What is the infected blood scandal? Everything you need to know ahead of milestone report – The Independent

Posted May 10th, 2024 in blood products, government departments, HIV, inquiries, news by sally

‘A public inquiry into the long-running infected blood scandal is due to publish its findings later this month, with a compensation scheme running into the billions thought to be amongst recommendations.’

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The Independent, 9th May 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Digitising probate without new rules “an expensive mistake” – Legal Futures

Posted May 1st, 2024 in delay, HM Courts Service, inquiries, news, probate, wills by sally

‘Digitising the Probate Service without modernising the rules was “an expensive mistake”, the former chair of the Law Society’s wills and equity committee has told MPs.’

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Legal Futures, 1st May 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The Manchester Arena Inquiry: lessons for future inquiries – 6KBW College Hill

Posted April 24th, 2024 in chambers articles, inquiries, news, terrorism, victims, witnesses by sally

‘Lawyers involved in public inquiries often refer, half in jest and half out of fear, to a hypothetical future ‘inquiry into the inquiry’ in which their decisions will be scrutinised. Happily for lawyers, but perhaps to the detriment of future inquiries, there is usually relatively little analysis and certainly no formal mechanism to review the effectiveness of an inquiry following its completion. That is the position notwithstanding the growing reliance on public inquiries to investigate matters of acute public concern, and that chief amongst the many purposes of inquiries – establishing facts, providing accountability, making recommendations – is learning lessons.’

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6KBW College Hill, 17th April 2024

Source: blog.6kbw.com

Inquiries Update: Three Things You Need to Know – Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog

‘Achas Burin updates readers on three essential news items concerning the future of Public Inquiries: the commencement of the Lampard Inquiry, the Norton committee reviewing Inquiries and the government consultation on apologies following the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.’

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Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog, 17th April 2024

Source: inquestsandinquirieslawblog.com

Survivors of 2017 Ariana Grande concert bombing take legal action against UK agency – The Independent

‘More than 250 survivors of the suicide bombing that killed 22 people at a 2017 Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, are taking legal action against Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, lawyers said.’

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The Independent, 15th April 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Caldey Island historical child sex abuse review announced – BBC News

Posted April 11th, 2024 in child abuse, clergy, inquiries, news, sexual offences, Wales by sally

‘A Welsh abbey has commissioned an independent review into alleged historical child sex abuse.’

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BBC News, 10th April 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government accepts all recommendations made by Angiolini Inquiry – Home Office

‘Government led recommendations made by Part 1 of the independent Angiolini Inquiry have been accepted.’

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Home Office, 25th March 2024

Source: www.gov.uk

Minister told to name sources in Afghan inquiry or face potential jail term – The Guardian

‘The minister for veterans’ affairs, Johnny Mercer, has been given 10 days to reveal the source of allegations British troops engaged in war crimes in Afghanistan, or face a potential prison sentence.’

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The Guardian, 26th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Calls for inquiry after refugee children made to guess who got foster care in ‘game’ – The Guardian

‘Foster families and social workers are demanding an independent inquiry after it emerged that Home Office-employed staff forced refugee children to play a game to guess who would be the next one to be placed in foster care.’

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The Guardian, 4th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘We need more compassion’: UK families call for assisted dying reform – The Guardian

‘As MPs report on the issue, a son and daughter on how their parents’ deaths led them to campaign for a change in law.’

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The Guardian, 29th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Teachers in England could face ban for failing to report evidence of sexual abuse of children – The Guardian

‘Teachers in England face being banned if they fail to report evidence of children being subjected to sexual abuse under plans for new legislation announced by the home secretary, James Cleverly.’

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The Guardian, 21st February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK special forces have power over Afghan sanctuary claims despite investigation into alleged SAS crimes – The Independent

Posted February 20th, 2024 in Afghanistan, armed forces, conflict of interest, inquiries, news, war crimes, witnesses by tracey

‘UK special forces have frustrated efforts by Afghan troops to gain sanctuary in Britain despite the fact that some of the Afghan soldiers could be witnesses to crimes allegedly committed by British units.’

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The Independent, 19th February 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Valdo Calocane: CPS to be investigated over handling of Nottingham killer case – The Guardian

‘Prosecutors are to be investigated for their handling of the Valdo Calocane case, including their decision to accept his manslaughter pleas, the attorney general has announced.’

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The Guardian, 30th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Top Cases of 2023: the good, the bad and the legally complicated – UK Human Rights Blog

‘As the dust settles on another year, it is (just about still) time to look back over the year gone to review some of the most dramatic, legally interesting or impactful cases of the year gone by. As ever, this is only a selection of the top cases of the year, but as a whole they reveal yet another year in which the courts have been drawn into the centre of the most important social and political debates of the society in which they find themselves.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 29th January 2024

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Nottingham attacks: attorney general considering killer’s sentence for review – The Guardian

‘The attorney general is considering whether judges should review the sentence of the Nottingham killer Valdo Calocane after receiving a submission that it could be unduly lenient.’

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The Guardian, 26th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Final infected blood inquiry report delayed until May – BBC News

Posted January 18th, 2024 in blood products, compensation, delay, inquiries, news, reports by sally

‘The publication of a final report into the infected blood scandal has been delayed until May.’

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BBC News, 17th January 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Dangerous path to go down’: four legal experts on the Post Office exoneration bill – The Guardian

‘The government’s decision to pass a law overturning the convictions of post office operators has left many lawyers and judges uneasy.’

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The Guardian, 11th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Grenfell solicitor wins unfair dismissal claim over redundancy – Legal Futures

‘A solicitor made redundant after her work on the Grenfell Tower disaster ended has won a claim for unfair dismissal because her law firm did not properly consider another role for her.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd January 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Cassandra Somers-Joce: Public Inquiries, the Public Record, and Governmental Accountability – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted December 20th, 2023 in constitutional law, disclosure, government departments, inquiries, news by sally

‘“Public inquiries are one of Britain’s only growth industries,” the Financial Times has suggested recently. Research from the Institute for Government demonstrates that there were 69 public inquiries launched between 1990 and 2017, compared with 19 in the previous 30 years. Several high-profile public inquiries are open at time of writing, including the Grenfell Inquiry, the Covid-19 Inquiry, and the Post Office Horizon Inquiry. The near-constant media coverage of the Covid-19 Inquiry, chaired by Baroness Heather Hallett, serves as a reminder of the role that public inquiries play in ensuring accountability and scrutiny. Each week of the Covid-19 Inquiry has painted a fuller picture of governmental decision making during the pandemic. The Covid-19 Inquiry has, however, demonstrated the shortcomings in governmental record-keeping and disclosure, particularly with respect to decisions which were taken via private communications platforms such as WhatsApp.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 20th December 2023

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Police still victim blaming in grooming gang cases, watchdog finds – The Guardian

Posted December 8th, 2023 in child abuse, children, inquiries, news, ombudsmen, police, sexual grooming, sexual offences, victims by michael

‘The inquiry by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) comes more than a decade after scandals in Rotherham and Rochdale came to light, revealing failings by the authorities that left gangs of men free to attack vulnerable young girls.’

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The Guardian, 8th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com