Paedophile given custody of girl he then abused and got pregnant – BBC News

‘A young girl who became pregnant after abuse by a convicted paedophile had been placed in his care despite authorities knowing his past, a report has revealed.’

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BBC News, 26th January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Does a child born to an EU national exercising free movement rights automatically acquire British citizenship? – EIN Blog

Posted January 25th, 2023 in brexit, children, citizenship, EC law, families, freedom of movement, immigration, news by sally

‘On 20 January 2023, Eyre J (“the judge”) handed down judgment in R (Roehrig) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2023] EWHC 31 (Admin). The judge dismissed the claim. The challenge raised questions of statutory interpretation of the British Nationality Act 1981 (“the BNA 1981”) and the interrelationship between that statutory scheme and the status of EU nationals exercising free movement rights before Brexit. The judgment is likely to have significant consequences for a cohort of individuals claiming British citizenship on the basis of being born in the UK to EU nationals exercising free movement rights.’

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EIN Blog, 24th January 2023

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Met Safer Schools officer pleads guilty to child sex offences – BBC News

‘A serving Met Police officer who was posted in a school in north London has pleaded guilty to child sex offences.’

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BBC News, 25th January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Child-friendly Control Orders? Why Child-specific Counter-terrorism Measures are Both Unnecessary and Dangerous – Oxford Human Rights Hub

‘The new year brought with it news that ministers in the UK are considering new counter-terrorism measures that specifically target children. Concerned at the growing number of children – particularly teenagers – being arrested for non-violent and online-based terrorism offences that can have a stigmatising and permanent effect on their records, the UK’s Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation Jonathan Hall KC proposed new non-criminal counter-terrorism alternatives that are especially tailored towards children under the age of 17.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 23rd January 2023

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Girl who had limbs amputated after hospital mistake wins seven-figure payout – The Independent

Posted January 23rd, 2023 in children, compensation, families, health, hospitals, negligence, news, personal injuries by tracey

‘A girl who had all four of her limbs amputated after she was wrongfully discharged from hospital has won a multimillion-pound payout.’

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The Independent, 22nd January 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Revealed: scores of child asylum seekers kidnapped from Home Office hotel – The Guardian

‘Dozens of asylum-seeking children have been kidnapped by gangs from a Brighton hotel run by the Home Office in a pattern apparently being repeated across the south coast, an Observer investigation can reveal.’

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The Guardian, 21st January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Children law update – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 20th, 2023 in appeals, children, families, family courts, local government, news by tracey

‘Michael Jones discusses a wide range of recent children law rulings from the Court of Appeal and the Family Division.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th January 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Media get the go-ahead to report family proceedings – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Journalists will be able to report on family court proceedings for the first time as part of a new pilot in a “big cultural change” to the Family Division. The hope is that the Transparency Reporting Pilot, to be conducted at three courts, will improve transparency and accountability.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 19th January 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

People born of rape now recognised in Victims’ Code in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted January 20th, 2023 in bills, children, families, Ministry of Justice, news, pregnancy, rape, sexual offences, victims by tracey

‘A woman conceived through rape, who has campaigned for a change in the law to recognise people like herself as victims, is celebrating after achieving her goal. The government has announced that the victims’ bill will extend the definition of a “victim” to include people who are born as a result of rape. It means England and Wales will be among the first in the world to officially confer victim status to children born of rape.’

Full press release

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The Guardian, 19th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court of Appeal confirms s20 voluntary accommodation agreements can be used for settled long-term placements – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 19th, 2023 in care orders, children, local government, news by tracey

‘The Court of appeal has allowed two appeals which concerned the interplay between care orders and the voluntary accommodation of children under section 20 of the Children Act 1989.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 18th January 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Illegal vapes are biggest threat on High Street, say Trading Standards – BBC News

Posted January 19th, 2023 in advertising, children, health, news, smoking, standards, trading standards by tracey

‘Shops selling illegal vapes and the sale of vaping products to children are the top threats on the UK’s High Streets, according to Trading Standards officials.’

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BBC News, 19th January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sudden unexplained death in childhood debated in Parliament – BBC News

Posted January 18th, 2023 in bereavement, children, families, news, parliament by tracey

‘The issue of children dying unexpectedly and without any known cause has been debated in Parliament for the first time.’

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BBC News, 17th January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tech bosses face jail if children not kept safe online after UK parliament deal – The Guardian

Posted January 17th, 2023 in amendments, bills, children, internet, news, prosecutions by sally

‘Tech executives whose platforms persistently fail to protect children from online harm will face criminal charges after ministers reached a deal with Conservative backbenchers.’

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The Guardian, 16th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government to review damp and mould guidance following death of Awaab Ishak – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 17th, 2023 in children, coroners, health & safety, housing, inquests, news, reports by sally

‘The Government has announced plans to review guidance to landlords on damp and mould, after a coroner asked the government to take action to prevent future deaths.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th January 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Rights of excusal from relationships and sexuality education – Local Government Lawyer

‘Clíodhna Kelleher considers a recent High Court judgment that there was no parental right to withdraw children from relationships and sexuality education.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th January 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

A mediator’s take on the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory’s latest report – Family Law

Posted January 16th, 2023 in children, dispute resolution, divorce, families, family courts, news by tracey

‘Another month, and the publishing of another detailed academic report considering the experiences of parents and their children who have been through a separation. This particular report, “Separating Families: Experiences of separation and support”, was published by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, with research carried out by University of Bristol. When the key findings first landed on my desk, I must say I was keen to delve into the detail having seen that the main focus of the programme of evidence was to increase understanding of private law proceedings in England and Wales, and in particular the types of support that families drew on to manage the process of separation without using the courts.’

Full Story

Family Law, 16th January 2023

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Paddleboarder who hit boy in Bristol park sentenced – BBC News

Posted January 13th, 2023 in assault, children, compensation, news, sentencing, suspended sentences by tracey

‘A woman who attacked a 12-year-old boy with a paddle has been given a suspended sentence.’

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BBC News, 12th January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Afghan refugees made to move school take UK to court – BBC News

‘A group of Afghan families brought to London after the Taliban took power are taking the government to court because a subsequent move north meant their children had to leave a local school during their GCSE studies.’

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BBC News, 22nd January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court of Appeal makes “unusual order” allowing appeal over refusal to make person party to care proceedings – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal over a Family Court judge’s refusal of an application by an appellant non-relative, Mr B, to become a party to care proceedings.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 10th January 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Newcastle council fined £280,000 after falling tree killed six-year-old – The Guardian

‘A council has been fined £280,000 for oversights that led to a six-year-old girl being crushed to death by a falling tree in her school playground.’

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The Guardian, 10th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com