Legal aid fraud trial stopped as barristers self-isolate – Legal Futures

Posted March 24th, 2020 in barristers, coronavirus, delay, fraud, health, legal aid, live link evidence, news, solicitors by sally

‘The trial of nine lawyers over an alleged plot to scam £11m from the legal aid system was abandoned last Friday after several counsel withdrew to self-isolate.’

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Legal Futures, 24th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

How far do the government’s new emergency powers go? – The Guardian

‘A new government bill that brings sweeping new powers to shut down mass gatherings, potentially detain people with coronavirus symptoms and weaken the social care safety net is being rushed through parliament. The Guardian’s Peter Walker explains what is at stake.’

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The Guardian, 24th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Agriculture Bill: “The chickens will win every time” – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 24th, 2020 in agriculture, bills, climate change, environmental protection, news, standards by sally

‘Good news from the crisis front, although I’m afraid not the one we’re all thinking of: the government’s Agriculture Bill, which sets out its major post-Brexit agricultural policy, has recently passed committee stage and will soon (coronavirus permitting) be presented to the House of Lords. It shows ambition from the government to develop a post-Brexit agriculture policy with laudable commitments to harnessing the power of farmers to help address the climate crisis, and helps to address issues such as food security. Along with the Environment Bill, discussed here, it constitutes some of the core legislation aimed at achieving the government’s Net Zero by 2050 goal.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 23rd March 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

UK has multiple social rights failings, finds Council of Europe – The Guardian

Posted March 24th, 2020 in human rights, news, reports, standards by sally

‘The UK’s low age of criminal responsibility, minimum pay rates for young teenagers and the failure to outlaw all forms of corporal punishment breach Council of Europe standards for social rights, according to its latest report.’

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The Guardian, 24th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Alex Davies stabbing: Teen guilty of Grindr date murder – BBC News

Posted March 24th, 2020 in internet, murder, news, young offenders by sally

‘A teenager has been convicted of the murder of a sales assistant who he stabbed more than 100 times and left in a remote woodland location.’

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BBC News, 23rd March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk