List of prison deaths to be published in move ‘from secrecy to openness’ – The Independent

Posted February 23rd, 2024 in death in custody, disclosure, Ministry of Justice, news, ombudsmen, prisons, statistics by michael

‘The prisons and probation ombudsman (PPO) will post weekly updates identifying those who have died, the prison where they were being held and the date of their death.’

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The Independent, 22nd February 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘Scandalous’ if UK watchdog role left empty when Rwanda plan starts, says inspector – The Guardian

‘The UK’s chief inspector of borders and immigration has called it “scandalous” that his watchdog role could be left vacant while the Rwanda scheme is introduced.’

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The Guardian, 19th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Council told to pay £15k after failings led to child missing education for two years – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 13th, 2024 in compensation, families, local government, news, ombudsmen, special educational needs by tracey

‘The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has called on North Northamptonshire Council to pay nearly £15,000 after the local authority’s failings led to a child missing out on education for two years.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 12th February 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Vulnerable family forced to eat Christmas dinner on floor after landlord fails to fix flat – The Independent

Posted February 6th, 2024 in compensation, housing, landlord & tenant, news, ombudsmen, repairs by tracey

‘A mother and her two young children were forced to eat their Christmas dinner on the floor after water flooded their flat and they were moved into temporary accommodation. The housing ombudsman has ordered their landlord, Yorkshire Housing, to pay nearly £4000 to the family after it found they were guilty of severe maladministration over the handling of the leak, damp and mould.’

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The Independent, 6th February 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Environmental watchdog criticises Government over lack of monitoring and transparency – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has attacked the Government over a lack of transparency in measures to protect the environment.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 25th January 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Ombudsman finds “significant delays” in response of council to complaints from vulnerable man left in unsuitable accommodation – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 25th, 2024 in complaints, delay, disabled persons, housing, local government, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) has recommended that Peterborough City Council pay more than £2,900 after its delay in revising the housing priority of a vulnerable man.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th January 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

BBC review: Ofcom to gain more powers over BBC News website – BBC News

Posted January 22nd, 2024 in BBC, enforcement, government departments, internet, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘Ofcom is to gain more powers over BBC online services, including the BBC News website, as part of a series of changes unveiled by the government.’

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BBC News, 22nd January 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Housing Ombudsman criticises council over four cases of severe maladministration, covering “wide range of responsibilities” – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Housing Ombudsman has criticised Croydon Council after finding severe maladministration in four cases that covered several aspects of the landlord’s responsibilities, including anti-social behaviour, adaptations and mutual exchange.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th January 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

HelloFresh fined over millions of spam texts and emails – BBC News

Posted January 12th, 2024 in advertising, complaints, electronic mail, fines, news, ombudsmen, telecommunications by sally

‘Food delivery company HelloFresh has been fined for sending millions of spam emails and texts to customers.’

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BBC News, 11th January 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Major social landlord to pay nearly £11,000 to residents after failings in damp and leak repairs – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Housing Ombudsman has ordered Clarion Housing Association to pay £10,800 in compensation to tenant households after it made four findings of severe maladministration across three cases.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 9th January 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Council told to deduct £11k from outstanding care home fees after delays in carrying out financial assessment – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 9th, 2024 in care homes, elderly, fees, local government, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found fault in the way that Essex County Council carried out a financial assessment and a deferred payment process for an elderly man with dementia.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th January 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Ombudsman overpayment determination – Pensions Barrister

Posted January 4th, 2024 in news, ombudsmen, pensions by sally

‘The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO) has published his first determination since the Court of Appeal’s decision in The Pensions Ombudsman v CMG Pension Trustees Ltd [2023] EWCA Civ 1258 of a complaint by a scheme member relating to the recovery of overpaid benefits from his future pension payments.’

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Pensions Barrister, 4th January 2024

Source: www.pensionsbarrister.com

GB News: Ofcom rules breached over Don’t Kill Cash campaign – BBC News

Posted December 20th, 2023 in bias, bills, codes of practice, media, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘GB News breached impartiality rules with an episode of The Live Desk, which promoted its branded campaign Don’t Kill Cash, Ofcom has said.’

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BBC News, 19th December 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police watchdog refuses to back use of stop and search without suspicion – The Guardian

‘The official inspectorate has refused to back police use of powers to stop and search people without suspicion, finding that chiefs cannot explain why black people are 12 times more likely to be targeted.’

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The Guardian, 15th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Housing Ombudsman launches special investigations into three London landlords after rising maladministration rates – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Housing Ombudsman has launched special investigations into Camden Council, Hackney Council and Hyde Group after casework showed all three landlords struggle with damp and mould, repairs and complaint handling.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 12th December 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

MoD fined after email blunder risked Afghan interpreters’ lives – BBC News

‘The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been fined £350,000 over an email blunder that exposed details of interpreters fleeing Afghanistan.’

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BBC News, 13th December 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Housing Ombudsman issues report setting out key learning and guidance on service charges – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 8th, 2023 in housing, landlord & tenant, local government, news, ombudsmen, service charges by michael

‘The Housing Ombudsman has provided updated guidance on the “often contentious” area of service charges in its latest Insight report.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 7th December 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Police still victim blaming in grooming gang cases, watchdog finds – The Guardian

Posted December 8th, 2023 in child abuse, children, inquiries, news, ombudsmen, police, sexual grooming, sexual offences, victims by michael

‘The inquiry by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) comes more than a decade after scandals in Rotherham and Rochdale came to light, revealing failings by the authorities that left gangs of men free to attack vulnerable young girls.’

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The Guardian, 8th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Elf Bar vape adverts banned in UK over ‘greener’ recycling claims – The Guardian

Posted November 29th, 2023 in advertising, complaints, environmental protection, news, ombudsmen, pollution by sally

‘Adverts for the vaping company Elf Bar have been banned after using the slogan “recycling for a greener future” over concern they were misleading because of the environmental damage of discarded vapes.’

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The Guardian, 29th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Family of headteacher Ruth Perry refused legal aid for inquest into her death – The Guardian

Posted November 27th, 2023 in bereavement, costs, families, inquests, legal aid, mental health, news, ombudsmen, suicide, teachers by tracey

‘The family of the headteacher Ruth Perry, whose death after a critical Ofsted inspection will be the subject of a high-profile inquest this week, have been refused legal aid to fund their representation just days before the hearing is due to start.’

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The Guardian, 26th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com