High court says UK’s £1,012 child citizenship fee is unlawful – The Guardian

Posted December 19th, 2019 in children, citizenship, fees, government departments, immigration, news by sally

‘In a landmark judgment the high court has found that the Home Office’s £1,012 child citizenship fee is unlawful. The fee has been described as “shameless profiteering” by Amnesty International.’

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The Guardian, 19th December 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Council refused permission to challenge Ombudsman findings on payment of special guardians – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 19th, 2019 in budgets, children, families, fostering, guardianship, local government, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘A High Court judge has refused to grant Rochdale Council permission to challenge the findings of a Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman on the way it pays special guardians.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th December 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Police chief in child abuse video case lodges appeal against verdict – The Guardian

‘A decorated Metropolitan police superintendent convicted of possessing a child abuse video has formally asked the court of appeal to strike down her conviction.’

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The Guardian, 18th December 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Family’s legal fight against hospital over brain injury baby – BBC News

Posted December 18th, 2019 in birth, children, families, hospitals, medical treatment, news by sally

‘The father of a brain-damaged baby boy has urged a hospital not to “rush” a decision to end his life support.’

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BBC News, 17th December 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Council acted unlawfully when assessing whether applicant was ‘former relevant child’ – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 16th, 2019 in benefits, children, local government, news, statutory interpretation by sally

‘The High Court has ruled that the London Borough of Ealing acted unlawfully in its assessment of whether applicant AB was a “former relevant child” within the meaning of section 23C of the Children Act 1989.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th December 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Court orders change in living arrangements for a child following parental alienation – Family Law

Posted December 16th, 2019 in children, domestic violence, families, news by sally

‘Jenny Bowden, an associate in Stewarts’ Divorce and Family team, reviews a recent case in which a judge ruled that a child should move to live with his father instead of his mother following the father’s application for a transfer of care (Re H (parental alienation) PA v TT and H [2019] EWHC 2723 (Fam)).’

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Family Law, 13th December 2019

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

‘Dangerous’ married man who impregnated 14-year-old girl is jailed for five years – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted December 16th, 2019 in child abuse, children, news, pregnancy, sentencing, sexual grooming, sexual offences by sally

‘A married man who had sex with two teenage girls aged 14 and 15, impregnating the 14-year-old has been jailed for five years.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 13th December 2019

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

A ‘fair hearing’ in the family court includes the judge creating the appropriate atmosphere – 5SAH

‘Within the U.K. there are two judicial systems: the law of England and Wales and the law of Scotland; which differ slightly. The Human Rights Act 1998 came into force on the 2nd October 2000 to incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms 1950 (‘the Convention’) into the law of England & Wales. At the same time that the Human Rights Act 1998 was passing through parliament the Scotland Act 1998 was also making its’ way through parliament. Under the Scotland Act 1998, in May 1999, the U.K. devolved legislative and executive power to Scotland. The primary function of the Scotland Act 1998 was to set up a system of devolved government for Scotland, but it also included important provisions relating to the protection of the rights guaranteed by the Convention (‘Convention rights’).’

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5SAH, 10th December 2019

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

What happens when a court order in private family law proceedings is breached? – Becket Chambers

‘Parties named in a court order must follow the order. A party found to be in breach of an order may be fined, imprisoned, ordered to undertake unpaid work or have their assets seized. The penalty is at the discretion of the court.’

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Becket Chambers, 10th December 2019

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

Care home owner John Allen guilty of child sex abuse – BBC News

‘A former care home owner, already serving a life sentence for child sex abuse, has been found guilty of more historical offences against boys.’

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BBC News, 10th December 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Coroner warns theme parks to act on ride danger after girl’s death – The Guardian

‘A coroner has warned theme park operators about the risk of future deaths unless they address safety concerns over water rides, after an inquest into the drowning of an 11-year-old girl.’

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The Guardian, 10th December 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Met officer in child abuse video case faces fast-track dismissal – The Guardian

‘A decorated senior Metropolitan police officer controversially convicted of possessing a child abuse video is facing a fast-track dismissal from the force, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 10th December 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Girl sexually exploited ‘by over 40 adults’ while in care – The Guardian

‘The children’s commissioner has been called on to intervene in the case of a vulnerable teenager alleged to have been the victim of a catalogue of failures at the hands of social workers, medical authorities and police.’

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The Guardian, 8th December 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge believes blameless parents and sends baby home – Transparency Project

Posted December 9th, 2019 in accidents, child cruelty, children, families, news, social services by sally

‘His Honour Judge Dancey has published a judgment in which he explains why he has decided that social services have failed to prove that either parent caused a skull fracture sustained by their baby, with the result that the baby is going home. The judge decided that the evidence did not prove that the fracture had been inflicted as opposed to caused accidentally, and the injury just remained unexplained. The baby has made a full recovery, by the way.’

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Transparency Project, 7th December 2019

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Couple ‘told they couldn’t adopt a white child because of their Indian heritage’ win £120,000 in landmark discrimination case – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 9th, 2019 in adoption, children, damages, equality, families, local government, news, race discrimination by sally

‘A British couple have won nearly £120,000 in damages following a landmark discrimination case after they were told they could not adopt a “white child” because of their Indian heritage.’

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Daily Telegraph, 6th December 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Baby P’s mother should not be freed, says Parole Board – The Guardian

‘Tracey Connelly, the mother of Baby P, who died after months of abuse, should not be freed from jail or moved to an open prison, the Parole Board has decided.’

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The Guardian, 6th December 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tate Modern balcony push: Teen admits attempted murder – BBC News

‘A teenager said he threw a boy from the 10th floor of the Tate Modern in London because he wanted to be on the TV news.’

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BBC News, 6th December 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mother claims judge’s ‘outdated views’ on sexual assault led him to rule against her in child custody battle – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 6th, 2019 in bias, children, custody, domestic violence, judges, news, rape by sally

‘A mother has claimed that a judge’s “outdated views” on sexual assault led him to rule against her after she accused a former partner of rape during a child custody case.’

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Daily Telegraph, 5th December 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Happy anniversary? 30 years of the Children Act – New Law Journal

Posted December 5th, 2019 in children, families, legal history, news by sally

‘On the 30th anniversary of the Children Act, David Burrows reflects on the state of children’s rights.’

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New Law Journal, 28th November 2019

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Family Law Newsletter #31 – Spire Barristers

‘Articles from around the web, Legislation updates and Case Updates from Care Proceedings and Financial Remedy matters.’

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Spire Barristers, 2nd December 2019

Source: spirebarristers.co.uk