Rwanda plan challenged over alleged failure to identify risks for LGBTQ+ refugees – The Guardian

‘Priti Patel’s plan to send refugees on a one-way ticket to Rwanda is being legally challenged over the government’s alleged failure to identify risks facing vulnerable groups such as LGBTQ+ people.’

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The Guardian, 24th May 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ali v Heathrow Express Operating Company Ltd & Anor – Equality Law Blog

‘This decision is a reminder that, where unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic is not intended to offend, intimidate, etc, an objective test applies to the question whether conduct amounts to harassment. The claimant was a Muslim employee of Heathrow Express. He complained of harassment and direct discrimination connected with religion after receiving an email concerning a security test carried out by the second respondent, which was responsible for carrying out security checks at Heathrow Airport and Heathrow Express stations at the airport. The test in question had involved a bag containing a box, some electric cabling and, visible at the top, a piece of paper with the words “Allahu Akbar” written in Arabic. The email reporting on the results of the test and included images of the bag and the note.’

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Equality Law Blog, 24th May 2022

Source: equalitylawblog.com

Police in England and Wales to get anti-racism training – BBC News

Posted May 25th, 2022 in bias, equality, news, police, race discrimination, racism by sally

‘Police officers in England and Wales will be given mandatory anti-racism training under a new plan to tackle racism, discrimination and bias.’

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BBC News, 24th May 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Exclusions and independent schools: options for families – 5SAH

Posted May 24th, 2022 in complaints, contracts, equality, news, school exclusions by sally

‘England and Wales are home to some of the world’s most celebrated independent schools. They provide life-changing opportunities and are seen by many as a passport to success.’

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5SAH, 17th May 2022

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

The Specialist Commercial Bar & Black Inclusion – First Steps – The Chancery Bar Association

Posted May 23rd, 2022 in barristers, diversity, equality, news by sally

‘The Equality and Diversity Sub-Committees of COMBAR, ChBA and Tecbar (the “SBAs”) are delighted to issue the report “The Specialist Commercial Bar & Black Inclusion – First Steps” (“the Report”) for consideration by members and member sets.’

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The Chancery Bar Association, April 2022

Source: www.chba.org.uk

Legalising cannabis won’t tackle disproportionate policing outcomes for ethnic minorities, crime minister says – The Independent

‘Legalising cannabis won’t tackle disproportionate policing outcomes for ethnic minorities but the issue does need to be tackled, the crime minister says.’

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The Independent, 20th May 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

How Has the Pandemic Changed the City Workplace? Top 10 Legal Issues in the Post-Pandemic Workplace – Littleton Chambers

‘The last two years have accelerated a number of trends which had already started to gain traction. The most obvious one is the move to remote working.’

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Littleton Chambers, 17th May 2022

Source: littletonchambers.com

Unequal impact of Covid should be part of UK inquiry, says chair – The Guardian

‘The chair of the UK Covid-19 public inquiry has urged the prime minister to significantly widen its scope to better examine the pandemic’s unequal impact on minority ethnic people, on children and on mental health.’

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The Guardian, 12th May 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Calling a man ‘bald’ is sexual harassment, employment tribunal rules – The Guardian

‘Calling a man “bald” is sexual harassment, an employment tribunal has ruled. Hair loss is much more prevalent among men than women so using it to describe someone is a form of discrimination, a judge has concluded. Commenting on a man’s baldness in the workplace is equivalent to remarking on the size of a woman’s breasts, the finding suggests.’

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The Guardian, 13th May 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘It strips your humanity’: Civil servant wins six-figure sum over ‘insidious’ Ministry of Justice racism – The Independent

‘A former civil servant received a six-figure pay-out from the government over discrimination after she says was subjected to “insidious” racism during a 20-year battle with the Ministry of Justice.’

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The Independent, 8th May 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Report calls for primary school exclusions to be banned by 2026 – The Independent

‘Exclusions from primary school should be banned by 2026, a new report has said.’

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The Independent, 29th April 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Harassment in employment?: Ali v Heathrow Express – Law & Religion UK

‘Anis Ali, a Muslim, worked for the Heathrow Express which was at the relevant time run by the first respondent, Heathrow Express Operating Company Ltd. The second respondent, Redline Assured Security Ltd, was responsible for carrying out security checks at the airport and the Heathrow Express stations. The checks involved creating and leaving suspicious objects to test how security officers responded to them, and in August 2017 it carried out a test using a bag containing a box, some electric cable and, visible at the top, a piece of paper with the words “Allahu Akbar” written in Arabic. Subsequently, the Operating Company sent an e-mail reporting on the results of the test and including images of the bag and the note to a group of employees – including Mr Ali.’

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Law & Religion UK, 19th April 2022

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

System failure led to default judgment against leading law firm – Legal Futures

‘Leading legal aid firm Duncan Lewis has been ordered to pay a former director costs of £6,500 for setting aside a default employment tribunal judgment caused by its internal failures.’

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Legal Futures, 13th April 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Neurodiversity and the Bar – Counsel

‘An introduction to neurodiversity and why the Bar ought to embrace it – by Oliver May.’

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Counsel, March 2022

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Female black and Asian prisoners detail racism endured in landmark report – The Independent

Posted April 8th, 2022 in equality, news, prisons, race discrimination, racism, statistics, women by sally

‘Black and Asian women in prison are experiencing racial discrimination at the hands of staff members, a damning new report has found.’

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The Independent, 8th April 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Warburton v. Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police: Applying the Statutory Test – Easier Said Than Done – Littleton Chambers

‘The Claimant’s case centred primarily around an allegation that he had been victimised, contrary to s.27 Equality Act 2010. His contention was that the Respondent police force had refused his application to become a police officer because he had outstanding Employment Tribunal proceedings alleging discrimination against another police force. Those proceedings were a protected act.’

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Littleton Chambers, 21st March 2022

Source: littletonchambers.com

Case Comment: R (on the application of Z) v Hackney LBC [2020] UKSC 40 – UKSC Blog

‘The narrow result of this appeal is that, on the facts, it was proportionate and lawful for a charity to restrict the allocation of its housing stock to Orthodox Jewish families. However, in reaching that conclusion, Lord Sales, giving the leading judgment, made a number of points of wider importance.’

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UKSC Blog, 4th April 2022

Source: ukscblog.com

Class as a protected characteristic? – 12 King’s Bench Walk

Posted April 6th, 2022 in chambers articles, employment, equality, news by sally

‘The social, economic and cultural effects of the pandemic are likely to cast a long shadow into the future, exacerbating existing inequalities and creating new ones. One impact is that social inequality is set to rise. Could social class be protected under the Equality Act 2010, and what would it mean for employees and employers?’

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12 King's Bench Walk, 10th March 2022

Source: www.12kbw.co.uk

Suitability, enquiries, gender reassignment and the public sector equality duty – Nearly Legal

Posted April 5th, 2022 in disabled persons, equality, homelessness, housing, news, transgender persons by sally

‘An interesting Court of Appeal decision on the sufficiency of enquiries to establish suitability of accommodation offered in discharge of section 189B Housing Act 1986 duty where the homeless person has the protected characteristics of disability and gender reassignment.’

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Nearly Legal, 3rd April 2022

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Court of Appeal rejects appeal over sufficiency of inquiries made by housing options manager – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 5th, 2022 in disabled persons, equality, homelessness, housing, news, transgender persons by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal over the sufficiency of inquiries made by a borough council to determine the suitability of accommodation offered to a homeless applicant with ‘protected characteristics’ of disability and gender reassignment.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 4th April 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk