Back bill to ban marriage for under-18 in England and Wales, MPs urged – The Guardian

Posted October 6th, 2020 in bills, children, civil partnerships, consent, forced marriages, marriage, news by sally

‘The UK is undermining its international efforts to end child marriage because an exception to the law in England and Wales that allows 16 and 17-year-olds to marry with parental consent is putting children at risk, parliament will be told today.’

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The Guardian, 6th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ex-BBC presenter jailed for child sex offences – BBC News

‘A former BBC presenter and church minister has been sentenced to 10 years and four months in prison for sexually abusing children and adults.’

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BBC News, 2nd October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High Court judge quashes s.17 Children Act assessment made by council – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 25th, 2020 in children, families, homelessness, housing, judicial review, local government, London, news by sally

‘A judge has strongly criticised a London borough over its handling of the assessment of a family’s accommodation needs.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th September 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Anthony Lewis: Life for ‘predatory’ children’s entertainer – BBC News

‘A children’s entertainer who raped and sexually abused young girls over a 20-year period has been jailed for life.’

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BBC News, 24th September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Council to pursue Crown Court appeal over ruling that ex-policeman convicted of child abduction should be granted taxi licence – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 24th, 2020 in children, kidnapping, licensing, local government, news, taxis by sally

‘Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council has lodged an appeal with Liverpool Crown Court over whether a former policeman convicted 14 years ago of abducting a 15-year-old girl should be granted a taxi driver licence.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd September 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Covid stops family visits for children in youth prisons in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted September 24th, 2020 in children, coronavirus, families, news, prisons, young offenders by sally

‘Social distancing measures in youth prisons have had “disturbing consequences”, with children denied face-to-face interaction with families and friends, as well as visits from social workers, youth offending staff or lawyers, a report has found.’

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The Guardian, 23rd September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge orders placement for adoption for three children amid extreme over-reaction of parents to involvement of professionals – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 23rd, 2020 in adoption, care orders, children, deceit, families, judges, local government, news by sally

‘A High Court judge has ordered that three children be placed for adoption after calling their mother “the most egregious liar I have ever encountered”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st September 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

£10,000 fines warning for failing to self-isolate as England Covid infections soar – The Guardian

Posted September 21st, 2020 in care homes, children, coronavirus, emergency powers, enforcement, fines, news, statistics by sally

‘People in England who refuse to self-isolate when required to do so will face fines of up to £10,000 under an emergency “carrot and stick” plan to control the second wave of Covid-19 sweeping the country.’

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The Guardian, 20th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Jailed solicitor struck off for historic child abuse convictions – Legal Futures

‘A veteran solicitor serving nearly nine years in prison after being convicted of multiple counts of historic indecent assault against children has been struck off.’

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Legal Futures, 18th September 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Public law children case update: contact, nationality and stays – Local Government Lawyer

‘Georgina Dalton summarises the latest public law children rulings, covering issues such as contact during care, changing the nationality of children in care, and practice on granting short-term stays.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 18th September 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court allows appeal by claimant after council bids to withdraw admissions of liability in failure to remove case – Local Government Lawyer

‘An unnamed South Wales local authority has been stopped by the High Court from withdrawing three admissions of lability made in a lengthy dispute over the care while a child of J, who is now aged 20 and seeks damages.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th September 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Teaching assistant found guilty of sending topless pictures to 15-year-old pupil – Daily Telegraph

‘A jury at Aylesbury Crown Court found her guilty of two sex offence charges relating to the topless pictures and a video, but they have not yet reached verdicts on three more serious charges of causing or inciting a child aged under 16 to engage in a sexual act.’

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Daily Telegraph, 15th September 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Independent Case Review published – Oxford Diocese – Law & Religion UK

‘On 12th December 2018, the Diocese of Oxford announced the establishment of an Independent Case Review of the diocesan safeguarding response to allegations of spiritual abuse in the case of the Revd Tim Davis. On 11 September 2020, the Diocese of Oxford published the Review’s findings, a summary of which is reproduced below.’

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Law & Religion UK, 11th September 2020

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Children ‘should be banned from unregulated care homes’ – BBC News

Posted September 10th, 2020 in care homes, care orders, children, news, standards by sally

‘The government should ban placing under-18s in care in unregulated homes amid concerns over sexual and criminal exploitation, the children’s commissioner for England has said.’

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BBC News, 9th September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Grammar school discriminated against visually impaired child, tribunal finds – The Guardian

‘Grammar schools in England will have to ensure their 11-plus entrance exams are accessible to disabled pupils, after a legal ruling found a visually impaired child suffered discrimination when he was refused the opportunity to take the exam.’

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The Guardian, 9th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Manchester Arena attack: ‘This inquiry should be about transparency’ – BBC News

Posted September 7th, 2020 in bereavement, children, families, inquiries, news, terrorism by sally

‘The parents of eight-year-old Saffie Roussos, the youngest victim of the Manchester Arena terror attack, have been speaking about their feelings, as a public inquiry is due to start on Monday.’

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BBC News, 6th September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court agrees to withdraw boy’s hospital treatment – BBC News

Posted September 2nd, 2020 in children, Court of Protection, families, medical treatment, news by sally

‘A 12-year-old boy with brain injuries will have his treatment withdrawn after a High Court judge found it was not in his best interests to prolong life.’

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BBC News, 1st September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mother sues MoJ over child’s lack of access to father in jails lockdown – The Guardian

Posted September 1st, 2020 in children, families, human rights, news, prisons, telecommunications by sally

‘A mother who fears her 19-month-old child will forget their father if prison visits do not resume soon has begun preliminary legal action against the Ministry of Justice.’

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The Guardian, 31st August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge wrong to impose costs on litigation friend – Litigation Futures

Posted August 28th, 2020 in children, costs, law firms, litigation friends, news, tax avoidance by sally

‘A High Court judge was wrong to order a litigation friend, acting for children, to pay costs after unsuccessfully applying to challenge the settlement of a trust dispute, appeal judges have ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 26th August 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Re D-S (Contact with Children in Care: Covid-19) – Family Law Week

‘This was a successful appeal against a decision of HHJ Lea to refuse a mother’s application for direct contact to her children (who were being cared for by the Local Authority) as the lockdown restrictions eased. Appeal allowed.’

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Family Law Week, 13th August 2020

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk