First judicial review over 2014 Act duties to disabled children reaches court – Local Government Lawyer

‘A High Court judge will this week hear what is being billed as the first judicial review to consider local authorities’ duties to disabled children following reforms brought in under the new Children and Families Act.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 29th January 2015

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

“Lamentable”, “egregious” and “wholly indefensible”: High Court lambasts local authority’s conduct of care proceedings – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 2nd, 2015 in care orders, children, damages, delay, guardianship, human rights, local government, news by sally

‘A Family Division judge has awarded damages under the Human Rights Act against a local authority in what he described as an “unfortunate and woeful case” involving a baby taken into foster care. Mr Justice Keehan cited a “catalogue of errors, omissions, delays and serial breaches of court orders” by Northamptonshire County Council. Unusually, the judge decided to give the judgment in this sensitive case in public in order to set out “the lamentable conduct of this litigation by the local authority.”’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 1st February 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Alice Gross – joint statement from the CPS and the Metropolitan Police – Crown Prosecution Service

‘At the end of the investigation into the disappearance and death of Alice Gross, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) submitted a report to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). That report proposed that Arnis Zalkalns was responsible for her abduction and murder.’

Full press release

Corwn Prosecution Service, 27th January 2015

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Jasmyn Chan death: Man jailed for Sheffield hit-and-run – BBC News

‘A man has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years for killing a teenage girl in a hit-and-run crash. Jasmyn Chan, 14, died when she was hit by a car on Normanton Hill, Sheffield, on 9 May while crossing the road.’

Full story

BBC News, 27th January 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

David Beckham’s TV ad for whisky cleared by advertising watchdog – The Guardian

Posted January 28th, 2015 in advertising, alcoholism, charities, children, food, news, regulations, sport by tracey

‘David Beckham’s TV ad for whisky brand Haig Club has been cleared by the UK advertising watchdog, despite complaints that the former footballer’s endorsement promotes drinking among children.’

Full story

The Guardian, 28th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Woman guilty of assault for throwing water – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 22nd, 2015 in assault, children, conditional discharge, costs, news, noise by sally

‘Michelle Dodd convicted after Stockport magistrates hear of her long-standing dispute with neighbour over ‘noisy’ children playing outside on trampoline.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 21st January 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Strip-searched girl’s family sues Merseyside police – The Guardian

Posted January 22nd, 2015 in children, human rights, news, police, privacy, stop and search by sally

‘A teenager who was forcibly strip-searched is suing Merseyside police for alleged mistreatment, as more and more children are subjected to the practice.’

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rejection of visit visa to attend funeral: analysis – Free Movement

‘In the news today we can see that an Entry Clearance Officer has rejected an application for a visit visa for two grandparents who wish to travel to the UK to attend the funeral of their 5 year old grandchild, tragically killed in a car accident before Christmas. The family is devastated, obviously. The issue was raised at Prime Minister’s Questions by the local MP and a review was promised. The Immigration Minister, James Broken-shire, has very swiftly conducted the review and the refusal has been maintained. He says his decision has been taken “on the full facts of the case”.’

Full story

Free Movement, 20th January 2015

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

Doctor accused of child rape in US overturns extradition bid – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 21st, 2015 in bail, children, doctors, extradition, fugitive offenders, human rights, news, rape by sally

‘British court rules extradition of 48-year-old Tobias Bowen would breach human rights because he faces an “indefinite” sentence if convicted of sex crimes in New York.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 20th January 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Judge orders father to take his children to church – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 20th, 2015 in appeals, children, custody, divorce, freedom of expression, judges, news by sally

‘Child care proceedings challenged after judge tells father he has a legal requirement to take his sons to Catholic mass.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 19th January 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Male circumcision can be part of “reasonable parenting”, but no form of FGM is acceptable – Family Court – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted January 19th, 2015 in children, expert witnesses, family courts, female genital mutilation, news by tracey

‘B and G (Children) (No.2) [2015] EWFC 3. Contemplating the details of different forms of female genital mutilation is not for the faint hearted. But that is what the courts and the relevant experts have to do, not only to protected alleged victims but to defend the interests of those suspected of perpetuating the procedure, whether it is a question of criminal liability under the FGM Act 2003, or determining that a threshold of harm has been passed so as to initiate care proceedings if the victim is a child.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 18th January 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Theresa May’s new FGM reporting rules ‘will stop families seeking help’ – The Guardian

‘Plans by the home secretary, Theresa May, to force health professionals to report cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) to the police are unlikely to lower the extent of abuse and risk dissuading families from seeking medical help, according to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.’

Full story

The Guardian, 17th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal aid cuts hit divided families as contact centres close down – The Guardian

Posted January 19th, 2015 in budgets, children, families, legal aid, news by tracey

‘Child contact centres, where children meet their separated parents who cannot agree access rights, are disappearing as legal aid cuts take effect.The National Association for Child Contact Centres (NACCC) says 40 centres have closed in the last 18 months across England and Wales – and the pace of closures is accelerating. It says that, because it can no longer obtain legal aid, the number of parents accessing the family courts to resolve their problems has halved. As a result they are not receiving advice from solicitors who are likely to refer them to the centres.’

Full story

The Guardian, 17th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Stop in the Name of Love! The New EU Regulation 606/2013 on Protection Measures – Family Law Week

Posted January 16th, 2015 in children, confidentiality, EC law, families, harassment, injunctions, news by sally

‘Sarah Lucy Cooper, barrister of Thomas More Chambers, explains the details and effect of this recently implemented EU personal protection law.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 15th January 2015

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Unrepresented parents in family cases: are errors going unnoticed? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted January 14th, 2015 in children, delay, families, family courts, litigants in person, news by tracey

‘Is a lack of legal representation in family cases increasing the likelihood of procedural errors going unnoticed? The judgment in Re P (A Child) suggests that there is a pressing need for change by the courts and judiciary.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 14th January 2015

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Toddler who survived abortion is ‘little miracle’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 14th, 2015 in abortion, children, custody, families, health, medical treatment, news, pregnancy by tracey

‘A baby boy who survived a late abortion carried out because his mother’s life was in danger has been described as a “little miracle” by a judge.

Details of the boy’s survival emerged in a Family Court judgment which concluded that the boy should live with his father’s family as his mother said she was unable to look after him.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th January 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Milestone tax breaks’ idea for married couples who stay together longer – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 12th, 2015 in children, cohabitation, judges, marriage, news, taxation by sally

‘Former High Court family judge Sir Paul Coleridge calls for couples to be given extra tax breaks after passing landmark wedding anniversaries to encourage family stability.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 10th January 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Immigrant children still being detained, figures show – The Independent

Posted January 9th, 2015 in children, detention, immigration, news, statistics by sally

‘More than 600 children, the majority under 12 years old, have been put in detention under immigration rules in the four years since the Government claimed to have ended the controversial practice.’

Full story

The Independent, 8th January 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Using the Inherent Jurisdiction to Disrupt Child Sexual Exploitation – Family Law Week

Posted January 7th, 2015 in children, injunctions, news, sexual grooming, sexual offences, victims, young persons by tracey

‘Heather Popley, barrister of No 5 Chambers, examines the innovative use of civil injunctions in the recent Birmingham case.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 30th December 2015

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

The Separate Representation of Children in Child Abduction Proceedings – Family Law Week

Posted January 7th, 2015 in appeals, child abduction, children, delay, legal representation, news, Supreme Court by tracey

‘Esther Lieu, barrister of 3PB Chambers, explores how the role of children has developed Hague Convention child abduction proceedings.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 6th January 2015

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk