Government may have broken law over sewage – watchdog – BBC News

Posted September 12th, 2023 in environmental protection, government departments, news, sewerage, waste, water by tracey

‘The UK’s environment watchdog suspects the government and regulators have broken the law over how it regulates sewage releases.’

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BBC News, 12th September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Gulf War ‘human shield’ hostages set to take legal action – BBC News

‘British Airways passengers and crew taken hostage in Kuwait are set to take legal action against the government and the airline, lawyers say.’

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BBC News, 12th September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mandatory anti-slavery declarations risk becoming ‘box-ticking exercise’, say UK MPs – The Guardian

Posted September 12th, 2023 in forced labour, gambling, government departments, news by tracey

‘Campaigners and MPs have said anti-slavery declarations made mandatory by Theresa May risk becoming “a pointless box-ticking exercise” after it emerged that ministers took assurances from one previously slavery-linked company on trust.’

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The Guardian, 11th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK Government launches taskforce to stop ‘devastating’ lawsuits against journalists – The Independent

Posted September 11th, 2023 in bills, defamation, government departments, media, news, privacy by tracey

‘The Government has launched a new taskforce which aims to put a stop to lawsuits that have a “devastating” impact on journalists. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer will meet groups from the media and legal sectors on Monday as they try to end legal threats, known as strategic lawsuits against public participation (Slapps).’

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The Independent, 11th September 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Top UK lawyer hits out at ‘authoritarian’ attacks on legal profession – The Guardian

‘A leading British lawyer has compared UK government attacks on the profession to the tactics used by authoritarian regimes. Helena Kennedy KC, one of the UK’s most renowned criminal lawyers and a Labour peer, said ministers were deliberately creating scapegoats.’

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The Guardian, 10th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Man who posed for selfies as he piloted small boat jailed – Home Office

‘An Egyptian man who posed for selfies while piloting a small boat with 50 migrants on board has been jailed for 3 years and 2 months.’

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Home Office, 6th September 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Why The RAAC Scandal Is A Human Rights Issue – Each Other

‘Since 1994, people relying on the use of public buildings in the UK have, without knowing it, been let down by the use of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC): a cheaper, lightweight alternative to traditional concrete, but one that has an average lifespan of only 30 years. Now, as some schools face closure ensue at what would have been the beginning of term, the Department for Education has come under fire for its timing and for its previous lack of action. But it’s not just a safety issue: it’s a human rights issue.’

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Each Other, 6th September 2023

Source: eachother.org.uk

High Court judge lifts suspension of order quashing deal between Kent and Home Office over unaccompanied asylum seeking children – Local Government Lawyer

‘A High Court judge has decided not to extend the suspension of an order quashing a deal brokered between the Home Secretary and Kent County Council that capped the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UAS children) the council had to accommodate.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 6th September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Laughing gas to become illegal class C substance in UK – The Guardian

Posted September 6th, 2023 in drug abuse, drug offences, government departments, news by sally

‘Nitrous oxide, popularly known as laughing gas, is to become an illegal class C substance by the end of the year, the government has said.’

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The Guardian, 5th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Strike action ‘minimum services’ code in Britain drafted – OUT-LAW.com

‘Businesses affected by strike action in Britain this year have an opportunity to help the government find a way to ensure services in six important areas impacting the economy continue to be delivered while such action is underway.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 5th September 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Strengthened immunity protection proposed in Arbitration Act reform – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Arbitrators’ common law duty to disclose any reason for doubts as to their impartiality could be codified under proposals from the Law Commission of England and Wales today. The recommendation is among proposed updates to the Arbitration Act 1996 which the independent reform body has published along with draft legislation.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 6th September 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK to declare Wagner group a terrorist organisation – The Guardian

Posted September 6th, 2023 in government departments, news, proscribed organisations, Russia, terrorism, Ukraine, war by sally

‘The Wagner mercenary group will be declared a terrorist organisation, the Home Office has announced.’

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The Guardian, 5th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Secretary orders review into political activism in police – Home Office

Posted September 4th, 2023 in government departments, news, police by tracey

‘The Home Secretary has commissioned a review into activism and impartiality in the police.’

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Home Office, 2nd September 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Briefing paper – Support for children and young people’s mental health – House of Commons Library

Posted August 31st, 2023 in children, government departments, mental health, news, young persons by tracey

‘Successive Governments have pledged to improve mental health support for children and young people. This briefing covers the structure of Children and young people’s mental health services, recent policy from the Department of Health and Social Care, Department for Education and NHS England, and evaluations of Government policy.’

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House of Commons Library, 15th August 2023

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Leeds: Child asylum seekers wrongly classed as adults – report – BBC News

Posted August 31st, 2023 in asylum, children, government departments, hotels, housing, local government, news, reports by tracey

‘Thirty child asylum seekers were wrongly categorised as adults by the Home Office, according to a council report.’

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BBC News, 31st August 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Good Friday Agreement and the European Convention on Human Rights – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted August 30th, 2023 in brexit, government departments, human rights, news, Northern Ireland by sally

‘On 11 August, a piece from Professor Richard Ekins KC (Hon) set out a case for the UK denouncing the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and leaving the treaty system altogether. One of the main arguments in favour of this is that it would “restore Parliament’s freedom, on behalf of the British people, to decide what our laws should be”. This marks one of the more recent such calls, amid a growing chorus of Ministers in the UK Government and Conservative Party MPs to leave the ECHR. Also, it should be noted that we have been here before. The constitutional aspects of such a move aside, there are particular reasons why it would impact Northern Ireland. While Northern Ireland does not feature in Professor Ekins’ 11 August piece, he has previously written about the interaction between the ECHR and the Good Friday Agreement 1998 (GFA), which underpins the modern devolution settlement in Northern Ireland and which brought an end to a brutal and deadly conflict. This interaction is the subject of this post.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 29th August 2023

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

‘I struggle not knowing what the future holds’ – Asylum backlog reaches record high – BBC News

Posted August 25th, 2023 in asylum, delay, government departments, immigration, news, refugees, statistics by sally

‘The number of people in the UK waiting for a decision on their asylum claims has risen to a record high, latest Home Office figures show.’

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BBC News, 24th August 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Families sue government for failing to protect care homes from Covid – BBC News

Posted August 25th, 2023 in bereavement, care homes, damages, families, government departments, hospitals, news by sally

‘Thirty families are starting legal action against the government, care homes and several hospitals in England over the deaths of their relatives in the early days of the Covid pandemic.’

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BBC News, 25th August 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

What Is Being Done To Find Unaccompanied Missing Children? – Each Other

Posted August 24th, 2023 in asylum, children, government departments, housing, local government, news by sally

‘In total, more than 400 unaccompanied children have gone missing under while under the care of the Home Office. The government has faced growing concerns from both peers and charities regarding the safety of these children; but what is being done to find them?’

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Each Other, 24th August 2023

Source: eachother.org.uk

UK failing to protect disabled people, says equalities watchdog – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has warned of the consequences of “continuing inaction” from governments in addressing problems faced by disabled people.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk