Police custody deaths hit 10-year high, with experts citing austerity – The Guardian

‘Police custody deaths have hit their highest level in a decade with police, campaigners and experts warning that austerity and a crisis in mental health services have driven the figure up.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 25th July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Justice Secretary launches fresh crackdown on crime in prison – speech – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 11th, 2018 in drug abuse, prisons, rehabilitation, sentencing, speeches by sally

‘Justice Secretary launches fresh crackdown on crime in prison – speech.’

Full speech

Ministry of Justice, 10th July 2018

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

FDAC unit closure threatens future of problem-solving courts – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 22nd, 2018 in alcohol abuse, courts, drug abuse, families, family courts, local government, news by sally

‘Days after it emerged that a national board set up to improve the performance of the family justice system and chaired by government ministers had not met for 17 months, a national unit set up only three years ago to support a pioneering problem-solving court service for families is shutting down due to lack of government support.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 21st June 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘Laughing gas’ driver jailed over A41 fatal crash – BBC News

Posted May 22nd, 2018 in dangerous driving, drug abuse, news, sentencing, young offenders by sally

‘A teenager who inhaled laughing gas while driving at high speed before crashing and killing two women has been jailed.’

Full Story

BBC News, 21st May 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Children: Private Law Update (Spring 2018) – Family Law Week

‘Alex Verdan QC of 4 Paper Buildings reviews recent important judgments in private law children cases.’

Full Story

Family Law Week, 27th April 2018

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Richard Frost: 117mph double death crash driver jailed – BBC News

Posted March 27th, 2018 in assault, dangerous driving, drug abuse, homicide, money laundering, news, sentencing by sally

‘A motorist who hit speeds of 117mph before killing two pedestrians when he drove along the verge on the wrong side of the road has been jailed.’

Full Story

BBC News, 26th March 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prison violence and gangs targeted by justice secretary – BBC News

Posted March 6th, 2018 in drug abuse, gangs, news, prisons, violence by sally

‘Measures to clamp down on violence and the smuggling of drugs, phones and weapons in prisons are to be unveiled by Justice Secretary David Gauke.’

Full Story

BBC News, 6th March 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sir Bradley Wiggins & Team Sky ‘crossed ethical line’ – doping in sport report – BBC News

Posted March 5th, 2018 in drug abuse, news, reports, select committees, sport by sally

‘Sir Bradley Wiggins and Team Sky “crossed an ethical line” by using drugs allowed under anti-doping rules to enhance performance instead of just for medical need, a report by MPs says.’

Full Story

BBC News, 5th March 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Family Drug and Alcohol Courts to expand across London – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 1st, 2018 in alcohol abuse, care orders, courts, drug abuse, families, family courts, London, news by sally

‘The Family Drug and Alcohol Court ( FDAC) is to expand in London after a partnership of nine boroughs, led by Merton Council, commissioned the service from the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 28th February 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Coroner criticises hospital failings and busy A&E department over death of rape victim who overdosed on diet pills – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 15th, 2018 in drug abuse, duty of care, hospitals, inquests, mental health, negligence, news, victims by sally

‘A coroner has criticised hospital failings in an overwhelmed A&E department over the death of rape victim who overdosed on diet pills.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 14th February 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Muhammad Ali: British boxer banned for two years after positive test – BBC News

Posted February 6th, 2018 in disqualification, drug abuse, news, sport by sally

‘British Olympic boxer Muhammad Ali has been banned for two years after failing a drugs test.’

Full Story

BBC News, 6th February 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The use of testing for drugs and alcohol in FDAC – Family Law

‘The FDAC National Unit (NU) coordinates quarterly meetings for all FDAC substance misuse workers, to provide a forum for discussing issues arising from working in FDAC, which is a very different experience to working within adult treatment services. Issues that arise include being part of a multi-disciplinary team, working within the tight timescales of care proceedings, and the need to focus on the welfare of the child and the child’s timescales rather than solely on the parent/s. Issues relating to testing are also discussed regularly.’

Full Story

Family Law, 9th January 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Liverpool jail: The worst conditions ever seen, says report – BBC News

Posted December 19th, 2017 in drug abuse, health & safety, news, prisons, reports by sally

‘Inmates at Liverpool prison are being kept in the worst living conditions inspectors have ever seen, according to a report seen by BBC News.’

Full Story

BBC News, 18th December 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Megan Bannister: Friend calls for ‘duty to help’ law – BBC News

Posted December 11th, 2017 in drug abuse, duty of care, homicide, legislation, medical treatment, news by sally

‘The best friend of a teenager who died after taking drugs has called for a law to oblige people to seek help for someone they know is dangerously ill.’

Full Story

BBC News, 11th December 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

I see you stand like greyhounds in the (procedural) slips – Blackstone Chambers

Posted December 8th, 2017 in disciplinary procedures, dogs, drug abuse, news, sport by sally

‘The principles of fair procedure ought to be well known to most sporting disciplinary bodies by now, but a case before the disciplinary and appellate bodies of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) illustrates how procedural slips can still occur, causing substantial unfairness to a person facing disciplinary action. The case also shows the power of a fair appellate body to put right procedural defects.’

Full Story

Blackstone Chambers, 4th December 2017

Source: www.sportslawbulletin.org

Unreliable forensic toxicology tests – next steps – Family Law

‘Family analysis: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced that it is treating some hair strand test results as potentially unreliable. Maud Davis, partner at TV Edwards LLP looks at what this could mean for proceedings involving children where there was a reliance on hair strand testing, and suggests next steps for family practitioners advising in this area.’

Full Story

Family Law, 7th December 2017

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Megan Bannister: Men discovered with dead schoolgirl in car jailed and branded ‘callous and morally repugnant’ by judge – The Independent

Posted November 30th, 2017 in careless driving, drug abuse, drug offences, homicide, news, sentencing by sally

‘Two men have been jailed for what a judge called the “callous and morally repugnant” roles they played in supplying a schoolgirl with MDMA shortly before her death.’

Full Story

The Independent, 30th November 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Dodgy drug test results – what should I do? – Transparency Project

‘On 21 November the Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal’s Service issued advice for those concerned about potentially unreliable forensic toxicology (drug) tests in some family cases. The advice also relates to criminal trials, but this post looks at the issue for people who have been involved with a family court case and who are worried that the test results may have been dodgy.’

Full Story

Transparency Project, 23rd November 2017

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Regulator calls for better scrutiny of drug testing in family courts – The Guardian

Posted November 24th, 2017 in alcohol abuse, drug abuse, evidence, family courts, forensic science, news by sally

‘The government’s forensic regulator has called for fresh scrutiny of drug and alcohol testing carried out for the family courts, after a scandal at a Manchester laboratory raised doubts about the quality of evidence used in thousands of child custody proceedings.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 24th November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 – Sentencing Guidance – Drystone Chambers

Posted November 23rd, 2017 in drug abuse, drug offences, legislation, news, sentencing by sally

‘The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 (“PSA”) came into force on 26th May 2016. This article aims to give an outline of the PSA and an analysis of sentencing practice under the statute.’

Full Story

Drystone Chambers, 3rd November 2017

Source: drystone.com