Ministers say UK will only detain child refugees in ‘exceptional circumstances’ – The Guardian

‘Ministers have pledged to only detain refugee children in “exceptional circumstances” under a new asylum bill after threats of a rebellion from backbench Conservative MPs.’

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The Guardian, 24th April 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ignoring ECHR orders would threaten rule of law, legal figures warn – The Independent

‘Any move to allow ministers to ignore European Court of Human Rights orders stopping the removal of migrants would undermine the rule of law, senior legal figures have warned.’

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The Independent, 20th April 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Cutting red tape to free up police time to focus on solving crimes – Home Office

Posted April 17th, 2023 in government departments, police, speeches by tracey

‘Minister for Crime and Policing, Chris Philp, gave a speech on measures being taken to reduce unnecessary red tape and free up police time.’

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Home Office, 13th April 2023

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Rishi Sunak scraps plans for new smart motorways in England – The Guardian

Posted April 17th, 2023 in government departments, news, road safety, roads by tracey

‘The building of new smart motorways is being cancelled as Rishi Sunak acknowledged concerns about safety and cost.’

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The Guardian, 15th April 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Windrush victims being failed by compensation scheme – report – BBC News

‘Windrush scandal victims are still facing long waits and inadequate offers of compensation, according to a new report by a global human rights group. Human Rights Watch said the Home Office-run compensation scheme should be handed to an independent body.’

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BBC News, 17th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rory Cochrane comments on Supreme Court’s latest telecommunications decision – Devereux Chambers

‘Last week [8 March], the Supreme Court handed down its decision in VIP Communications (In Liquidation) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2023] UKSC 10, upholding the Secretary of States’ appeal. The Supreme Court has confirmed that the Secretary of State can rely on section 5 of the Communications Act 2003 to direct Ofcom, on national security grounds, not to make regulations exempting commercial multi-user GSM gateways (COMUGs) from licensing.’

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Devereux Chambers, 8th March 2023

Source: www.devereuxchambers.co.uk

Dove v Assistant Coroner for Teeside [2023] EWCA Civ 289 (17 March 2023) – Parklane Plowden

‘Mrs Dove’s daughter took her own life after DWP benefits were withdrawn. In September 2021, the Divisional Court refused her application under s13 of the Coroners Act 1988 to quash the Coroner’s determination and direct a new inquest. The Divisional Court considered that the question of ‘how’ someone died in a Jamieson inquest was directed only to the means by which the deceased died, and did not encompass the wider circumstances of their death. In this case, the Court of Appeal considered the meaning of ‘by what means’.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 29th March 2023

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Sponsor Licence: What Supporting Documents Do You Need? – EIN Blog

‘Obtaining a sponsor licence enables your organisation to sponsor migrant workers or students in the UK. The Home Office will determine whether your organisation is eligible for a sponsor licence by looking at whether you can meet key criteria.’

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EIN Blog, 11th April 2023

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Chef wrongly branded sex offender wins long fight to stay in UK – The Guardian

‘A chef from Bangladesh who was wrongly recorded as a sex offender by the Home Office has won the right to remain in the UK after fighting since 2010.’

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The Guardian, 12th April 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Dove (Part 2): Article 2 ECHR, Rabone, and Responsibility – Doughty Street Chambers

‘Last week [24 March] the Court of Appeal gave judgment in Dove [2023] EWCA Civ 289, an appeal against the Divisional Court’s decision not to order a new inquest into the death of Jodey Whiting, in proceedings brought by her mother Joy Dove. Ms Whiting died a self-inflicted death in the community, after a mental health crisis, in which the decision of the Department of Work and Pensions to cease her benefits was said to have played a contributory role. An inquest in 2017 came to a conclusion of “suicide” (§1). In an earlier post I dealt with the first, successful, ground of appeal: that because of fresh evidence it was in the interests of justice to order a new Jamieson inquest. In this post I examine the Court of Appeal’s analysis of the case from the point of view of the engagement of Article 2 ECHR.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 24th March 2023

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Dove (Part 1): Jamieson Inquests, Causation, and Conclusions – Doughty Street Chambers

‘Last week [20 March] the Court of Appeal gave judgment in Dove [2023] EWCA Civ 289, an appeal against the Divisional Court’s decision not to order a new inquest into the death of Jodey Whiting, in proceedings brought by her mother Joy Dove. Ms Whiting died a self-inflicted death in the community, after a mental health crisis, in which the decision of the Department of Work and Pensions to cease her benefits was said to have played a contributory role. An inquest in 2017 came to a conclusion of “suicide” (§1).’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 20th March 2023

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Barry v Ministry of Defence [2023] EWHC 49 (KB) – 3PB

‘On 3 March 2023, Johnson J handed down judgment in relation to former marine Mr Barry’s claim that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) caused his noise-induced hearing loss. It is the first time judicial guidance has been expressly given on the reduction factors (other than mortality) since the revised guidance in the 8th edition of the Ogden tables were published in July 2020.’

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3PB, March 2023

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Afghan children and their families abandoned in remote hotels following High Court ruling – Garden Court Chambers

‘Afghan families remain trapped in remote hotels following today’s High Court ruling that the Home Secretary did not act unlawfully by moving them from a London hotel to hotels in a city in the north of England. The move significantly disrupted the children’s education and adults’ employment. Following the judgment, the families remain in temporary accommodation and at risk of further moves, as the Home Office has failed to secure the settled accommodation it promised. The families have been stuck in hotels for over one and a half years since being evacuated from Afghanistan in August 2021.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 24th March 2023

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

High Court grants interim injunction over Home Office plan to house asylum seekers at disused airfield – Local Government Lawyer

‘Braintree District Council has secured an interim injunction temporarily blocking Home Office plans to accommodate asylum seekers at an airbase, ahead of a High Court hearing on the matter next week.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th April 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

UK torture policy labelled ‘fatally flawed’ after watchdog report – The Guardian

‘The UK’s policy on torture has been described as “fatally flawed” after a watchdog identified non-compliance by intelligence agencies and the Ministry of Defence.’

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The Guardian, 11th April 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Suella Braverman facing legal action over broken Windrush pledges – The Independent

‘Suella Braverman is facing legal action on the eve of the Windrush scandal anniversary for refusing to implement all the recommendations from an independent review into the government’s wrongdoing.’

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The Independent, 6th April 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Closed Material Procedures in Immigration Cases – Richmond Chambers

‘When an individual challenges a decision made by a public body (as happens in immigration cases), it is generally considered a fundamental feature of natural justice and fairness that they must be shown the evidence relied on by the decision-maker.’

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Richmond Chambers, 24th March 2023

Source: immigrationbarrister.co.uk

Domestic abuse victims who do not live with abuser ‘to get better protection’ – The Independent

‘Domestic abuse victims who do not live with their abuser will receive better protection against threats and intimidation, the Government has announced.’

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The Independent, 5th April 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Statistics watchdog rebukes Sunak over inaccurate asylum backlog figures – The Guardian

Posted April 5th, 2023 in asylum, government departments, immigration, news, ombudsmen, refugees, statistics by sally

‘Rishi Sunak and his immigration minister have been scolded by the UK statistics watchdog for using inaccurate figures to back up spurious claims about asylum seekers.’

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The Guardian, 5th April 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Report to set out details on compensation for victims of infected blood scandal – The Independent

‘Details on compensation for victims of the infected blood scandal is expected to be set out in a report.’

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The Independent, 5th April 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk