More trauma for rape victims as court backlog doubles in two years due to lawyer shortage – The Independent

‘Court backlogs for rape prosecutions have soared to a record high, with the number of cases doubling in two years and victims facing “devastating” waits for justice.’

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The Independent, 2nd June 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Crime and punishment: how 14 years of Tory rule have changed Britain – in charts – The Guardian

‘“Justice delayed is justice denied” goes the old legal maxim – one that has captured the state of the court system in England and Wales in recent years.’

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The Guardian, 2nd June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK GDPR and changes to pending legislation – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 3rd, 2024 in bills, brexit, data protection, EC law, news by sally

‘The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill was due to enter the report stage in the House of Lords on 10 June. It may, among other things, make changes to the UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (PECR). I say ‘may’ because just after I wrote this, Rishi Sunak called a general election. However there is still a chance of it passing (see later), so let us for now proceed on this basis.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 29th May 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Washed-up: Angus McCullough KC comments on the long-awaited HMG response to Ouseley on Closed Proceedings – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted June 3rd, 2024 in closed material, delay, government departments, news, reports by sally

‘The Government’s response to the delayed Ouseley report was finally published on 29 May 2024, the last day before the dissolution of Parliament. In this piece a leading Special Advocate describes that response as underwhelming, especially after so long.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 30th May 2024

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Court as a last resort! – Kingsley Napley Family Law Blog

‘How you approach resolving a dispute with your ex-partner, whether regarding finances or your children, is an important first step in your case and can set the tone moving forward.’

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Kingsley Napley Family Law Blog, 29th May 2024

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

Asylum seekers report widespread abuse in Home Office accommodation – The Guardian

‘Hundreds of complaints about ill treatment from staff looking after asylum seekers in hotels and other accommodation have been lodged with the Home Office, a Guardian investigation has found.’

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The Guardian, 3rd June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Online Safety Act not ‘job done’, Molly Russell’s father warns next government – The Independent

‘Seeing the Online Safety Act as a “job done” would be a “disaster”, a bereaved father has said as he called on the next government to commit to updating legislation to tackle harms affecting children.’

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The Independent, 3rd June 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Review of whiplash tariff concluded – but may not be published – Legal Futures

‘The Lord Chancellor has completed his review of the whiplash tariff but it is unclear whether the plan to publish it in early June will now happen because of the election.’

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Legal Futures, 24th May 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Daniel Skeffington and Philippe Lagassé: Principle, Practice, and Prerogative – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘It remains commonplace, both in political and public law discourse, to describe the Royal Prerogative as archaic or anachronistic. Executive power in the United Kingdom may begin with the Crown, but even the most venerated constitutional historians have long thought “the Crown” is a convenient cover for ignorance. Much like the sovereignty of Parliament, the more one explores its foundations, the more one suspects the bedrock will turn out to be quicksand. As the residue of the Crown’s discretionary authority, exercised by Ministers by convention without formal or legal restraint, it has been said prerogative remains difficult to translate into the modern era, precisely because it derives from the sixteenth century. A space devoid, on some accounts, of legality itself.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 23rd May 2024

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

What laws can the Conservative government pass before the general election? – The Independent

‘The Conservatives and Labour have held talks to work out what outstanding legislation can be rushed through parliament to become law before the Commons closes for the general election.’

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The Independent, 23rd May 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Man jailed for life for random murder and attacks – BBC News

Posted May 24th, 2024 in imprisonment, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man has been jailed for life with a minimum 32-year term for a series of slasher attacks on strangers, ending with the random murder of a woman in south London.’

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BBC News, 23rd May 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Letterbox contact can no longer be seen as appropriate regime for most cases, and should “certainly not be the norm”: Family President – Local Government Lawyer

‘The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has outlined the need for a “new approach” to post-adoption contact, noting that letterbox contact can “no longer be seen as the appropriate regime for most cases”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 23rd May 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

No-fault evictions bill now unlikely to pass – BBC News

‘The Conservatives’ promise to abolish no-fault evictions before the election will not happen, sources have told the BBC.’

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BBC News, 24th May 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Neurodiversity in academic misconduct: considerations for accessibility, equity and inclusion – Kingsley Napley Regulatory Blog

‘As artificial intelligence technologies (“AI”) progress, universities face heightened pressure to detect and address academic dishonesty, including plagiarism and collusion. Receiving an allegation of academic misconduct is a difficult experience for any student, but for neurodivergent students, this process can add layers of complexity and emotional strain.’

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Kingsley Napley Regulatory Blog, 20th May 2024

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

High Court dismisses judicial review against council after finding Bibby Stockholm barge lies outside area subject to planning control – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 24th, 2024 in asylum, housing, immigration, judicial review, local government, news, planning by sally

‘The High Court has dismissed a judicial review claim brought by a local resident of Portland, who contended that the area of the seabed above which the Bibby Stockholm barge is moored forms part of the “land” that is subject to planning control under the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA).’

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Local Government Lawyer, 23rd May 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judge orders child to see mum accused of sex abuse – BBC News

‘A judge in Liverpool ordered social services to arrange face-to-face contact between a “scared” toddler and a mother charged with sexually abusing her, a court has heard.’

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BBC News, 24th May 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court backlog target in England and Wales no longer achievable, says NAO – The Guardian

Posted May 24th, 2024 in criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, Ministry of Justice, news, statistics by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice’s ambition to reduce the backlog in crown courts in England and Wales to 53,000 by March next year is no longer achievable, a parliamentary watchdog has said.’

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The Guardian, 24th May 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bournemouth man guilty of murdering lodger and cutting up body – BBC News

‘A man has been found guilty of murdering his lodger before scattering his severed body parts in packages and a suitcase.’

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BBC News, 22nd May 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Grenfell bereaved and survivors must wait until 2027 for suspects to face trial – The Guardian

‘The bereaved and survivors of Grenfell Tower must wait until at least 2027 – a decade after the blaze that killed 72 people – before those suspected of being responsible for the disaster could face criminal trials, it has emerged.’

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The Guardian, 22nd May 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Litigation funding supports the public interest, major research finds – Legal Futures

Posted May 23rd, 2024 in champerty, civil justice, news, public interest, reports by sally

‘Litigation funding supports the public interest and access to justice but will remain niche in aiding consumers, according to major research which identified 44 cases in the last five years.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd May 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk