Official stop and search figures published with ‘dodgy’ warning – BBC News

Posted October 4th, 2023 in government departments, news, police, statistics, stop and search by sally

‘The Home Office has released one of its most politically sensitive data sets with a note attached describing some of the figures as “dodgy”.’

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BBC News, 3rd October 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Families who lost loved ones in pandemic ‘will not be ignored’ – inquiry chair – The Independent

‘The second stage of the inquiry is set to examine key decision-making in Westminster between January 2020 and February 2022.’

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The Independent, 3rd October 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Good Character Requirement changes for Naturalisation – EIN Blog

Posted October 2nd, 2023 in criminal records, government departments, immigration, news by sally

‘On the 31st July 2023, the Home Office published new guidance in relation to the good character requirement for Naturalisation applications. This new guidance took immediate effect and was published with the government first giving notice of the changes on the 30th July 2023.’

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EIN Blog, October 2023

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Targets for reduction in sewage outflow not unlawful, says High Court – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The King (on the application of Wildfish Conservation v Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency (Defendant) and the Water Services Regulation Authority (Interested Parties) [2023] EWHC 2285 (Admin). In 2022, there were over three hundred thousand incidents of overflow into coastal waters, freshwater rivers and estuaries from sewerage works in the UK, following heavy rainfall. The most common cause of the overflows studied was rainwater entering sewers with insufficient capacity.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 28th September 2023

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

No rule to stop Tory MP interviewing minister on GB News, says Ofcom boss – The Guardian

‘Ofcom’s chief executive has said there is nothing under current rules to stop GB News using the Conservative MP Lee Anderson to interview the Tory home secretary, Suella Braverman.’

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The Guardian, 28th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sex offender avoids jail for driving car into Downing Street gates – The Guardian

‘A sex offender has avoided jail after driving his car into the gates of Downing Street in what a judge described as an “attack on democracy”.’

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The Guardian, 26th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Suella Braverman asks if UN refugee rules are fit for modern age – BBC News

‘Politicians need to question if the UN’s 1951 Refugee Convention is “fit for our modern age”, Suella Braverman is expected to say in a speech.’

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BBC News, 26th September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

AI developing too fast for regulators to keep up, says Oliver Dowden – The Guardian

‘Artificial intelligence is developing too fast for regulators to keep up, the UK’s deputy prime minister is to announce as he aims to galvanise other countries to take the threat seriously in advance of the UK’s AI safety summit in November.’

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The Guardian, 22nd September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Counsel’s fees to be excluded from clin neg fixed fees regime – Legal Futures

Fees for counsel’s advice in lower-value clinical negligence cases will not be recoverable under the fixed recoverable cost (FRC) regime unless a child or protected party is involved, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has proposed.

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Legal Futures, 20th September 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Online Safety Bill: Crackdown on harmful social media content agreed – BBC News

Posted September 20th, 2023 in bills, children, government departments, internet, news by sally

‘Peers have passed a controversial new law aimed at making social media firms more responsible for users’ safety on their platforms.’

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BBC News, 19th September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Asylum seekers ‘degraded’ at detention centre: key points from Brook House inquiry – The Guardian

‘Report on immigration removal centre details “crushing” abuse and excessive use of force that has left detainees with PTSD.’

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The Guardian, 19th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Office Windrush ‘transformation team’ formally disbanded – The Guardian

Posted September 20th, 2023 in colonies, compensation, deportation, government departments, immigration, news by sally

‘The Home Office team that was tasked with transforming the department after the Windrush scandal has been formally disbanded, triggering disappointment from those affected and dismay from civil servants.’

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The Guardian, 19th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

The DWP’s consultation on collective defined contribution in retirement – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 19th, 2023 in consultations, government departments, news, pensions, retirement, trusts by sally

‘The UK government said in a set of July 2023 Mansion House proposals that it would allow commercial UK pension schemes, including master trusts, to provide collective defined contribution (CDC) benefits in retirement.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 18th September 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Claimant representatives furious at clinical negligence reform – Legal Futures

‘Claimant representatives have reacted angrily to the government’s decision to press ahead with fixed recoverable costs for clinical negligence cases that settle pre-issue for less than £25,000.’

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Legal Futures, 18th September 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Charities can campaign on ‘issues that provoke strong emotions’ – watchdog – The Guardian

Posted September 18th, 2023 in birds, charities, Charity Commission, government departments, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘Charities should not hold back from engaging in political activity and on emotive issues on social media such as race or immigration, even where they risk triggering controversy, the voluntary sector watchdog has said.’

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The Guardian, 17th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Letby inquiry must also examine NHS ‘cover-up culture’, says ombudsman – The Guardian

‘The public inquiry into Lucy Letby’s crimes must be widened to examine the NHS’s “cover-up culture” over failures in patient safety, the health service ombudsman has said.’

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The Guardian, 15th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Honour-based abuse: Government rejects calls for legal definition – BBC News

‘The government has rejected calls for a legal definition of honour-based abuse.’

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BBC News, 15th September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Charity wins appeal over Government refusal to disclose analysis carried out by Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 14th, 2023 in appeals, care orders, child abuse, child neglect, government departments, news by tracey

‘A group that campaigns for the welfare of children in institutional settings has won an appeal that will require the Department for Education (DfE) to release analysis of incidents where children became looked after as a result of abuse or neglect.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Hundreds of thousands face exclusion over voter ID laws, UK watchdog says – The Guardian

Posted September 13th, 2023 in elections, equality, government departments, identification, news by tracey

‘Warning policy could disproportionately effect poorer people, those with disabilities and those from minority ethnic backgrounds.’

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The Guardian, 13th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK fails to ban 36 harmful pesticides outlawed for use in EU – The Guardian

‘The UK has failed to ban 36 pesticides that are not allowed for use in the EU, as campaigners say it is becoming the “toxic poster child of Europe”. Though ministers promised the UK would not water down EU-derived environmental standards after Brexit, there have been multiple instances of divergence since the country left the bloc.’

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The Guardian, 13th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com