Mother of boy killed by dangerous dog in caravan jailed for two years – The Guardian

‘The mother of a nine-year-old boy who was fatally attacked by her friend’s “extremely powerful” dog in a caravan on a Cornish holiday park has been jailed for two years.’

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The Guardian, 9th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Charity launches High Court challenge over dilution of children’s social care duties during COVID-19 – Local Government Lawyer

‘A children’s rights charity is to ask the High Court to quash a statutory instrument that introduced significant changes to children’s social care law during the coronavirus pandemic.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th June 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

R (Flores) v Southwark LBC [2020] EWHC 1279 (Admin) – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square

‘The Administrative Court dismissed a challenge to the local authority’s decision as to the level of priority to be awarded under their housing allocation scheme to a family living in accommodation which had become statutorily overcrowded as a result of children growing older. The Court interpreted the meaning of the applicant’s “deliberate act” under the scheme.’

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4-5 Gray's Inn Square, 29th May 2020

Source: www.4-5.co.uk

Watering down children’s rights – Doughty Street Chambers

‘This post, written by a member of the Doughty Street Chambers’ Children’s Rights Group, raises questions about the necessity and proportionality of the Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020. It suggests that the Regulations are likely to breach the UK’s international human rights commitments at a time when children need such protections more than ever.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 19th May 2020

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Coronavirus: Court action threatened over school meal vouchers – BBC News

‘Campaigners have threatened to bring legal action against the government for not providing free school meal vouchers during the summer.’

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BBC News, 5th June 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Riley Siswick death: Senior detective cleared over toddler murder inquiry – BBC News

‘An “exceptional” senior detective has been cleared of allegations he failed to conduct a thorough investigation into the death of a three-year-old boy.’

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BBC News, 5th June 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Parenting Plans & Child Arrangements Orders: Maria Scotland & Gemma Lindfield – 5SAH

‘When the family breaks down and there are children, whether the parents are married or not, the parents are advised to try to reach an agreement on where the children will live: whether they will live with one parent and spend time with the other parent or else share their time between their separated parents’ homes. Older children are often able to make decisions for themselves or make arrangements to go between homes themselves once their parents live apart – so called “voting with their feet”. Younger children and babies cannot and they need their parents to make arrangements in their best interests for them. These parents are advised to try and reach an agreement in writing, called a “parenting plan”.’

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5SAH, 28th May 2020

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

“The Law of Humanity”: Home Office no recourse to public funds policy ruled unlawful – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In this judgment on the Home Secretary’s “no recourse to public funds” (NRPF) policy, the Divisional Court of the Queen’s Bench Division has confirmed that it does, citing authority going back to the time of the poor laws.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 3rd June 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Family judge says trial should be held on diplomatic immunity legislation and incompatibility with European Convention on Human Rights – Local Government Lawyer

‘A trial should be held on the “virtually insoluble dilemma” between diplomatic immunity and local authorities’ child protection duties, Mr Justice Mostyn has ruled in the High Court Family Division.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 4th June 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Supreme Court to rule on ‘paedophile hunters’ case – BBC News

‘A convicted paedophile who was snared by a vigilante group is to have his case examined at the UK Supreme Court.’

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BBC News, 3rd June 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

A case law update- a selection of the non-COVID-19 cases published during the pandemic – St Ives Chambers

Posted June 3rd, 2020 in adoption, chambers articles, children, coronavirus, families, family courts, news by sally

‘The Covid-19 pandemic has produced a number of new cases which tie together the guidance produced by the senior judiciary and are essential reading for all practitioners in this new world of remote working.’

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St Ives Chambers, 27th May 2020

Source: www.stiveschambers.co.uk

Parents fight in court over whether children should return to school in England – The Guardian

‘Separating parents are fighting each other through the courts over whether their children should return to school as lockdown is eased, a leading family lawyer has revealed.’

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The Guardian, 2nd June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Naomi McLoughlin discusses the recent decision in A Local Authority v the Mother & Ors [2020] EWHC 1233 (Fam) – Park Square Barristers

Posted June 2nd, 2020 in children, coronavirus, evidence, news, remote hearings by sally

‘The judgment addresses the question of whether a fact-finding hearing should continue either remotely or semi-remotely or whether the case should be adjourned until an in-person hearing of pre-Covid 19 format can take place.’

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Park Square Barristers, 19th May 2020

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Professional Regulation – Case Comment: Caroline Reilly V Teaching Regulation Agency and Secretary of State for Education (2020) EWHC 1188 (Admin) – Park Square Barristers

‘The appellant was the head teacher of a primary school in the West Midlands. She was dismissed from her post in July 2011 following disciplinary proceedings which arose in consequence of her failure to disclose the fact of her personal relationship with a man who had been convicted of offences involving the making and possessing of indecent images of children.’

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Park Square Barristers, 15th May 2020

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Judge criticises local authority and Children’s Guardian over efforts to identify birth father but declines to revoke adoption order – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 1st, 2020 in adoption, children, families, family courts, judges, local government, news by sally

‘A Family Division judge has rejected a birth father’s application under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court to revoke an adoption order made in November 2019, despite levelling criticisms at the local authority and Children’s Guardian over a lack of rigour and urgency to identify him.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 29th May 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Covid causes child detention crisis, and a ‘timebomb’ in adult prisons – The Guardian

‘Serious concerns are emerging over the treatment of children in custody during the coronavirus pandemic, after evidence that some have been spending as little as 40 minutes a day out of their cell.’

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The Guardian, 31st May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Children in care and vaccinations: who decides? – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In the current circumstances, this case has important resonances and maybe even implications for future vaccinations. It was an appeal by the parents of a ten year old child against a decision that the local authority, had lawful authority to have the child vaccinated (pursuant to Section 33(3) of the Children Act 1989.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 28th May 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Keeping families together: the role of the court in child reunification – Family Law

Posted May 27th, 2020 in children, families, family courts, guardianship, news, supervision orders by sally

‘On May 11th the first meeting of a newly formed sub-group of the Public Law Working Group took place to review practice, guidance, regulations and the effectiveness of the law on supervision orders. Authorised by the President of the Family Division, the working party will be led by Professor Judith Harwin, Centre for Child and Family Justice, Lancaster University and Mr. Justice Keehan. It is the first review of the legislation since its enactment in the Children Act 1989.’

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Family Law, 26th May 2020

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

AS v CPW: The Court retrospectively grants a time limited relocation of a child wrongly removed to, and retained in Sierra Leone – Family Law

Posted May 27th, 2020 in child abduction, children, news, retrospectivity, time limits by sally

‘In short, the case concerns three children but the judgement largely deals with the eldest child, B, a 14-year-old boy who was wrongly removed and retained by the mother in Sierra Leone. The younger two children remain in England with the mother. The father applied in wardship for a summary inward return order for B. Ten months ago, the mother took B to Sierra Leone and left him there with her mother (who is highlighted in the case, to be a police officer in Sierra Leone). The father also applied for Child Arrangement Order for contact with the children. The mother then cross-applied for an order permitting her retrospectively relocating B to Sierra Leone until the summer of 2022 to enable him to conclude his GCSEs at a school in Sierra Leone.’

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Family Law, 22nd May 2020

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Jaden Moodie: ‘Chances missed’ to protect boy groomed by dealers – BBC News

‘A boy who was “butchered” in a drugs turf war after being groomed by drug dealers had been arrested in a crack den months earlier but police did not contact child exploitation staff, a report has found.’

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BBC News, 26th May 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk