Family of UK man who died in police custody criticises watchdog – The Guardian

‘The family of a man who died in custody last month has criticised the police watchdog for failing to recommend the suspension of officers being investigated over the circumstances of his death.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 11th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Housing Ombudsman issues guidance for landlords on responding to complaints – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Housing Ombudsman has published new guidance notes aimed at assisting landlords with policies and in responding to complaints.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 12th February 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

R (Jalloh (Liberia)) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] UKSC 4 – UKSC Blog

‘This appeal was about the law on damages for false imprisonment. It required the Supreme Court to consider the meaning of imprisonment at common law and whether this should be aligned with the concept of deprivation of liberty under the European Convention on Human Rights.’

Full Story

UKSC Blog, 12th February 2020

Source: ukscblog.com

Equalities watchdog launches inquiry into use of restraint in schools – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Equality and Human Rights Commission has launched a formal inquiry into how schools are monitoring and recording their use of restraint, “following widespread concerns about its use and the lack of data available”.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 12th February 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Natalie Hemming murder: Authorities ‘missed opportunities’ – BBC News

Posted February 12th, 2020 in domestic violence, murder, news, police, social services by sally

‘Authorities “missed opportunities” to share information about a woman’s abusive partner before he murdered her, a review has found.’

Full Story

BBC News, 11th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Woman cleared of assaulting Yarl’s Wood guards during struggle – The Guardian

Posted February 12th, 2020 in assault, deportation, detention, government departments, immigration, news, restraint by sally

‘A Nigerian rape survivor who was under constant supervision at an immigration detention centre because she was at high risk of self-harm has been cleared of assaulting four guards who restrained her and tried to force her on to a charter flight.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 11th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government ‘to ban’ placing children in unregulated homes – BBC News

‘The government is set to ban the placement of children in care under the age of 16 in unregulated homes in England, following a BBC investigation.’

Full Story

BBC News, 12th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

A novel approach to Get refusal: the use of the offence of coercive control to obtain a religious divorce – Oxford Human Rights Hub

Posted February 12th, 2020 in coercive & controlling behaviour, divorce, human rights, Judaism, marriage, news, women by sally

‘For Jewish women, obtaining a religious divorce (Get) can be life-changing. Women denied a Get are considered ‘chained’ to their husband, preventing them from re-marrying within the faith (whilst not affecting the husband’s ability to re-marry). The power to grant the Get is usually considered the unilateral right of the husband. Because a purely religious marriage is not recognised in England as a civil marriage, women have little recourse to the courts. So, what happens when a husband refuses to grant a religious divorce to his wife? For these women, their human rights to manifest their religion and to enter into marriages are denied, such that they cannot live fully as both religious individuals and bearers of human rights. However, a novel approach to this problem, a private prosecution for coercive control, could offer Jewish women an alternative avenue to protect their human rights.’

Full Story

Oxford Human Rights Hub, 4th February 2020

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

The President’s Call For Evidence – First Thoughts – Transparency Project

‘It was last May, not long after he had dealt with journalist and TP member Louise Tickle’s successful appeal against a wrongly imposed reporting restriction order, that the President of the Family Division announced he would be holding a ‘Transparency Review’.’

Full Story

Transparency Project, 11th February 2020

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Fresh legal challenge threatened over changes at hospital amid claims of “unlawful” consultation – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 12th, 2020 in consultations, hospitals, judicial review, news, statutory duty by sally

‘A campaigner has threatened a fresh legal challenge after a consultation on proposed changes at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton did not include the option to maintain its accident and emergency department.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 11th February 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

What is judicial review and why doesn’t the government like it? – The Guardian

Posted February 12th, 2020 in government departments, judicial review, news, parliament, rule of law by sally

‘Downing Street’s frustration over what it believes is excessive use of the judicial review process to overturn ministerial decisions – this week preventing deportations – has focused political attention on the complex courtroom process.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 11th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Family In Legal Bid As Son Denied ‘Life-Saving’ Cannabis-Based Medicine – Each Other

Posted February 12th, 2020 in children, families, medicines, news by sally

‘The family of a two-year-old boy with a rare medical condition is taking an NHS Trust to court for refusing to prescribe a cannabis-based treatment they believe is helping him.’

Full Story

Each Other, 12th February 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Challenging a Settled Status decision – Richmond Chambers

Posted February 12th, 2020 in appeals, brexit, EC law, immigration, judicial review, news by sally

‘The EU Settled Status Scheme, under Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules, opened to all applicants on 30 March 2019.’

Full Story

Richmond Chambers, 5th February 2020

Source: immigrationbarrister.co.uk

Met police deploy live facial recognition technology – The Guardian

‘The Metropolitan police have been accused of defying the warnings of its own watchdogs by beginning operational use of facial recognition CCTV, despite a scathing assessment of its effectiveness from the expert hired to scrutinise its trials.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 11th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge says cowboy traders can be ‘professional, legitimate and hard working’ as he jails rogue plumber – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 12th, 2020 in building law, health & safety, licensing, news, sentencing by sally

‘A judge has said cowboy traders can be “professional, legitimate and hard working”, as he jailed a rogue plumber.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 11th February 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Regulator Ofcom to have more powers over UK social media – BBC News

Posted February 12th, 2020 in internet, news, ombudsmen, regulations, standards, suicide, young persons by sally

‘New powers will be given to the watchdog Ofcom to force social media firms to act over harmful content.’

Full Story

BBC News, 12th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jeremy Bamber lawyers say new evidence undermines conviction – The Guardian

Posted February 12th, 2020 in disclosure, documents, evidence, families, forensic science, murder, news, police, suicide by sally

‘Lawyers for Jeremy Bamber, who is serving a whole life sentence for murdering his family, have unearthed evidence that they say undermines the claim that it was “inconceivable” for his adoptive sister to have shot herself.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 11th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

SDT clears partner in “accidental overcharging” case – Legal Futures

‘A former head of private client accused of overcharging an estate by up to £30,000 when acting as executor has been cleared of misconduct by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 12th February 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘Boy B’ in Yousef Makki case identity revealed – BBC News

‘A teenager cleared of lying to police over the fatal stabbing of a schoolboy can be named after losing a High Court bid to protect his anonymity.’

Full Story

BBC News, 11th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘The victimisation was horrible’: why are so many disabled lawyers treated badly? – The Guardian

‘A new study says that more than half of disabled lawyers have experienced bullying or discrimination at work.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 11th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com