Youths who abuse on Twitter may avoid prosecution – Daily Telegraph

“Prosecutors will be told to exercise ‘real caution’ before deciding to prosecute children and young people over abusive comments made on Twitter and Facebook under guidelines to be issued today, it was reported.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th December 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

BBC police dramas breach Ofcom rules – BBC News

Posted December 17th, 2012 in children, complaints, media, news, ombudsmen by sally

“Ofcom has found two BBC police dramas, Good Cop and Line Of Duty, in breach of rules regarding protecting children.”

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BBC News, 17th December 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Internet porn: Automatic block rejected – BBC News

“Ministers have rejected plans to automatically block internet access to pornography on all computers, saying the move is not widely supported.”

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BBC News, 15th December 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Unvisited: Looked after children and the role of the Independent Visitor – Family Law Week

Posted December 14th, 2012 in care orders, children, local government, news, social services by tracey

“Noel Arnold, Head of Legal Practice at the Coram Children’s Legal Centre, considers the importance of Independent Visitors for looked after children and clarifies confusions in the current arrangements.”

Full story

Family Law Week, 13th December 2012

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Judge delays ruling on brain tumour boy – The Independent

Posted December 10th, 2012 in cancer, child abduction, children, medical treatment, news, parental rights by sally

“New developments in Neon’s case lead judge to schedule return to court for later in the month.”

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The Independent, 9th December 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Sally Roberts in court over son’s cancer treatment – BBC News

Posted December 7th, 2012 in cancer, child abduction, children, medical treatment, news by sally

“A mother who ran away with her seven-year-old son has been told he could die if he does not receive cancer treatment for his brain tumour.”

Full story

BBC News, 7th December 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jail sex offenders for longer, proposes review of sentencing guidelines – The Guardian

“Rapists and sex attackers should be given longer prison terms, the Sentencing Council recommends, as courts take into account gang attacks and new technologies exploited by offenders.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sexual Offences Guidelines Consultations – Ministry of Justice

Sexual Offences Guideline: Child sex offences committed by young offenders under the age of 18

Sexual Offences Guideline: Exploitation offences

Sexual Offences Guideline: Indecent images of children

Sexual Offences Guideline: Offences against those with a mental disorder

Sexual Offences Guideline: Offences where the victim is a child

Sexual Offences Guideline: Other sexual offences

Sexual offences guideline: Rape and assault offences

Ministry of Justice, 6th December 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Spotlight On Reform – Speech by Mr. Justice Ryder

Posted December 3rd, 2012 in case management, children, delay, family courts, news, speeches by sally

Spotlight On Reform (PDF)

Speech by Mr. Justice Ryder

The Association of Lawyers For Children National Conference, 16th November 2012

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

How to keep children anonymous in personal injury cases – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted November 28th, 2012 in anonymity, children, damages, news, personal injuries, privacy by sally

“In personal injury proceedings involving a child it was appropriate to grant an anonymity order prohibiting her identification since it would defeat the purpose of the proceedings to ensure that she received and kept compensation awarded for her injuries.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 28th November 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Child Sexual Exploitation Inquiry interim report – The Office of the Children’s Commissioner

Child Sexual Exploitation Inquiry interim report – I thought I was the only one. The only one in the world

The Office of the Children’s Commissioner, November 2012

Source: www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk

Divorcing parents turn to ‘brainwashing’ children in custody battles – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 26th, 2012 in children, custody, divorce, news by sally

“Warring parents are increasingly attempting to ‘brainwash’ their children to get the upper hand in custody disputes, according to lawyers.”

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Daily Telegraph, 24th November 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Children’s experience of parental separation: research challenges law change proposal – Family Law week

Posted November 23rd, 2012 in children, contact orders, divorce, news, parental responsibility, young persons by tracey

“Government plans to amend the 1989 Children Act by introducing a presumption of shared parenting are well-intentioned but misguided, say the authors of new research into childhood experience of family break-ups.”

Full story

Family Law Week, 22nd November 2012

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Association of Lawyers for Children – Annual Conference Keynote Speech by The Hon Mr Justice Ryder

Posted November 23rd, 2012 in care orders, children, family courts, speeches by tracey

“The Honourable Mr Justice Ryder delivered the keynote speech in Bristol at the annual conference on Friday 16 November 2012.”

Full speech

Association of Lawyers for Children, 16th November 2012

Source: www.alc.org.uk

Children: Private Law Update (November 2012) – Family Law Week

Posted November 23rd, 2012 in children, civil partnerships, education, families, news, residence orders by tracey

“Alex Verdan QC of 4 Paper Buildings reviews important recent developments relating to private children law.”

Full story

Family Law week, 22nd November 2012

Source:  www.familylawweek.co.uk

Parents win five-figure sum after hospital failed to spot baby’s meningitis – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 22nd, 2012 in children, compensation, doctors, hospitals, medical treatment, news by tracey

“The parents of a baby boy who died of meningitis have won a five-figure payout from a hospital trust after doctors twice failed to spot the symptoms of his illness.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 21st November 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

£23m awarded to girl paralysed in crash that killed her mother – The Independent

Posted November 20th, 2012 in children, compensation, news, personal injuries, road traffic offences by sally

“A teenager who was paralysed in a car crash which killed her mother is to receive record compensation worth £23 million.”

Full story

The Independent, 19th November 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Boy brings legal test case over decision to put him in care – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 20th, 2012 in appeals, care orders, children, judicial review, news by sally

“A 15-year-old boy denied the chance to give evidence to a legal hearing about whether he should stay with his mother or be taken into care has launched a Court of Appeal test case.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 19th November 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Concerns raised over number of children held in police cells under Mental Health Act – The Independent

Posted November 19th, 2012 in children, detention, mental health, news, police by sally

“Police officers often face ‘no realistic option’ other than locking children as young as 11 years old in cells under mental health laws, it has emerged.”

Full story

The Independent, 18th November 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Adoption process is being rushed by councils, say judges – The Guardian

Posted November 19th, 2012 in adoption, children, fostering, local government, news by sally

“Children in care are being threatened with separation from siblings and other family members because local authorities are attempting to rush through inappropriate and premature adoptions, high court judges have told the Guardian.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk