Law and the Culture War – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The judgment in Forstater v CDG Europe UKEAT/0105/20/JOJ has forced the courts yet again to grapple with the transgender debate. We have already seen the judiciary face up to the challenging issues of whether children with gender dysphoria can consent to receiving puberty blockers (see recent decision in Bell v Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust [2021] EWCA Civ 1363). In the present case, the issue was whether the Claimant’s belief that biological sex is real, important, immutable, and not to be conflated with gender identity was a “philosophical belief” within the meaning of section 10 of Equality Act 2010 (“EqA”).’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 21st September 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Firms urged to protect workers from abuse in ‘wild west’ UK gig economy – The Independent

Posted September 20th, 2021 in employment, harassment, news, remuneration, sick leave, trade unions by tracey

‘Gig economy firms are facing calls to better protect their workers, as an MP and a trade union warn of a wave of harassment and physical and emotional abuse facing couriers and taxi drivers.’

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The Independent, 19th September 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Treat personal mitigation “with caution” in cases of sexual misconduct – Legal Futures

‘Personal mitigation needs to be treated with “caution” in the context of sexual misconduct, discrimination and harassment, draft new guidance on disciplining barristers warns.’

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Legal Futures, 10th September 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Local authority ordered to pay mother fleeing ex-partner £10k in compensation following data breach – Local Government Lawyer

‘Hampshire County Council should pay £10,000 in compensation after a mother who was fleeing her ex-partner had her address exposed in a data breach, Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court has ruled.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 6th September 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘I’m still traumatised’: UK music industry blighted by sexual harassment and abuse, report finds – The Independent

‘A damning new report has highlighted the ongoing prevalence of sexual harassment and abuse in the music industry, as the UK begins to see the return of live music.’

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The Independent, 3rd September 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Man guilty over abusive emails sent to Starmer and Thornberry – BBC News

Posted September 3rd, 2021 in electronic mail, harassment, housing, local government, news, political parties by tracey

‘A man who sent dozens of abusive and threatening emails to Sir Keir Starmer and Emily Thornberry has been found guilty of harassment.’

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BBC News, 2nd September 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

A constructive dismissal is, in principle, capable of constituting an act of harassment, within the meaning of section 26 of the Equality Act 2010 – 3PB

‘The EAT’s earlier decision in Timothy James Consulting Ltd v Wilton [2015] IRLR 368 had been decided per incuriam European Directives and domestic case law, in the light of which it was “manifestly wrong”. In so far as Wilton had decided that a constructive dismissal could not itself amount to an act of unlawful harassment within the meaning of section 26 of the Equality Act 2010 (“EqA”), it would not be followed.’

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3PB, August 2021

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Police failing to impose orders on men accused of abuse, watchdog finds – The Guardian

‘Police are failing to impose restraining orders or bail conditions on men accused of rape, domestic abuse, harassment and stalking, a watchdog has found, placing women and girls at increased risk of harm.’

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The Guardian, 24th August 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Unfair dismissal and religion again: Ferguson v Kintail Trustees – Law & Religion UK

‘In Mr K Ferguson v Kintail Trustees Ltd & Anor [2021] ET 4103321/2020, the claimant was Director and Chief Executive of Kintail Trustees, a limited company that operates as the corporate trustee of the Robertson Trust, a charity. He was also an elder, the treasurer and a trustee of Stirling Free Church of Scotland’

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Law & Religion UK, 9th August 2021

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Female military staff denied justice by inadequate system – MPs – BBC News

‘Women in the armed forces who are victims of bullying, harassment, discrimination and serious sexual assault are being “denied justice” by a “woefully inadequate” military complaints process, MPs have said.’

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BBC News, 26th July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Cyberflashing should be new criminal offence, review suggests – The Guardian

‘Unsolicited sending of obscene images should be made illegal through the creation of a new offence of cyberflashing, a UK government-commissioned review recommended.’

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The Guardian, 21st July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Public street harassment set to be made illegal in England and Wales – The Guardian

‘Public street harassment is likely to be criminalised under plans being drawn up by the government as part of its long-awaited strategy to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG) for England and Wales.’

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The Guardian, 20th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Retired solicitor sees off harassment claim over ‘puerile’ blog – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A retired solicitor’s “abrasive” and “frequently puerile” blog posts are entitled to the same level of protection as mainstream journalism, a High Court judge has ruled, striking out a harassment claim brought by a local government officer.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 19th July 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Committed to committal – Nearly Legal

‘Gunn & Launders v Khan (2020) EWCA Civ 1905. This was an appeal by the landlord, Saakib Khan, of an order sentencing him to six months imprisonment for contempt of court for breach of an injunction. The injunction (still just about interim on the date of breach, as will become clear) was to prevent Saakib Khan from evicting or attempting to evict the tenant and from interfering with his quiet enjoyment of the property and from threatening him with violence or harassing, pestering, or intimidating him.’

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Nearly Legal, 8th July 2021

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Bar Council urges limits to mitigation in sexual misconduct cases involving barristers – Legal Futures

Posted June 22nd, 2021 in assault, barristers, disciplinary procedures, harassment, news, sanctions by sally

‘Issues such as provocation, spontaneity and whether an incident was a “one-off” should not be factors that reduce sanctions for sexual misconduct by barristers, the Bar Council has urged.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd June 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Call to curb return to practice of barristers suspended for sexual misconduct – Legal Futures

‘Barristers suspended for sexual misconduct should face conditions when they returning to practice, such as bans from taking pupils or being featured in legal directories, a campaigning group has recommended.’

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Legal Futures, 15th June 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Police forces ‘don’t know how stalking law works’ – BBC News

Posted June 15th, 2021 in crime prevention, harassment, HIV, news, police, stalking by sally

‘New powers to protect stalking victims are not being used by some UK police forces, a BBC investigation has found.’

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BBC News, 15th June 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Deepcut: Fifth Army recruit died at barracks – BBC News

Posted June 11th, 2021 in armed forces, harassment, inquests, news, suicide by tracey

‘A fifth soldier died at an Army base where four recruits were found dead between 1995 and 2002, it has emerged.’

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BBC News, 11th June 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Welwyn Garden City murder: Alex Staines jailed for life – BBC News

‘An abusive and controlling man who stabbed his former partner to death in her home while her three children were in the house has been jailed for life.’

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BBC News, 1st June 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Woman jailed after grooming vulnerable boy for sex – The Independent

‘A woman has been jailed for six years over a series of sex offences involving a vulnerable underage boy.’

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The Independent, 22nd May 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk