Torture victims kept in solitary by Home Office for up to a year – The Guardian

‘The Home Office has pursued a policy of psychological brutality by locking up scores of torture survivors in solitary confinement for indefinite periods, according to fresh testimony from immigration detainees.’

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The Guardian, 15th May 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Part 36 Offers : Children and Protected Parties Wormald -v- Ahmed [2021] EWHC 973 (QB) – St Philips Barristers

‘In claims concerning a child or a protected party, acceptance of a Part 36 offer is subject to the approval process under Part 21. Consequently, the accepted Part 36 offer is not deemed binding until the court approves the same. What would happen if the offeror wishes to withdraw the Part 36 offer during the period between acceptance and approval due to a material change in circumstances such as the death of a protected party?’

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St Philips Barristers, 13th May 2021

Source: st-philips.com

Defensive Advising Strategies 1: What you learn from practising in the field of professional negligence – Wilberforce Chambers

‘Relatively speaking, barristers usually have rather broad practices. Even if (like me) a significant part of their practice is concerned with advisory work and drafting, barristers are often also engaged on various litigious matters relating to their underlying area of expertise, including professional negligence claims. By contrast, despite exposure to a variety of areas of practice whilst training, the organisation of many firms of solicitors can often have the effect that private client solicitors know little of litigation. For example, I once saw a draft witness statement prepared by a private client solicitor, where the parties in the heading were referred to separately in each capacity – as with a deed. And it is particularly problematic that private client lawyers often do not know very much about the field of professional negligence.’

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Wilberforce Chambers, 13th May 2021

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk

Aster Communities v Chapman & Others [2021] EWCA Civ 660 – Tanfield Chambers

‘In Aster Communities v Chapman & Others [2021] EWCA Civ 660 (“Aster”) the Court of Appeal considered the circumstances in which the First-tier Tribunal (“the FTT”) may grant a landlord dispensation from the service charge consultation requirements prescribed by s. 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (“the 1985 Act”).’

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Tanfield Chambers, 10th May 2021

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk

Courts could punish paedophiles on intent not harm – BBC News

Posted May 13th, 2021 in child abuse, internet, news, sentencing, sexual grooming, sexual offences by sally

‘The body overseeing criminal sentences in England and Wales is proposing treating paedophiles who are caught in stings the same as abusers who harm real children.’

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BBC News, 13th May 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Gareth Evans: The Senedd Election and the Constitutional Prospects for Welsh Devolution – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘On 6 May 2021, the people of Wales went to the polls in the sixth Senedd election. More so than in previous Senedd elections, the focus of the debate centred around a catalogue of distinctly Welsh political issues, including the constitutional future of the Welsh devolution settlement. Among the constitutional possibilities offered to voters at the election were proposals for both the abolition of the Senedd and Welsh independence, together with the more muted options of maintaining the constitutional status quo, or seeking the devolution of additional powers in areas such as justice and policing, transport and broadcasting.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 13th May 2021

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Online safety bill: a messy new minefield in the culture wars – The Guardian

Posted May 13th, 2021 in bills, freedom of expression, internet, news by sally

‘Moderation of online content is difficult. Social networks want to take down content that breaks their rules. They have to do it quickly enough that they do not get shouted at for leaving bad things up, but they have to do it accurately so that they do not get shouted at for taking the wrong things down.’

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The Guardian, 12th May 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Less Notice! More Forms! End of eviction ban! – Nearly Legal

‘The Govt announced that from 1 June 2021 there will be new notice periods for NTQs/notice seeking possession on tenancies. Rather than reverting to the pre pandemic notice requirements, there will be a further period from 1 June 2021 to 30 September 2021 in which 4 months notice will be required, down from 6 months.’

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Nearly Legal, 12th May 2021

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Blanket bans on camping by Gypsies and Travellers ruled illegal at high court – The Guardian

Posted May 13th, 2021 in equality, injunctions, local government, news, travellers by sally

‘The high court has ruled that local authorities can no longer issue blanket bans on Gypsies and Travellers stopping on parcels of land, in a landmark case which campaigners have hailed a “victory for equality”.’

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The Guardian, 12th May 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

“Hopelessly complicated” whiplash portal guide slammed – Legal Futures

‘The 64-page users guide for litigants in person navigating the new Official Injury Claim portal has been strongly criticised by a leading academic for being “hopelessly complicated”.’

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Legal Futures, 13th May 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Salisbury Novichok-poisoned officer suing Wiltshire Police – BBC News

Posted May 13th, 2021 in news, personal injuries, poisoning, police by sally

‘An ex-police officer who was poisoned in the Salisbury Novichok attack is suing his former force.’

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BBC News, 12th May 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Campus free speech law in England ‘likely to have opposite effect’ – The Guardian

Posted May 13th, 2021 in bills, freedom of expression, news, universities by sally

‘A controversial bill forcing universities in England to promote free speech has been attacked by freedom of expression campaigners, who say the legislation is more likely to have the opposite effect.’

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The Guardian, 12th May 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Apple accused of breaking UK competition law by overcharging for apps – The Guardian

Posted May 12th, 2021 in class actions, compensation, competition, fees, news, telecommunications by sally

‘Apple is facing a demand for billions of pounds of consumer compensation in a British lawsuit that accuses the company of overcharging users by up to 30% on its App Store.’

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The Guardian, 11th May 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Universities could face fines over free speech breaches – BBC News

‘Universities in England could face fines under new legislation if they fail to protect free speech on campus.’

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BBC News, 12th May 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The new Trade Act 2021 – Brexit Law

Posted May 12th, 2021 in brexit, chambers articles, EC law, genocide, news, public procurement by sally

‘The new Trade Act 2021 has now been passed. It received Royal Assent on 29 April 2021, after a seemingly long time spent passing through the various committee stages in Parliament. Importantly, as regards the UK’s trade remedies, the Act finally establishes the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) as the entity responsible for investigations and for reaching decisions in this arena, including recommendations that the Secretary of State for International Trade (SoS) impose trade defence measures in individual cases.’

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Brexit Law, 11th May 2021

Source: brexit.law

UK’s deep-sea mining permits could be unlawful – Greenpeace – The Guardian

‘Deep-sea mining exploration licences granted by the British government are “riddled with inaccuracies”, and could even be unlawful, according to Greenpeace and Blue Marine Foundation, a conservation charity.’

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The Guardian, 12th May 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court judge explains £250k cost-capping order in PPE procurement proceedings – Local Government Lawyer

‘A High Court judge has given her reasons for making a costs capping order of £250,000 in respect of both the claimants, the Good Law Project and EveryDoctor, and the defendant, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in the procurement challenge over the award of contracts for the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE).’

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Local Government Lawyer, 10th May 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Johnson’s planning laws an ‘utter disaster’, say countryside campaigners – The Guardian

‘A dramatic loosening of planning laws to create a housebuilding boom will damage local democracy and destroy swathes of countryside by granting property developers a freer hand to build over green fields, planning experts have warned.’

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The Guardian, 11th May 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government’s Photo ID Plans Put Voters’ Rights At Risk – Each Other

‘Requiring voters to prove their identity by presenting photo ID at polling stations risks infringing electors’ right to vote freely and fairly.’

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Each Other, 11th May 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

Solicitor who deliberately misled High Court struck off – Legal Futures

Posted May 12th, 2021 in deceit, disciplinary procedures, news, professional conduct, solicitors by sally

‘A solicitor found by a High Court judge to have deliberately misled the court has now been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).’

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Legal Futures, 12th May 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk