Zoumbas (Appellant) v Secretary of State for the Home Department – Supreme Court
Zoumbas (Appellant) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2013] UKSC 74 | UKSC 2013/0100 (YouTube)
Supreme Court, 27th November 2013
Category: children
DWP says regulations implementing Gorry ruling in force next week – Local Government Lawyer
‘The Department of Work & Pensions has published a circular to local authorities confirming that new regulations implementing the Court of Appeal’s ruling in the Gorry case will come into force next week.’
Local Government Lawyer, 27th November 2013
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Council agrees to review practices on assessment of disabled children – Local Government Lawyer
‘A local authority has agreed to pay out £5,000 and review its practices so that its assessment of disabled children fulfils its statutory duties, following an investigation by the Local Government Ombudsman.’
Local Government Lawyer, 27th November 2013
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Lostprophets’ Ian Watkins case: Ex-Ceop head warns others may slip through net – BBC News
‘Child sex abuse cases like Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins will slip through the net due to a lack of resources, a child protection expert has warned. Jim Gamble, ex-head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre (Ceop), wants more money invested in regional child protection teams to catch online abusers.’
BBC News, 27th November 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Court rejects claim council owed duty to use general power of competence – Local Government Lawyer
‘The High Court has dismissed a claimant’s argument that a London borough had a duty to use the general power of competence to provide her with accommodation and subsistence support.’
Local Government Lawyer, 26th November 2013
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
On families, powers and duties to accommodate – NearlyLegal
‘R (on the application of MK) v Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council. A judicial review raising the extent of a Council’s duties and powers under s.17 Children Act 1989 and s.1 Localism Act 2011 (the general power of competence) in providing housing for someone not otherwise eligible for housing assistance.’
NearlyLegal, 26th November 2013
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/
Cyclist who fled after hitting girl, nine, faces jail – Daily Telegraph
‘ A cyclist who left a nine-year-old girl with life-threatening injuries after knocking her down on a pedestrian crossing is facing jail. Philip Benwell, 38, was charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Leila Crofts by “wanton and furious” cycling under the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act.’
Daily Telegraph, 26th November 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Lostprophets’ Ian Watkins guilty of child sex offences – BBC News
‘Ian Watkins, singer of Welsh rock band Lostprophets, has pleaded guilty to a series of “depraved” child sex offences including attempted rape of a baby.’
BBC News, 26th November 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Judge sentencing rapist, 12, warns against using Internet as a babysitter – Daily Telegraph
‘A judge has warned that the Internet cannot be used as a “babysitter” as he sentenced a 12-year-old for raping his younger sister after watching porn at school.’
Daily Telegraph, 26th November 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Child-on-child abuse shocking, children’s commissioner report says – BBC News
‘ “Shocking” sexual violence is being carried out by children against other children as young as 11, according to an official report. The Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England said the perpetrators could be 12 or 13, and rape is seen as “normal and inevitable” in some areas, especially among gangs.’
BBC News, 26th November 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Children and Intentional Homelessness – NearlyLegal
‘Hurzat v Hounslow LBC (2013) CA (Civ Div) 21 November 2013. What is the relationship between Housing Act 1996 Part VII and Children Act 2004? Does the duty under s.11 Children Act to safeguard and promote the welfare of children have a bearing on decisions on intentional homelessness under Housing Act 1996? While this case provides a partial answer, it was not, I think, a great case on the facts for testing the interplay of the Acts.’
NearlyLegal, 24th November 2013
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/
More children and housing duties – NearlyLegal
‘This was an an application for permission to appeal a judicial review decision on the interrelation of s.17 Children Act 1989, s.11 Children Act 2004 and the Housing Act 1996 parts 6 and 7.’
NearlyLegal, 24th November 2013
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/
In re C (A Child) – WLR Daily
In re C (A Child): [2013] EWCA Civ 1412; [2013] WLR (D) 449
‘The Court of Appeal gave guidance as to the proper approach to be adopted in family proceedings when considering a without notice application for a prohibited steps order and the making of a contact order.’
WLR Daily, 21st November 2013
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
‘Reform court process for children and sex attack victims’, says former senior judge – Daily Telegraph
‘Radical reforms to the way children and adult sex abuse victims give evidence in court have been floated by the former Lord Chief Justice.
Lord Judge, who stepped down as England and Wales’ most senior judge at the end of September, said there could be a “powerful case” to end the way in which rape and other sex crimes victims currently give evidence.’
Daily Telegraph, 21st November 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Midwife ‘failed’ four-day-old baby left in cupboard – BBC News
“A midwife who left a baby face down in a stationery cupboard was guilty of failing to provide appropriate clinical care, a tribunal has ruled.”
BBC News, 19th November 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Boys will be boys…. But you can’t sue the school for it by Elliot Kay – Zenith Chambers
“On 9th June 2010, Lewis Pierce, a 9 year old schoolboy at the time, was playing with his younger brother George in their school playground. There was a metal water fountain fixed to the external wall of the school which could be accessed from the playground. In the course of play George sprayed his elder brother with water from the fountain, causing Lewis to swing a punch at George. George was able to evade the punch but as a result Lewis connected with the water fountain, causing lacerations to his right thumb and damage to his tendons. Lewis made a good recovery from the injuries sustained.”
Zenith Chambers, 28th October 2013
Source: www.zenithchambers.co.uk
W v Neath Port Talbot – Courts, Local Authorities and a Mexican Stand-off – Family Law Week
“Andrew Pack, care lawyer with Brighton and Hove City Council, considers the options for local authorities in the wake of the Court of Appeal’s landmark judgment in W (A Child) v Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council [2013] EWCA Civ 1227.”
Family Law Week, 17th November 2013
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
Five men guilty of sexually abusing vulnerable 15-year-old girl in Rochdale – The Guardian
“Two trials reveal how girl’s reports of sexual contact with older men were not passed on by social care and health professionals.”
The Guardian, 8th November 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
R ota Nfuni v Solihull MBC [2013] EWHC 3155 – Education Law Blog
“In this case the claimant was a failed asylum seeker. She had arrived in the UK at the age of 16. When she turned 18, the local authority continued to support her accommodation and education under section 23C of the Children Act 1989. This imposes after-care duties towards ‘former relevant children’, including by subsection (4) financial assistance in connection with education or training ‘to the extent that [her] welfare and [her] educational or training needs require it’. ”
Education Law Blog, 27th October 2013
Source: www.education11kbw.com
Delroy Catwell given life for Lylah Aaron murder – BBC News
“A man who murdered his girlfriend’s young daughter when he was supposed to be looking after her has been ordered to serve at least 20 years in jail.”
BBC News, 6th November 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
