Ronald McDonald and Tony the Tiger banned from junk food adverts in new crackdown – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 8th, 2016 in advertising, children, codes of practice, food, news by sally

‘Social media sites have been ordered to block junk food adverts aimed at children under a new crackdown which also bans cartoon characters like Ronald McDonald and Tony Tiger from all promotional material of unhealthy food.’

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Daily Telegraph, 8th December 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Child sex abuse victims boycott inquiry meeting in anger over order to sign up to code of conduct – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 23rd, 2016 in child abuse, codes of practice, inquiries, news, victims by sally

‘Victims have begun a boycott of the Government’s child sex abuse inquiry after being ordered to sign up to a code of conduct if they want to attend meetings.’

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Daily Telegraph, 22nd November 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

David Baddiel show breached rules with jokes on Queen’s sex life – The Guardian

Posted November 22nd, 2016 in BBC, codes of practice, media, news by sally

‘Jokes about the Queen’s sex life on David Baddiel’s Radio 4 show and Fox News host Sean Hannity’s coverage of the US election have been found in breach of UK broadcasting rules.’

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The Guardian, 21st November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Tribunal rejects FOI request over code of conduct complaints process – Local Government Lawyer

‘It is important that a council’s code of conduct complaints process remains confidential, the First-tier Tribunal has said in rejecting an appeal over the refusal of a freedom of information request.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th November 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Upholding the Values of the Profession Comment by Eleena Misra, Head of Professional Discipline & Regulatory Law Group – Littleton Chambers

Posted November 9th, 2016 in codes of practice, legal profession, news, professional conduct by sally

‘Whether it is a barrister struck off for evading train fares (recent press reports of the tribunal hearing of Peter Barnett) or for posting anti-Semitic tweets (Ian Millard – see below), to name but two recent high-profile instances of conduct found to be disreputable by disciplinary tribunals, or a British Olympic gymnastics champion subjected to a two-month competition ban for apparently laughing at a wedding as another gymnast pokes fun at a call to prayer (Louis Smith), it is clear that the prevailing climate is one of expecting the great and the good to be, well, great and good. Indeed, it might be said that just being famous is being seen as attracting a moral price tag or responsibility by virtue of the opportunity to influence people. There is currently no formal code of conduct applicable to celebrities, though perhaps sporting bodies are becoming more paternalistic in this regard, but it is certainly still the case that being a member of a profession comes with its own responsibilities.’

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Littleton Chambers, 3rd November 2016

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

New advocates lack “basic knowledge” of ethical rules, report finds – Legal Futures

‘Significant numbers of new advocates are “weaker than might be hoped on basic knowledge” of ethical rules, a major report has found.’

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Legal Futures, 5th October 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Standards watchdog urges regulators to manage ‘revolving door’ properly – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 23rd, 2016 in codes of practice, confidentiality, conflict of interest, news, standards by sally

‘Fewer than a third of regulatory bodies have policies to deal with ‘revolving door’ issues where staff move between the organisation and the entities or profession it regulates, a report by the Committee on Standards in Public Life has revealed.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st September 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

MPs urge action on “significant” legal loophole in taxi licensing – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 22nd, 2016 in codes of practice, licensing, local government, news, parliament, taxis by sally

‘MPs have called on the Government to address a “damaging and significant legal loophole” that allows taxis licensed by other local authorities to operate within Rotherham, even if the drivers have had their application for a Rotherham licence rejected.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th August 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Zombie knives’ ban to come into force – BBC News

‘A ban on the sale of so-called “zombie knives” is set to come into force in England and Wales later this week.’

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BBC News, 15th August 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New Home Office API on Gay Asylum Claims: Not Fit For Purpose – Free Movement

‘The new Asylum Policy Instruction on Sexual Orientation Issues in the Asylum Claim, published last Wednesday, marks an unwelcome retrograde step for the Home Office, which still continues to apply the ‘voluntary discretion test’ to gay asylum claims, even though this has been held to be unlawful, as a matter of EU law, since July 2015. Having made positive strides with respect to the quality of decision-making since the public outcry over the sexually explicit methods of questioning gay asylum seekers in February 2014, in August 2016 this API will lead to sub-standard and unlawful decisions by the Home Office, and arguably Courts and Tribunals who rely on the API, leading to devastating outcomes to those returned to countries where they will suffer persecution.’

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Free Movement, 8th August 2016

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

Strengthen rules on premium rate texts, says regulator – BBC News

‘Rules should be strengthened to avoid mobile users being hit by unexpected charges on premium rate texts, a regulator has said.’

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BBC News, 5th August 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Loose Women cleared over Katie Price’s son swearing – BBC News

Posted August 2nd, 2016 in codes of practice, disabled persons, media, news, obscenity by sally

‘Loose Women has been cleared by Ofcom over an incident which saw Katie Price’s disabled son, Harvey, swear live on air.’

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BBC News, 1st August 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Claims Management Regulator – Misleading marketing statements – Ministry of Justice

‘We have put together a list of misleading statements which demonstrate some of the types of advertising and marketing that is not compliant with our rules.’

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Ministry of Justice, 29th July 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Chambers urged to shape up on diversity as discrimination claims rise – Legal Futures

‘Chambers are seeing more grievances over discriminatory treatment by both employees and members, according to solicitors who advise them on dealing with their equality and diversity obligations.’

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Legal Futures, 1st August 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Hate crime guidance for prosecutors to deal with social media – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Social media communications will be the subject of new guidance issued to prosecutors as part of the government’s action plan to tackle hate crime following an increase in the number of incidents.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 26th July 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Universities getting better on consumer law issues, but work still to be done, says CMA – OUT-LAW.com

‘Awareness among universities of their responsibilities under consumer protection law is increasing, although some poor practices remain, the UK’s competition watchdog has found.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 26th July 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Inside the UK’s biggest prison – BBC News

‘By the end of this year, HMP Oakwood in Staffordshire will be the largest prison in the UK, with more than 2,000 inmates. Run by private firm G4S, Oakwood’s reputation was dented in 2014 when a wing in the prison was taken over by inmates. Sima Kotecha has been inside.’

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BBC News, 27th July 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High Court rejects solicitor’s bid to remove conditions on practising certificate – Legal Futures

‘The High Court has rejected a solicitor’s bid to overturn conditions placed on his practising certificate by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) – but also criticised the regulator for the time it has taken to act in the case.’

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Legal Futures, 25th July 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court rejects appeal against PC conditions – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The High Court has refused an appeal by a London solicitor against conditions being placed on his practising certificate.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 25th July 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Chief coroner calls for legal aid provision in state-involved inquests – The Guardian

‘Legal aid should be provided for families at inquests in which the government pays for lawyers to represent police officers or other state employees, the chief coroner has recommended.’

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The Guardian, 25th July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk