Revealed: scores of child asylum seekers kidnapped from Home Office hotel – The Guardian

‘Dozens of asylum-seeking children have been kidnapped by gangs from a Brighton hotel run by the Home Office in a pattern apparently being repeated across the south coast, an Observer investigation can reveal.’

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The Guardian, 21st January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Better protection for rape victims from invasive record requests – Home Office

‘The Home Office will legislate to protect people, including rape victims, from unnecessary requests for personal records.’

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Home Office, 20th January 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Next steps to rid police of misogyny and predatory behaviour – Home Office

Posted January 19th, 2023 in codes of practice, government departments, news, police, sexual offences, vetting, women by tracey

‘The Home Secretary has set out next steps to strengthen vetting of police officers following the David Carrick case.’

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Home Office, 18th January 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Don’t meddle with law officers, thinktank warns government – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Ministers should resist calls to end the political role of government law officers, a centre-right thinktank argues today in the run-up to publication of an influential parliamentary report. In a paper “Between Law and Politics: The Future of the Law Officers in England & Wales”, published by Policy Exchange, Dr Conor Casey of the University of Liverpool School of Law argues that the current configuration of the attorney general and solicitor general as law officers with legal and political dimensions works well. Moving to an alternative model of, for example, law officers without any political involvement is not worth it and has potential serious downsides, Casey states.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 17th January 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

New plans to widen police powers for disruptive protests – BBC News

‘Police could be allowed to shut down protests before they cause serious disruption, under new government plans.’

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BBC News, 15th January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Home Office accused of failing vulnerable groups in detention centres – watchdog – The Independent

Posted January 13th, 2023 in asylum, detention, government departments, immigration, news, refugees, torture, victims by tracey

‘A watchdog says a belief among some Home Office staff that migrants are trying to abuse the system is causing “shortcomings” in the care of vulnerable groups in immigration removal centres. The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration’s (ICIBI) report focuses on the Home Office’s Rule 35 process, calling it “ineffective”.’

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The Independent, 12th January 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Afghan refugees made to move school take UK to court – BBC News

‘A group of Afghan families brought to London after the Taliban took power are taking the government to court because a subsequent move north meant their children had to leave a local school during their GCSE studies.’

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BBC News, 22nd January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK review of gender recognition list risks ‘trans travel ban’ – The Guardian

Posted January 11th, 2023 in bills, equality, gender, government departments, news, Scotland, transgender persons by sally

‘Rishi Sunak has been told he risks “re-toxifying” his government’s record on LGBTQ+ rights and introducing “an effective trans travel ban” after the equalities minister announced a review of countries whose process for changing gender on legal documents is recognised by the UK.’

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The Guardian, 10th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK government launches consultation on greater data sharing across public sector – OUT-LAW.com

‘The UK Cabinet Office has opened a consultation on proposals for new legislation to enable and create a centralised digital ID gateway to online public services.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 10th January 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

The Government Accepts Recommendations To Protect Human Rights In Care Settings – Each Other

Posted January 11th, 2023 in care homes, government departments, human rights, news, select committees by sally

‘The government has accepted recommendations made by the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) on protecting human rights in health and social care settings. A formal response has been published following concerns about the protection of human rights in care settings which include the right to life (Article 2) and the right to be free from torture and degrading treatment (Article 3).’

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Each Other, 10th January 2023

Source: eachother.org.uk

Grant Shapps unveils new powers in strike laws – BBC News

‘Business Secretary Grant Shapps has set out plans to enforce minimum service levels during strike action, including for ambulance staff, firefighters and railway workers.’

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BBC News, 10th January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Covid loans secrecy is in the public interest, tribunal rules – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The public interest in preventing prejudice to commercial interests trumps the public interest in publishing details of recipients of emergency Covid loans, the First Tier Tribunal has ruled. In Spotlight on Corrupton & Anor v The Information Commissioner & The British Business Bank, tribunal judge Sophie Buckley rejected two appeals against the information commissioner’s decision not to require the British Business Bank to identify all the businesses that had taken out loans under four government schemes during the pandemic.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 6th January 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Children face multiple safeguarding risks at out-of-school settings in England – The Guardian

‘A government report has identified multiple safeguarding risks at “out-of-school settings” (OOSS), which include sports clubs, tuition centres and uniformed youth groups attended by millions of children across England every week, prompting calls for better oversight of the sector.’

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The Guardian, 9th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government claims more than £130 million after suing pandemic gown supplier – The Independent

‘Lawyers say the Government is claiming more than £130 million after suing a firm at the centre of a row over the supply of personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic.’

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The Independent, 5th January 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Names of UK Covid business loan borrowers to stay secret, tribunal rules – The Guardian

Posted January 6th, 2023 in anonymity, company law, coronavirus, fraud, government departments, loans, news by tracey

‘The British government has been given the go-ahead to keep concealing the names of companies that received in total more than £47bn in state-backed Covid loans, after a tribunal ruled in its favour.’

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The Guardian, 5th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Divisional Court upholds Government’s Rwanda policy – an extended look – UK Human Rights Blog

‘On 14th April of this year, the then-Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced a new ‘Migration and Economic Development Partnership’ between the UK Government and the Government of Rwanda to enable the removal of certain persons to who enter the UK to claim asylum (particularly those who arrive in small boats crossing the English Channel) to Rwanda, where – if their claims succeeded – they would be resettled.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 20th December 2022

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Rwanda Policy Ruled Lawful But ‘Awful’ – Each Other

‘The High Court has ruled that the government’s ‘awful‘ Rwanda policy is lawful. This follows an intervention from the European Court of Human Rights, which in a last-minute ruling stopped any flights under the scheme until the UK’s domestic courts could determine if it was legal. While the policy was ruled legal, eight individual cases will be determined separately and another hearing could be launched in 2023 if an appeal is made.’

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Each Other, 20th December 2022

Source: eachother.org.uk

Councils call for funding, guidance and notice ahead of introduction of Martyn’s Law – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Local Government Association (LGA) has said the Government must ensure funding is made available for the successful implementation of a new law which requires venues to take steps to protect the public from terror attacks.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th December 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High court rules Rwanda plan is lawful – Free Movement

Posted December 20th, 2022 in asylum, deportation, government departments, immigration, judicial review, news, Rwanda by sally

‘The High Court has concluded in the case of AAA and others v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2022] EWHC 3230 (Admin) that the UK government’s Rwanda plan is lawful. The individual decisions in the case were inadequate and will need to be re-made, but that is no obstacle to the plan proceeding.’

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Free Movement, 19th December 2022

Source: freemovement.org.uk

Accommodating asylum seekers: legal issues arising from the use of hotel accommodation – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Home Office’s policy of placing asylum seekers in hotels and hostels has given rise to a number of legal issues for local authorities. Dean Underwood and Jack Barber detail the areas of concern.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th December 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk