Kids Company: MPs say ‘catalogue of failures’ led to collapse – BBC News

‘The collapse of the Kids Company charity was a result of an “extraordinary catalogue of failures”, a committee of MPs has said.’

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BBC News, 1st February 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Toddler dies of leukaemia after medics miss condition 35 times – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 1st, 2016 in cancer, children, codes of practice, coroners, doctors, hospitals, inquests, medical records, news by tracey

‘A toddler died of leukaemia after medics repeatedly failed to diagnose the condition despite numerous “red flags” and 35 separate visits to doctors and hospitals.’

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Daily Telegraph, 1st February 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Shaken’ baby might return to parents – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 26th, 2016 in care orders, children, news, social services by sally

‘Plainly exhausted’ mother probably shook baby in ‘momentary loss of control’, judge concludes.’

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Daily Telegraph, 25th January 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Children were forced to have sex with pets in Coventry, judge rules – The Independent

Posted January 22nd, 2016 in animals, child abuse, children, news, sexual offences, video recordings by sally

‘Children were made to perform “sexual activities” with each other – and animals – at a hotel, a family court judge has concluded.’

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The Independent, 21st January 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Man who slapped boy, five, in play area given suspended jail sentence – The Guardian

Posted January 21st, 2016 in assault, children, news, sentencing, suspended sentences by sally

‘A father has been given a suspended jail sentence for slapping a five-year-old child who he believed had hit his own son in a pub’s soft play area.’

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The Guardian, 20th January 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

These children died at the hands of their fathers when family courts failed to put them first – The Independent

‘Part of the problem is a lack of understanding of the nature and impact of domestic abuse, among judges and social workers. In particular, non-physical abuse is not well understood.’

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The Independent, 20th January 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Abuse survivors ‘re-victimised’ through family court process – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Victims of domestic abuse should not endure the trauma of being cross-examined by their abusers in court, a national charity has recommended in a study on child deaths.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 20th January 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Government to change adoption law to address fall in court orders – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 19th, 2016 in adoption, care orders, children, news, social services by sally

‘The Government is to change the law to make prioritising lifelong stability for vulnerable children with a loving family a legal requirement, the Department for Education has said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 18th January 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Surrogacy Law Update (January 2016) –

Posted January 18th, 2016 in birth certificates, children, families, family courts, news, surrogacy, time limits by tracey

‘Andrew Powell, barrister, of 4 Paper Buildings reviews recent developments in surrogacy law.’

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Family Law Week, 13th January 2016

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Briton avoids jail after trying to smuggle Afghan child into UK – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 15th, 2016 in children, immigration, news, sentencing, trafficking in human beings by sally

‘Former soldier Rob Lawrie admitted he had been ‘stupid’ but told a French court he ‘could not leave’ four-year-old girl behind after repeated pleas from her father.’

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Daily Telegraph, 14th January 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

More children to be removed from biological parents and placed for adoption under ‘urgent’ new rules – The Independent

Posted January 14th, 2016 in adoption, care orders, children, news by sally

‘More children will be removed from their biological parents and placed for adoption, under “urgent” new rules to be announced by ministers.’

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The Independent, 14th January 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Re N – Transfer of proceedings – When to make an application under Article 15 – Park Square Barristers

Posted January 13th, 2016 in children, jurisdiction, news, transfer of proceedings by sally

‘Dawn Tighe considers the recent case of Re N Court of Appeal EWCA Civ 112 2015, determined by the Court of Appeal on 2nd November 2015 with regard to Article 15 applications.’

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Park Square Barristers, 6th January 2016

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Anatomy of an Impossible Trial for Child Exploitation – 6 Pump Court

Posted January 13th, 2016 in children, evidence, news, prostitution, sexual offences, witnesses by sally

‘Richard Barraclough QC has written a commentary on a recent case in which he was Leading Counsel for one of the defendants.

The case involved serious sex/trafficking offences, including engaging an honourable and vulnerable girl in prostitution. The case was complex and involved the use of an intermediary. The issues raised in evidence (and the submission of no case) concerned the number and structure of ABE interviews, the use of pre ABE interviews and meetings, the extent to which a victim should be challenged in ABE interviews and the use of pre prepared witness statements where the victim refused to engage in the ABE process.

Reforms are now proposed in relation to the investigation and trial process in this type of case.

The commentary provided by Richard Barraclough QC gives a detailed analysis of the processes involved and the challenges in this type of case with such a vulnerable victim and where the process is so complex.’

Full story(Word)

6 Pump Court, 12th January 2016

Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk

Family judge criticised for not naming council that breached father’s rights – The Guardian

‘A family court judge has come under fire after refusing to name a council that violated a man’s parental rights by taking his four-year-old daughter into care without a proper investigation.’

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The Guardian, 10th January 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Court of Appeal: immigration age assessments and Merton – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Two recent Court of Appeal cases, heard together, have considered the legality of the immigration detention of those who are, or possibly are, minors. Such cases involve local authority age assessments, which are to be carried out according to the guidance set out in Merton [2003] EWHC 1689 (Admin).’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 6th January 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

St William’s Catholic care home child sex abusers jailed – BBC News

‘A former chaplain and ex-principal of a Roman Catholic children’s care home have been jailed for abusing boys.’

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BBC News, 5th January 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Children: Private Law Update (December 2015) – Family Law week

Posted December 17th, 2015 in children, news, parental responsibility, surrogacy by tracey

‘Alex Verdan QC of 4 Paper Buildings reviews recent important judgments in private law children cases.’

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Family Law week, 16th December 2015

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Domestic Violence and Care Proceedings: Re-victimising the Victim? – Family Law Week

Posted December 15th, 2015 in care orders, children, domestic violence, news, victims by sally

‘Rebekah Wilson, barrister, of Garden Court Chambers examines the plight of victims of domestic violence who find themselves caught up in care proceedings.’

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Family Law Week, 11th December 2015

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Jack Adcock death: Doctor and nurse get suspended sentences for manslaughter – BBC News

‘A doctor and an agency nurse who “seriously neglected” a six-year-old boy who died in hospital have been sentenced for his manslaughter.’

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BBC News, 14th December 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lords reject attempt to lower EU referendum voting age to 16 – The Guardian

Posted December 15th, 2015 in children, elections, news, parliament, referendums by sally

‘Sixteen- and 17-year-olds will not be given the vote in the the planned EU referendum, after peers succumbed to a government demand and voted to reject an extension of the franchise.’

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The Guardian, 14th December 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk