15th Anniversary Survey

Posted June 21st, 2022 in news by sally

This year we are celebrating our 15th Anniversary. We started the Current Awareness blog back in 2007! We would be grateful if you could take a couple of minutes to complete a very short user survey.

Survey link

15th anniversary bunting

Family Justice Council makes recommendations on avoiding conflicts of interest using psychologist expert witnesses in cases of alleged alienation – Local Government Lawyer

‘Interim guidance from the Family Justice Council (FJC), published last month, has highlighted how to avoid conflicts of interest when using psychologist expert witnesses in family court cases involving allegations of alienating behaviours.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th June 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Sudanese trafficking victims must stay in detention, judge rules – The Guardian

‘Three Sudanese victims of torture and trafficking who were threatened with being deported to Rwanda on a controversial charter flight last week have had their pleas to be released from detention rejected by a high court judge.’

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The Guardian, 20th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Long Covid is a disability, tribunal rules in landmark case – Daily Telegraph

‘Long Covid is a disability, a tribunal has ruled in what employment experts say could result in a “significant increase” in the number of claims brought by people suffering with the syndrome.’

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Daily Telegraph, 20th June 2022

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Serious failings’ left children exposed to abuse in Oldham, finds damning review – The Guardian

Posted June 21st, 2022 in child abuse, local government, news, police, rape, reports, taxis by sally

‘Vulnerable children were left exposed to sexual exploitation in Oldham because of “serious failings” by the police and council, a damning independent review has found.’

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The Guardian, June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Vulnerable clients struggle in face of “cold, clinical and chaotic” lawyers – Legal Futures

Posted June 21st, 2022 in complaints, disabled persons, legal profession, legal services, news by sally

‘Vulnerable clients are being disadvantaged by the “cold, clinical and chaotic manner” in which they are treated by some lawyers, a report for the Legal Services Board (LSB) has found.’

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Legal Futures, 21st June 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

James Bulger public inquiry to be debated by MPs – BBC News

‘A parliamentary debate on whether a public inquiry should be held into the 1993 murder of toddler James Bulger is due to take place later this year.’

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BBC News, 20th June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK lawyers gather evidence for action against countries over Yazidi genocide – The Guardian

Posted June 21st, 2022 in evidence, genocide, Iraq, news, pro bono work, treaties by sally

‘A group of high-level British lawyers have been working privately on compiling evidence to show that one or more countries failed in their international obligations to prevent genocide against the Yazidis in northern Iraq.’

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The Guardian, 21st June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Criminal barristers vote to strike over pay rates – BBC News

‘Criminal barristers have voted to strike in an escalating dispute with the government over funding for trials.’

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BBC News, 20th June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High Court judge quashes determination of coroner not to hold Article 2 investigation – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 21st, 2022 in children, coroners, inquests, local government, mental health, news by sally

‘A High Court judge has quashed a coroner’s ruling that the inquest into the death of a 16-year-old girl will not investigate in what circumstances she came by her death.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th June 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Archie Battersbee’s family can appeal life-support ruling – BBC News

Posted June 21st, 2022 in appeals, children, consent, families, hospitals, medical treatment, news by sally

‘The parents of a 12-year-old boy have been given the right to appeal against the decision to allow his life-support treatment to end.’

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BBC News, 20th June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Channel 4 subtitles outage breached licence, Ofcom rules – The Guardian

Posted June 21st, 2022 in disabled persons, licensing, media, news by sally

‘Channel 4 breached the conditions of its broadcast licence by failing to provide enough subtitled programming to some viewers in autumn 2021 after a sonic boom destroyed equipment used to broadcast its programmes, the media watchdog has found.’

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The Guardian, 20th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Article 2 inquest determination concerning Community Mental Health Services quashed – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted June 16th, 2022 in coroners, hospitals, inquests, mental health, news, statutory duty by sally

‘In R (Patton) v HM Assistant Coroner for Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire [2022] EWHC 1377 (Admin), Mrs Justice Hill quashed a ruling that the Article 2 general (or systemic) duty has not been potentially engaged by the death of Kianna Patton.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 15th June 2022

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

High Court: No case justifies only using grade A fee-earners – Legal Futures

Posted June 16th, 2022 in costs, fees, news, solicitors by sally

‘A High Court judge said yesterday that he has never come across a case where some of the work could not be delegated to a more junior fee-earner.’

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Legal Futures, 16th June 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Rapist who assaulted unconscious victim for more than an hour jailed for life – The Independent

Posted June 16th, 2022 in guilty pleas, news, rape, sentencing by sally

‘A sex offender who raped a woman while she lay unconscious has been sentenced to life in prison.’

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The Independent, 15th June 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The Public Order Bill ‘Fundamentally Threatens’ UK Democracy – Each Other

Posted June 16th, 2022 in bills, freedom of expression, human rights, news, public order by sally

‘In the UK, there are several Bills and Acts that may threaten the right to free speech under UK and international law, including the Public Order Bill, The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, The Online Safety Bill to name a few. The right to free speech is protected under Article 10 of the the Human Rights Act (HRA) and under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Freedom of speech protects the right to express and disseminate opinions, ideas and information through any means, as well as providing a tool to hold authorities to account. Quinn McKew, Executive Director of advocacy group Article 19, tells us how the Public Order Bill threatens democracy in the UK.’

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Each Other, 15th June 2022

Source: eachother.org.uk

New Judgment: Secretary of State for the Home Department v SC (Jamaica) [2022] UKSC 15 – UKSC Blog

Posted June 16th, 2022 in deportation, human rights, Jamaica, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘The Appellant is a Jamaican national, born in 1991. He came to the UK in December 2001 and has lived here since then. The Appellant’s mother is a lesbian who was persecuted by gang members in Jamaica, at whose hands both the Appellant and his mother suffered violence, harassment and assault. The Appellant and his mother were granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK as refugees in October 2003. The Appellant committed several criminal offences between 2005 and 2012. In June 2012, the Appellant was convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm for which he was sentenced to two years in a young offender’s institution. As a result, the Appellant is a foreign criminal who qualifies for automatic deportation under the UK Borders Act 2007.’

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UKSC Blog, 15th June 2022

Source: ukscblog.com

Fine for male trainee who told female colleague: “I roofied your drink” – Legal Futures

Posted June 16th, 2022 in alcohol abuse, disciplinary procedures, fines, harassment, news, solicitors by sally

‘A trainee solicitor who subjected two female colleagues to “harassing and abusive behaviour” at a work Christmas party has been fined £2,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

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Legal Futures, 16th June 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

British Gymnastics braces for publication of damning report on abuse – The Guardian

‘British Gymnastics is bracing itself for a damning 300-page report into its abuse scandal. The document is expected to strongly criticise the governing body’s previous leadership when it is published on Thursday afternoon.’

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The Guardian, 15th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Protect Duty: Venue security law a top priority, minister says – BBC News

Posted June 16th, 2022 in bills, inquiries, news, terrorism by sally

‘Introducing a new law requiring public venues to better protect people from terror attacks is seen as a “top priority” by the security minister.’

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BBC News, 16th June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk