Girl sexually exploited ‘by over 40 adults’ while in care – The Guardian

‘The children’s commissioner has been called on to intervene in the case of a vulnerable teenager alleged to have been the victim of a catalogue of failures at the hands of social workers, medical authorities and police.’

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The Guardian, 8th December 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Stop and search: the controversial police power – BBC News

‘Stop and search is a controversial police power to stop, question and search a person who is suspected of doing something illegal, including carrying drugs.’

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BBC News, 7th December 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal aid firm loses JR over contract withdrawal – Legal Futures

Posted December 9th, 2019 in contracts, judicial review, law firms, legal aid, news by sally

‘There is no basis for a law firm’s challenge to a Legal Aid Agency (LAA) decision to reject its tender for a legal aid contract, the High Court has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 9th December 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘National disgrace’: Hundreds of disabled people detained in UK hospitals for more than 10 years – The Independent

‘More than 350 people with special needs have been detained in hospitals for more than 10 years, analysis has revealed.’

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The Independent, 8th December 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Solicitor who felt “intimidated” by clients struck off – Legal Futures

‘A partner who said she felt “threatened and intimidated” by clients who would not accept her advice to discontinue has been struck off for lying about the progress of their cases.’

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Legal Futures, 9th December 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judge believes blameless parents and sends baby home – Transparency Project

Posted December 9th, 2019 in accidents, child cruelty, children, families, news, social services by sally

‘His Honour Judge Dancey has published a judgment in which he explains why he has decided that social services have failed to prove that either parent caused a skull fracture sustained by their baby, with the result that the baby is going home. The judge decided that the evidence did not prove that the fracture had been inflicted as opposed to caused accidentally, and the injury just remained unexplained. The baby has made a full recovery, by the way.’

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Transparency Project, 7th December 2019

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Couple ‘told they couldn’t adopt a white child because of their Indian heritage’ win £120,000 in landmark discrimination case – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 9th, 2019 in adoption, children, damages, equality, families, local government, news, race discrimination by sally

‘A British couple have won nearly £120,000 in damages following a landmark discrimination case after they were told they could not adopt a “white child” because of their Indian heritage.’

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Daily Telegraph, 6th December 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Gender-Neutral Passport Rules: A Human Rights Breach? – Rights Info

Posted December 9th, 2019 in equality, gender, human rights, news, passports, sex discrimination by sally

‘The Court of Appeal heard this week that the government’s passport rules, which force non-gendered people to apply as either male or female, are a human rights breach. The case was brought by activist Christie Elan-Cane, who has campaigned on the issue for more than 25 years, and believes the rules are “inherently discriminatory”. How could what is written on our passports affect our rights? Emily Kent examines.’

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Rights Info, 6th December 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

“Over-lawyered” witness statements set for limited reform – Litigation Futures

Posted December 9th, 2019 in consultations, evidence, legal profession, news, statistics, witnesses by sally

‘Witness statements are “over-lawyered” and too long and argumentative, a Commercial Court working group has found, but it has shied away from recommending radical reform.’

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Litigation Futures, 9th December 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Dispute over empty properties and £10m+ in business rates to go to Supreme Court – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 9th, 2019 in appeals, interpretation, leases, local government, news, rates, Supreme Court by sally

‘The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a dispute over empty commercial properties and whether councils are owed more than £10m in business rates arrears.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 6th December 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Baby P’s mother should not be freed, says Parole Board – The Guardian

‘Tracey Connelly, the mother of Baby P, who died after months of abuse, should not be freed from jail or moved to an open prison, the Parole Board has decided.’

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The Guardian, 6th December 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lawyers want crackdown on ‘unscrupulous’ untrained advocates who put public at risk – Daily Telegraph

‘A new breed of untrained legal advocates who are ripping off the public with “flawed” and “dangerous” legal advice should be banned, lawyers’ leaders and politicians have urged ministers.’

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Daily Telegraph, 8th December 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Jeremy Bamber lawyers challenge CPS over withheld evidence – The Guardian

‘Lawyers representing Jeremy Bamber, who is serving a whole life sentence for killing his adoptive parents, sister and her six-year-old twin boys in 1985, have launched a high court challenge to the Crown Prosecution Service for its failure to disclose evidence they say would undermine the safety of his conviction.’

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The Guardian, 8th December 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tate Modern balcony push: Teen admits attempted murder – BBC News

‘A teenager said he threw a boy from the 10th floor of the Tate Modern in London because he wanted to be on the TV news.’

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BBC News, 6th December 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal action launched in row between National Theatre and lesbian group – Daily Telegraph

‘Legal action is being launched in a dispute between the National Theatre and a group of lesbian claimants.’

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Daily Telegraph, 8th December 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Joseph McCann guilty of horrific rapes after being freed by mistake – The Guardian

Posted December 9th, 2019 in child abuse, early release, inquiries, news, parole, prisons, probation, rape, sexual offences by sally

‘Joseph McCann, who has been convicted of a horrific series of rapes and kidnappings against 11 women and children, was freed in error to commit his crimes after authorities failed to realise he should have been in jail for a previous violent offence.’

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The Guardian, 6th December 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Birmingham lorry driver Robert Bradbury jailed for killing doctor – BBC News

‘A lorry driver who killed a doctor because his cluttered dashboard obstructed his view has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 6th December 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘McKenzie friends’ must be banned because courts are being overrun by untrained advocates, senior politicians say – Daily Telegraph

‘A new breed of untrained legal advocates who are ripping off the public with “flawed” and “dangerous” legal advice should be banned, lawyers’ leaders and politicians have urged ministers.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 8th December 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk