Examination of child witnesses not in violation of Article 6 – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 5th, 2016 in children, cross-examination, human rights, news, witnesses by tracey

‘Mark William Patrick MacLennan v Her Majesty’s Advocate, [2015] HCJAC 128. The High Court has refused an appeal under Article 6 on the lack of effective cross-examination of child witness, but has provided interesting commentary on how such investigations could be better handled in future to meet Strasbourg standards.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 2nd February 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Bedroom tax challenge success – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 5th, 2016 in appeals, benefits, disability discrimination, domestic violence, housing, news by tracey

‘The Court of Appeal has given its judgment in a conjoined appeal of two of the latest challenges to the bedroom tax/removal of spare room subsidy (delete as you see fit), holding that it was unlawfully discriminatory in its application to 1.A female victim of serious domestic violence living in a home significantly adapted (including the provision of a “safe room”) to ensure her safety in the face of threats from her former partner; and 2. A severely disabled 15 year old boy cared for by his grandmother and her partner, who required a carer to stay in their home two nights per week.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 2nd February 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

GQ publisher fined for contempt of court over Rebekah Brooks article – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2016 in contempt of court, fines, interception, media, news by tracey

‘The publisher of GQ magazine has been fined £10,000 after being found in contempt of court over an article that seriously risked prejudicing the phone-hacking trial of Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson.’

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The Guardian, 4th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Theresa May feared creating police commissioner ‘monster’ – BBC News

Posted February 5th, 2016 in crime, elections, local government, news, police by tracey

‘Home Secretary Theresa May has admitted fearing she had created a “monster” by setting up police and crime commissioners in England and Wales.’

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BBC News, 4th February 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Torture victims face two-year delays in UK asylum claims – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2016 in asylum, delay, news, torture by tracey

‘Torture victims who claim asylum in Britain are facing delays of more than two years before their cases are resolved, according to a report by the official immigration and borders watchdog.’

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The Guardian, 4th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Dismissed NHS whistleblower who exposed safety concerns handed £1.22m – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2016 in damages, health & safety, hospitals, news, unfair dismissal, whistleblowers by tracey

‘An NHS whistleblower who was unfairly sacked after exposing concerns about patient safety has been awarded £1.22m in damages by a hospital trust.’

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The Guardian, 4th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Julian Assange: UN panel calls on UK and Sweden to end ‘arbitrary detention’ and compensate WikiLeaks founder – The Independent

Posted February 5th, 2016 in detention, embassies, extradition, freedom of movement, news, United Nations by tracey

‘Julian Assange must be freed from “arbitrary detention” by the UK and Sweden, the United Nations has ruled.’

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The Independent, 5th February 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lord Bramall’s reputation trashed because of the Met’s ‘inept’ investigation – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 5th, 2016 in child abuse, delay, news, police, police interviews, sexual offences, witnesses by tracey

‘Operation Midland is dismissed as “inept” after it emerges that the Metropolitan police took almost a year to interview key witnesses.’

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Daily Telegraph, 4th February 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

City law firms charging up to £1,100 an hour – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2016 in competition, costs, fees, law firms, news by tracey

‘Partners at top City law firms are charging clients more than £1,000 an hour, according to a Conservative thinktank which condemns fee rises for restricting access to justice.’

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The Guardian, 5th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

George Verrier death: Two Met Police constables dismissed – BBC News

Posted February 5th, 2016 in disciplinary procedures, homicide, misfeasance in public office, news, police by tracey

‘Two Met Police constables have been dismissed for gross misconduct after a teenager died when he was punched in south-east London in September 2013.’

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BBC News, 5th February 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

A single legal framework for UK elections – Law Commission

Posted February 4th, 2016 in elections, Law Commission, press releases, reports by tracey

‘The UK needs a new, modern and rational legal framework to govern the conduct of elections and referendums, according to an interim report published today by the three Law Commissions of the UK.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 4th February 2016

Source: www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission

CPS response to HMCPSI report on Rape and Serious Sexual Offence (RASSO) units – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted February 4th, 2016 in Crown Prosecution Service, press releases, rape, reports, sexual offences by tracey

‘Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) have issued a report today [2 February 2016] which reviews the Crown Prosecution Service’s handling of rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO).’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 2nd February 2016

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Fixed Costs Proposal Raises Questions on Access to Justice – The Bar Council

Posted February 4th, 2016 in barristers, costs, indexation, press releases by tracey

‘Bar Council Chair Chantal-Aimée Doerries QChas responded to Lord Justice Jackson’s speech on 28 January 2016 to the Insolvency Practitioners’ Association, “Fixed Costs – The Time has come”, calling for recoverable costs to be fixed in all claims valued at up to £250,000.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 1st February 2016

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Parent who won term-time holiday court case fined again – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 4th, 2016 in education, fines, holidays, local government, news by tracey

‘ A man who successfully fought a prosecution for taking his kids out of school for a family holiday has been fined a second time by the same council. Jonathan Platt made headlines in October last year when he avoided prosecution for taking his six-year-old daughter to Disney World in term time, arguing that her unauthorised absence did not mean she failed to attend school on a regular basis.’

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Daily Telegraph, 3rd February 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Tribunal rules against doctor who made 99 claims against NHS – The Guardian

‘The conduct of a doctor who began 99 employment tribunal claims against the NHS in eight months fell “far below the standards to be expected” and was likely to “erode public confidence in the profession”, a disciplinary tribunal has ruled.
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) found Dr Farhan Hussain Zaidi’s fitness to practice was impaired by his misconduct and imposed conditions on his registration for 12 months.’

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The Guardian, 3rd February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Detective cleared over Plebgate meeting with Andrew Mitchell – The Guardian

Posted February 4th, 2016 in disciplinary procedures, news, police, professional conduct by tracey

‘A highly-commended detective has been cleared of giving a misleading account to the public of what was said during a meeting with the MP Andrew Mitchell over the Plebgate affair.’

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The Guardian, 3rd February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Man who stole grieving father’s laptop at funeral of his six-year-old son sentenced to four and a half years – The Independent

Posted February 4th, 2016 in news, sentencing, theft by tracey

‘A thief who stole a grieving father’s laptop from the funeral of his six-year-old has been jailed for four years.’

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The Independent, 3rd February 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK courtrooms do not reflect diversity of the communities they serve, judge says – The Independent

Posted February 4th, 2016 in diversity, judges, judiciary, news by tracey

‘Schools and policymakers have a responsibility to address the lack of diversity in the judiciary to better reflect society as a whole, a top judge has said. The UK’s “white, middle-class, middle-aged, male” courtrooms do not represent the diverse communities they are supposed to serve, Judge Wendy Joseph QC said, emphasising her strong desire for “change”.’

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The Independent, 4th February 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Parents who stole charity laptops from cancer ward before blaming their terminally-ill son face jail – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 4th, 2016 in handling stolen goods, news, theft by tracey

‘Parents who stole and sold laptops from a cancer ward where their terminally-ill son was being treated are facing prison.’

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Daily Telegraph, 4th February 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Watchdog criticises Nottinghamshire police over child protection – The Guardian

Posted February 4th, 2016 in children, complaints, news, police, reports by tracey

‘Poor supervision of investigations and unacceptable delays led to a situation where a child abuse suspect was allowed to continue offending, according to a report by the police watchdog into Nottinghamshire police.’

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The Guardian, 4th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk