Court of Protection declares lawfulness of care plan setting out arrangements for termination of woman’s pregnancy – Local Government Lawyer

‘A judge sitting in the Court of Protection has declared that a care plan setting out the arrangements for the termination of a woman’s pregnancy was lawful.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 14th March 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Coroner criticises benefits rules after vulnerable claimant’s death – The Guardian

‘A coroner has criticised the Depart­ment for Work and Pensions (DWP) after a woman died from an overdose in the wake of a six-month official investigation that left her with soaring universal credit debts.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 10th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Joshua Jacques: Serious failings in probation supervision – report – BBC News

Posted March 7th, 2024 in drug abuse, murder, news, probation, release on licence, reports by sally

‘There were “serious failings” in the probation supervision of a quadruple murderer, the chief inspector of probation has said.’

Full Story

BBC News, 7th March 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Family Drug and Alcohol Court model suitable for domestic abuse cases even where no substance misuse, says judge – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 7th, 2024 in alcohol abuse, domestic violence, drug abuse, family courts, news by sally

‘A judge sitting in the Family Court has highlighted the successful use of the Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) model in a case where the main presenting difficulty was domestic abuse.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 6th March 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judge hails “vital” role of Family Drug and Alcohol Court after making supervision order – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 15th, 2024 in alcohol abuse, drug abuse, families, family courts, news, supervision orders by sally

‘A Family Court judge has made a supervision order for a period of 12 months in order for a baby boy to remain in the care of his parents, in light of the progress they have made through participation in the Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) programme.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 14th February 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Intentional homelessness from a half way house – Nearly Legal

Posted February 12th, 2024 in appeals, drug abuse, homelessness, housing, local government, news by tracey

‘Kyle v Coventry City Council (2023) EWCA Civ 1360. Mr K was homeless and addicted to class A drugs. During the relevant period for this second appeal, he was on a methadone treatment prescription. He had applied to Coventry as homeless. He had been given s.188 Housing Act 1996 accommodation in hostel supported accommodation (a “halfway house”).’

Full Story

Nearly Legal, 11th February 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Hair strand testing – pitfalls and limitations – Transparency Project

Posted January 25th, 2024 in drug abuse, family courts, forensic science, news by sally

‘When it is disputed whether a person uses drugs, the family court can – and often does – order hair strand testing to determine the issue. This article draws upon the work of lawyer Sarah Branson and drug tester Paul Hunter, who have explored the limitations of hair strand testing and highlighted the need for caution in relying on hair strand test results (See Recent scientific developments in hair strand testing and racial bias in current practices of hair strand testing. I’m going to call this ‘the Fam Law article’). Even so, hair strand testing continues to be the ’go-to’ when there is a question over drug use. Despite an increasing recognition of the possibility of mistakes and errors in the production and reporting of hair strand test evidence, this evidence is still regularly relied upon by the courts as evidence of substance use. These problems are often underestimated, which can have disastrous consequences.’

Full Story

Transparency Project, 24th January 2024

Source: transparencyproject.org.uk

Interim removal of children – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 8th, 2024 in appeals, care orders, children, drug abuse, families, local government, news by tracey

‘A recent Court of Appeal authority is a useful case for family practitioners to have in their toolkit, particularly those representing parents facing applications for interim removal of their children, writes Malvika Jaganmohan.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 5th January 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Law enforcement on class B and C drugs ‘pathetically weak for years’, says PCC – The Independent

Posted November 17th, 2023 in drug abuse, enforcement, news, police by tracey

‘The enforcement of laws around class B and C drugs has been “pathetically weak” for years and tougher action needs to be taken nationally against cannabis, a police and crime commissioner (PCC) has said.’

Full Story

The Independent, 17th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Possession of nitrous oxide is now illegal – Home Office

Posted November 10th, 2023 in criminal justice, drug abuse, drug offences, news by tracey

‘Possession of “laughing gas” is now illegal with repeat serious users facing up to 2 years in prison and dealers up to 14 years.’

Full Story

Home Office, 8th November 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Court of Appeal allows appeal by father over interim care order – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 9th, 2023 in appeals, care orders, children, drug abuse, families, local government, mental health, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has allowed a father’s appeal against interim care orders made in respect of his three children.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 8th November 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Cumbrian man found guilty of murdering four-month-old baby son – The Guardian

‘A man described as a “monster” and “ticking timebomb” has been found guilty of murdering his four-month-old baby son.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 1st November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Just under half of children returned to live with their families as result of entering Family Drug and Alcohol Court, annual report reveals – Local Government Lawyer

‘The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has published his second annual report on the Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDACs), of which he states he has “long been a supporter”.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 26th October 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Nitrous oxide to be illegal from November – Home Office

‘Possession of nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas”, will be illegal from 8 November 2023.’

Full Story

Home Office, 18th October 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Sutton-in-Craven: Drug driver jailed for killing boy, 9, in hit-and-run crash – BBC News

‘A van driver who smoked crack cocaine before crashing into a nine-year-old boy and killing him has been jailed.’

Full Story

BBC News, 19th October 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ex-MP jailed over expenses fraud loses appeal against prison sentence – The Independent

Posted September 27th, 2023 in appeals, drug abuse, expenses, fraud, imprisonment, news, parliament, sentencing by sally

‘A former MP jailed for expenses fraud has lost a Court of Appeal bid to challenge his four-year prison sentence.’

Full Story

The Independent, 26th September 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Laughing gas to become illegal class C substance in UK – The Guardian

Posted September 6th, 2023 in drug abuse, drug offences, government departments, news by sally

‘Nitrous oxide, popularly known as laughing gas, is to become an illegal class C substance by the end of the year, the government has said.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 5th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fugitive guilty of stabbing asylum seeker to death in row over £10 drug debt – The Independent

Posted August 2nd, 2023 in Afghanistan, asylum, drug abuse, extradition, immigration, murder, news, violent disorder by sally

‘A fugitive has been found guilty of stabbing an Afghan asylum seeker to death over a £10 debt nearly six years ago.’

Full Story

The Independent, 1st August 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Pioneering initiative to force offenders to get clean or face jail time – Ministry of Justice

‘Criminals serving community orders for low level offences will be closely monitored by judges as part of a new pilot forcing offenders to clean up their acts or be put behind bars.’

Full Story

Ministry of Justice, 28th June 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Sheffield man beat neighbour to death with bag of Pokemon cards – BBC News

Posted May 10th, 2023 in drug abuse, imprisonment, mental health, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man who bludgeoned his neighbour to death with a bag full of Pokemon cards because he was angry about being insulted has been jailed for life.’

Full Story

BBC News, 9th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk