CPS Statement: Decision not to charge in relation to fatal collision at The Study Prep School, Wimbledon – Crown Prosecution Service

‘CPS Statement: Decision not to charge in relation to fatal collision at The Study Prep School, Wimbledon.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 26th June 2024

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Cafe owner jailed for sexually abusing boy, 14 – BBC News

Posted July 1st, 2024 in child abuse, children, imprisonment, news, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘A charity cafe owner who sexually assaulted a teenager has been sentenced to eight years in prison.’

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BBC News, 28th June 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Controversial Suspected Inflicted Head Injuries pilot launched: Lawyers raise concern about lack of consultation and potential unfairness – Transparency Project

‘When a child suffers a head injury which medical professionals suspect may be inflicted, safeguarding processes are triggered, often leading to care proceedings and the removal of the child from the care of their parents, usuall y for many months and sometimes forever.’

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Transparency Project, 27th June 2024

Source: transparencyproject.org.uk

Tribunal “erred in law” by failing to recognise young person lacked capacity to litigate and failing to appoint his mother as alternative person – Local Government Lawyer

‘An Upper Tribunal judge has ruled that the First-tier Tribunal “erred in law” by failing to recognise that a young person lacked capacity to litigate and consequently his mother should have been appointed as his alternative person.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court allows 15-year-old to change name despite opposition from local authority – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 28th, 2024 in care orders, children, families, family courts, local government, names, news by sally

‘A High Court judge has allowed an application made by a 15 year old girl to change her forename and surname, despite the application being opposed by the girl’s mother and the local authority.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 27th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon found guilty of two charges – The Guardian

‘Constance Marten and her partner, Mark Gordon, have been found guilty of concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice after the body of their baby daughter was found following a high-profile search, it can now be reported.’

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The Guardian, 26th June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Four teenagers convicted over fatal stabbing of Kennie Carter in Manchester – The Guardian

‘Four teenagers have been found guilty of killing a 16-year-old boy who was stabbed in the chest in what prosecutors described as a “cowardly” revenge attack in Manchester.’

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The Guardian, 26th June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court of Appeal hands down ruling on use of medical research literature in care proceedings – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 27th, 2024 in causation, children, evidence, families, news, personal injuries by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has allowed appeals brought by a mother and a father against findings made by a judge that their infant son sustained an injury through an acceleration/deceleration event – attributable to “a lack of reasonable parental care”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Pornography, the Online Safety Act 2023 and the need for further reform – Journal of Media Law

Posted June 27th, 2024 in child abuse, children, internet, media, news, obscenity, pornography by sally

‘The UK’s Online Safety Act 2023 regulates pornography in a range of new ways which could radically alter both how pornography is accessed and the nature of the content available. However, while the Act ostensibly represents a new form of regulation focusing on the systems and processes of online platforms, in practice it is content-based. Our analysis reveals that the Act generates eight new classifications of pornography, each associated with a distinct legal framework, thereby creating a confusing and unnecessarily complex regulatory regime. Accordingly, we recommend further reforms to fortify and clarify the regulatory regime, as well as a more comprehensive review of pornography regulation in general, with the overall aim of reducing the harms of pornography.’

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Journal of Media Law, 5th June 2024

Source: www.tandfonline.com

Court of Appeal finds Family Division judge failed to adhere to “fundamental principle” of justice being seen to be done – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Court of Appeal has criticised a judge for her “blatantly unfair conduct”, finding that an interchange with a father demonstrated a “complete failure of proper judicial process”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 25th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Curbs on expert cross-examination could lead to wrongful removals, family silks warn – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Senior family lawyers have warned that a little-known pilot project centring on the role and use of expert evidence will see children wrongly taken from their families. The Department for Education-funded pilot is up and running at NHS trusts in Manchester, Sheffield and Birmingham with little information available to either the public or family law specialists.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 24th June 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Boy who attacked sleeping children at private school Blundell’s with hammer guilty of attempted murder – The Independent

Posted June 24th, 2024 in attempted murder, children, news, school children, teachers, young offenders by sally

‘A boy has been found guilty of attempted murder after attacking two sleeping students and a teacher with hammers in a devastating rampage in the middle of the night at a private school.’

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The Independent, 22nd June 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Teenager detained for life for murdering boy, 15 – BBC News

‘A 15-year-old boy who murdered Leeds teenager Alfie Lewis in a knife attack outside a primary school has been detained for life with a minimum term of 13 years.’

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BBC News, 21st June 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Teacher given life ban after having sex with pupil – BBC News

‘A teacher who repeatedly had sex with a vulnerable 16-year-old pupil has been told by a judge he will never be allowed to teach again.’

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BBC News, 14th June 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Wolverhampton guilty verdicts raise issue of naming child killers – The Guardian

‘Some believe naming convicted children acts as deterrent, while others say it could glorify horrific acts.’

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The Guardian, 15th June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Office’s failure to collect and monitor data on asylum accommodation for pregnant and new mothers held to be unlawful – Landmark Chambers

‘The High Court’s decision in DXK v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWHC 579 (Admin) is a welcome addition to the growing body of case law concerning the ambit and application of asylum support duties. The Court’s findings on academic claims, standing, systemic challenges, and the public sector equality duty (“PSED”) will be of wider practical application in other public law contexts.’

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Landmark Chambers, 13th May 2024

Source: www.landmarkchambers.co.uk

One in three parents in care proceedings cases involving babies have learning disabilities or difficulties, researchers find – Local Government Lawyer

‘A study by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO) has found that 34% of parents who are at risk of having their babies removed from their care have learning disabilities or difficulties, which are often not identified until court.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Lancashire childminder who killed baby in her care jailed for more than 12 years – The Guardian

‘A Lancashire childminder who killed a nine-month-old baby by shaking him to death has been sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison for manslaughter.’

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The Guardian, 13th June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

OAC’s case – the need to “wait and see” before attempting settlement – Exchange Chambers

Posted June 13th, 2024 in accidents, chambers articles, children, compensation, news, road traffic by sally

‘This case was recently approved following a joint settlement meeting where the terms of settlement were that the Claimant (C), a protected party, was to be compensated by the payment of the lump sum of £4.5 million. The date of accident was in 2005. C met with her accident as the infant back seat passenger restrained in a child seat, when a car driven by her father was involved in a collision with a lorry. C’s father was severely brain injured in the accident. C at the time was only 15 months old, she was born in 2004, she is now 20 years old. Proceedings were issued in March 2013.’

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Exchange Chambers, 31st May 2024

Source: www.exchangechambers.co.uk

What happens when Child Maintenance is not enough? – Becket Chambers

‘Child maintenance refers to the financial support which is made by a parent towards a child’s living costs and expenses after the parents separate. It is usually an amount which is paid to the resident parent who cares for the child most of the time.’

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Becket Chambers, 9th May 2024

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk