Planning enforcement and equalities duties – Local Government Lawyer

‘A recent High Court ruling shows that equalities duties must be treated differently, writes Roderick Morton.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 16th June 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Avon and Somerset Police ‘institutionally racist’, chief constable says – BBC News

‘A chief constable says she believes her own force is “institutionally racist”. Sarah Crew said she came to that conclusion after applying a series of criteria to Avon and Somerset Police following a report into the local criminal justice system.’

Full Story

BBC News, 16th June 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Women to get gay-conviction pardons for first time – BBC News

‘Women convicted of offences related to being gay can apply to have their convictions removed, under an expansion of the government’s pardon scheme.’

Full Story

BBC News, 13th June 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ombudsman criticises council for “significant failings” under Equality Act that exacerbated poor mental health of resident – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Housing Ombudsman has found severe maladministration for Tandridge District Council after the local authority “did not abide by its duties under the Equality Act or its own safeguarding policy”, leading to the exacerbation of a resident’s poor mental health.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 1st June 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judicial review proceedings issued against NHS trust over lack of consultation on mental health services redesign – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust is facing a judicial review challenge from a claimant who alleges the trust failed to involve or consult service users on plans to redesign its community mental health services.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 1st June 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Hospital ‘racially discriminated’ against engineer – BBC News

‘An NHS hospital trust racially discriminated against an engineer when he was suspended over a health and safety breach, an employment tribunal ruled.’

Full Story

BBC News, 25th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law firms and preventing sexual harassment in the workplace – Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog

‘Sexual harassment in the workplace has attracted growing concern globally over the past five years. The House of Commons Women and Equalities Select Committee (WESC) inquiry in July 2018 triggered a parliamentary debate around the need for stricter duties for employers to prevent unwanted sexual behaviour at work. In parallel, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has prioritised tackling sexual misconduct in law firms and recent changes to its Codes of Conduct emphasise the expectation on firms to foster a culture of zero tolerance to counter-inclusive behaviours, including sexual misconduct.’

Full Story

Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog, 23rd May 2023

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

Is “ethnocentric nationalism” protected by s.10 of the Equality Act?: Cave – Law & Religion UK

‘In Mr A Cave v The Open University [2023] UKET 3313198/2020, the OU received internal and external complaints in June 2020 about what was claimed to be racist material that Mr Cave had posted on Twitter and on a YouTube channel he had set up entitled “Renew Britannia” [6].’

Full Story

Law & Religion UK, 22nd May 2023

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Council defeats High Court challenge to enforcement notice – Local Government lawyer

Posted May 4th, 2023 in enforcement notices, equality, local government, news, planning by tracey

‘Luton Borough Council has defeated a developer’s challenge to a planning enforcement notice in the High Court.’

Full Story

Local Government lawyer, 4th May 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Millwall fan receives football banning order for homophobic slurs towards Bournemouth fans – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A so-called football fan has been banned from football matches and fined for homophobic abuse of Bournemouth fans.’

Full Story

Crown Prosecution Service, 28th April 2023

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Changing the narrative on neurodiversity: smoothing out the bumps in the road – Local Government Lawyer

‘Libby Hubbard looks at a recent Employment Appeal Tribunal case that considered whether a staff member’s behaviour and his disability were linked.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 28th April 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Paralegal wins claims for disability discrimination and harassment – Legal Futures

‘A paralegal at a London law firm was unfairly dismissed over unpaid wages, subjected to disability discrimination and harassed on the basis of her sex, an employment tribunal has ruled.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 26th April 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barrister fails in appeal over discrimination claim against chambers – Legal Futures

‘An employment tribunal (ET) did not show bias in dismissing a claim brought by a black barrister against his chambers, an appeal tribunal has ruled.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 24th April 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘My boss said my miscarriage was the best thing that could happen to me – then I was sacked’ – The Independent

Posted April 24th, 2023 in bullying, employment, equality, harassment, news, pregnancy, unfair dismissal, victims by tracey

‘New research shows that one in four women going through fertility treatment say they were subjected to unfair treatment in the workplace.’

Full Story

The Independent, 24th April 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

What counts as sexual harassment at work? – BBC News

Posted April 19th, 2023 in employment, equality, harassment, news, sexual offences by sally

‘The business lobby group the CBI is in turmoil as allegations of sexual misconduct have been made against some of its employees.’

Full Story

BBC News, 19th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Misogyny rife in RAF boys’ club, sex assault victim says – BBC News

‘The RAF is a “boys’ club” where sexual harassment, misogyny and homophobia are rife, says a female ex-corporal who was sexually assaulted while serving.’

Full Story

BBC News, 14th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Met officers who shared WhatsApp messages mocking Harvey Price found guilty of gross misconduct – The Independent

‘Eight serving and former Metropolitan Police officers have been found guilty of “gross misconduct” over a “discriminatory and offensive” WhatsApp group, which contained messages mocking Katie Price’s disabled son.’

Full Story

The Independent, 13th April 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Tribunals remain “open to the difficult” … but perhaps not the persistently uncooperative – 3PB

‘The claimant worked as a Customer Assistant for the respondent from 8 September 2008 until he was dismissed on 5 September 2018. The respondent asserted that the claimant was dismissed because, during a shopping trip in his own time, the claimant had an altercation with a store manager. He was also alleged to have been abusive to a shopper and refused to sign his training record.’

Full Story

3PB, March 2023

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Employers must review progress on race and ethnicity commitments – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 12th, 2023 in diversity, employment, equality, news by sally

‘Employers across the UK must ensure that the focus on improving racial equality in their workforces does not wane.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 11th April 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

What would changing the Equality Act mean for trans people and single-sex spaces? – The Guardian

Posted April 6th, 2023 in amendments, equality, gender, news, transgender persons by michael

‘As [ministers] prepare to press ahead with a lengthy and convoluted process, we examine what the reforms would mean for trans people and those advocating for sex-based rights, as well as the motivations behind the move.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 5th April 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com