Independent review shows Bar Standards Board’s complaints handling process “fair, consistent, and well-reasoned” – Bar Standards Board

Posted September 19th, 2014 in barristers, complaints, professional conduct, reports by sally

‘Decisions made by the Bar Standards Board’s Professional Conduct Department, which deals with complaints about professional misconduct by barristers, are “fair, consistent, and well-reasoned”, according to an independent review of the regulator’s enforcement system.’

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Bar Standards Board, 19th September 2014

Source: www.barstandrdsboard.org.uk

NCA refers child protection agency case handling to IPCC – BBC News

‘An organisation which took a year to alert police to information about potential paedophiles in the UK is to be investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).’

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BBC News, 18th September 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Retaliatory Eviction and Law Reform – NearlyLegal

Posted September 15th, 2014 in bills, complaints, health & safety, housing, landlord & tenant, news, repossession by sally

‘The government (through its Minister for Communities and Local Government, Stephen Williams) today announced its backing to Sarah Teather’s private members bill, whose aim is to prevent landlords from evicting tenants who have complained about disrepair in their home or where health and safety hazards are found to exist at the premises, using the accelerated possession procedure. Statistics provided by Shelter show that 200,000 tenants faced possession proceedings in the last 12 months in response to complaints about the condition of their home.’

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NearlyLegal, 11th September 2014

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/

Children’s care homes abuse claims increase to 13 – BBC News

‘An investigation into abuse at a children’s care home has been widened to include other establishments.’

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BBC News, 12th September 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New press self-regulation body ‘not a fake’, says Ipso chairman – BBC News

Posted September 8th, 2014 in complaints, inquiries, interception, media, news, ombudsmen, privacy, standards, victims by sally

‘The chairman of a new press self-regulation body set up in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal says he wants to show critics it is not a “fake”.’

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BBC News, 8th September 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

FOS respondents still at risk of further action despite Clark v In Focus ruling – Commercial Disputes Blog

Posted September 1st, 2014 in appeals, arbitration, compensation, complaints, financial services ombudsman, news by sally

‘When Lady Justice Arden handed down her judgment in the Court of Appeal case of Clark v In Focus, she held that a complainant cannot accept an Ombudsman’s award at the statutory maximum (currently £150,000) and sue in court for the balance of their redress if it exceeds that limit. We hoped in vain that that would be the final word on the issue.’

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Commercial Disputes Blog, 28th August 2014

Source: www.rpc.co.uk

EDF to pay £3m in compensation after Ofgem inquiry – The Guardian

Posted August 22nd, 2014 in compensation, complaints, consumer protection, inquiries, news, utilities by sally

‘EDF Energy is to pay out £3m to benefit “vulnerable customers” after an investigation by the energy industry watchdog Ofgem found that the company had breached complaint handling rules.’

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The Guardian, 22nd August 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Derby Moor teacher David Foster banned for punching and swearing at pupils – BBC News

‘A teacher has been banned indefinitely after he swore at pupils, punched them and called them offensive names.’

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BBC News, 21st August 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Failure to cooperate’ case prompts ombudsman review – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) is to review its internal investigations guidance after a barrister was cleared of misconduct due to its own “failure to cooperate” with the disciplinary process.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 19th August 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Lord Rennard’s suspension from Lib Dems is lifted – Daily Telegraph

‘Disciplinary action launched in wake of sexual harassment allegations against the peer is dropped by the party.’

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Daily Telegraph, 19th August 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ofcom to investigate Monty Python shows over lack of swearing – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 19th, 2014 in complaints, media, news, obscenity by sally

‘The communications watchdog Ofcom is to investigate the Monty Python reunion shows after fans complained about a lack of swearing.
Dozens of viewers objected to “cuts” and “censorship” after some bad language was cut out of the programme, broadcast before the watershed on Gold on July 20. However others complained that the show was too rude after the censors missed some of the more controversial jokes.’

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Daily Telegraph, 18th August 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Sky faces inquiry over MH17 report – The Guardian

Posted August 18th, 2014 in accidents, aircraft, complaints, inquiries, media, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘Sky News is to be investigated by the media regulator for broadcasting images of one of its presenters handling a passenger’s belongings at the Malaysia Airlines MH17 crash site.’

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The Guardian, 18th August 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

RSPCA prosecute family over cat’s long hair – Daily Telegraph

‘Richard and Samantha Byrnes express their relief after the Crown Prosecution Service steps in and orders the RSPCA to halt an animal cruelty case against them.’

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Daily Telegraph, 10th August 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Epileptic teenager died in police custody after officers failed to notice seizures on CCTV, report finds – The Independent

‘A young father died after police failed to notice him having three epileptic seizures in custody, it has emerged.

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The Independent, 8th August 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

HMRC closing the gap on tax avoidance – RPC Commercial Disputes Blog

Posted August 8th, 2014 in complaints, financial advice, HM Revenue & Customs, news, tax avoidance by sally

‘Anyone who has invested in, promoted, or advised on any form of tax mitigation scheme may be feeling slightly nervous following the latest announcement from HMRC concerning the on-going saga of tax avoidance. And understandably so.’

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RPC Commercial Disputes Blog, 7th August 2014

Source: www.rpc.co.uk

‘Offensive’ Rio Christ statue advert banned by watchdog – BBC News

Posted August 6th, 2014 in advertising, Christianity, complaints, gambling, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘Complaints over an advert showing Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer statue and a bikini-clad woman have been upheld by the advertising watchdog.’

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BBC News, 6th August 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Activists complain to IPCC over police efforts to recruit them as informers – The Guardian

Posted August 5th, 2014 in complaints, demonstrations, informers, intimidation, news, police by sally

‘Four campaigners have lodged a complaint with an official watchdog, alleging that they felt intimidated by covert police officers who were trying to persuade them to spy on their political colleagues.’

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The Guardian, 4th August 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bar Standards Board to “research need for accreditation schemes” – Legal Futures

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has promised to research “the need for other quality assurance schemes and/or accreditation schemes” so the public can have confidence in barristers.’

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Legal Futures, 4th August 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Top London school’s ‘serious failings’ over paedophile teacher William Vahey – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 1st, 2014 in child abuse, complaints, news, school children, sexual offences, teachers by sally

‘Southbank International, a £25,000-a-year private school failed to adequately address concerns raised internally about the 64-year old American, according to a review.’

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Daily Telegraph, 31st July 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

No appeal over Rolf Harris sex offences sentence – BBC News

‘Rolf Harris’s sex offences sentence will not be referred to the Court of Appeal, despite 150 complaints over its “leniency”, the attorney general’s office has said.’

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BBC News, 30th July 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk