminal records, delay, domestic violence, news, police, statistics, vetting by tracey

‘Thousands of vulnerable women are being left at serious risk of harm because police forces are failing to hand over potentially lifesaving information on violent criminals, The Independent can reveal.’

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The Independent, 1st January 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Man jailed for murdering ex-partner and dumping body near layby in Derbyshire – The Guardian

Posted December 20th, 2023 in domestic violence, imprisonment, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man who murdered his ex-partner during an argument and dumped her body near a motorway layby has been jailed for life with a minimum of 17 years.’

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The Guardian, 19th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Qualified legal representatives will now get expenses but Law Soc says fees ‘still too low’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Law Society has welcomed the announcement that expenses will be added to the qualified legal representative (QLR) scheme in domestic abuse cases, but says fees are still too low.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th December 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Most victims of domestic homicide have contacted police or NHS, review shows – The Guardian

‘A review of 302 domestic homicides recorded in a four-year period has found that the majority of those killed had been “hiding in plain sight”, having made contact with the police, health services and other public agencies before their death.’

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The Guardian, 6th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘You were told’: Killed Women report shows deaths could have been prevented – The Guardian

‘Two-thirds of 115 bereaved families surveyed by Ipsos thought the fatal attack on their loved one had been very or fairly preventable.’

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The Guardian, 5th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Law Commission to review defences in cases of domestic homicide – Law Commission

Posted December 1st, 2023 in domestic violence, homicide, Law Commission, murder, news, statute law revision by tracey

‘The Law Commission today announces a new project that will review the use of defences in domestic homicide cases. The Law Commission has been asked to do this work by the Government in their response to Clare Wade KC’s Domestic Homicide Sentencing Review.’

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Law Commission, 29th November 2023

Source: lawcom.gov.uk

Killamarsh: Women and children still at risk after murders, coroner says – BBC News

Posted November 30th, 2023 in child abuse, coroners, domestic violence, murder, news, probation by sally

‘A coroner has warned “insufficient” checks by the probation service continue to put women and children at risk after a quadruple murder.’

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BBC News, 29th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk