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

David Fuller: NHS failures enabled killer to abuse bodies – report – BBC News

Posted November 29th, 2023 in hospitals, inquiries, murder, negligence, news, sexual offences by sally

‘Mortuary abuser David Fuller was able to offend without being caught because of “serious failings” at the hospitals where he worked, an inquiry has found.’

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BBC News, 28th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

No more new investigations in Rotherham child abuse inquiry – BBC News

‘An inquiry into child abuse in Rotherham will not start any new investigations from next year, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.’

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BBC News, 28th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MPs launch inquiry into lengthening probate delays – Legal Futures

Posted November 24th, 2023 in complaints, delay, HM Courts Service, inquiries, news, select committees by tracey

‘MPs have launched an inquiry into probate in the wake of mounting concern about how long the process is taking, with HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) admitting to rising levels of complaints.’

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Legal Futures, 24th November 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lucy Letby public inquiry formally opened by judge – BBC News

Posted November 23rd, 2023 in birth, children, hospitals, inquiries, murder, news, nurses by sally

‘The public inquiry into serial killer Lucy Letby’s crimes has formally begun although hearings may not begin until next autumn.’

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BBC News, 22nd November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Inquiry says Ofsted viewed as ‘not fit for purpose’ – The Independent

Posted November 20th, 2023 in education, inquiries, news, ombudsmen, school children, teachers by tracey

‘Ofsted is in need of major reform and is seen as “not fit for purpose” according to an inquiry into the education inspectorate for England. The Beyond Ofsted inquiry called for “transformational change” and said it found Ofsted as “having a detrimental impact on schools which some perceive as toxic”.’

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The Independent, 20th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Church of England takes next step towards redress for abuse victims – The Independent

‘The Church of England has taken its next step towards putting in place a “robust” scheme to deliver apologies and compensation to abuse victims.’

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The Independent, 15th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Channel deaths: Government orders inquiry into mass drowning – BBC News

Posted November 9th, 2023 in government departments, immigration, inquiries, news by sally

‘The government has ordered an independent inquiry into a migrant mass drowning in the English Channel.’

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BBC News, 9th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Parents of babies who died or were harmed in NHS care demand inquiry – The Guardian

Posted November 1st, 2023 in bereavement, birth, children, families, hospitals, inquiries, news by sally

‘Parents of babies who have died or been harmed as a result of poor care are demanding that ministers order a public inquiry into repeated failings in NHS maternity units.’

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The Guardian, 31st October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com