Lack of transparency undermining Westminster standards system, parliament’s sleaze watchdog warns – The Independent

Posted July 16th, 2020 in complaints, inquiries, news, parliament, standards by tracey

‘Parliament’s sleaze watchdog has warned that a lack of openness is undermining the Westminster standards system, as she appealed for a new right to name MPs who are under investigation.’

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The Independent, 15th July 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK undercover officer accused of encouraging activist to buy shotgun – The Guardian

Posted July 15th, 2020 in firearms, inquiries, news, police, professional conduct by tracey

‘Scotland Yard is investigating one of its former undercover officers over allegations he incited an animal rights activist to commit illegal acts that resulted in him being jailed for four years.’

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The Guardian, 15th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Shropshire maternity scandal: Hundreds more cases under review – BBC News

Posted July 13th, 2020 in birth, hospitals, inquiries, news, pregnancy, quality assurance, standards by sally

‘Hundreds more cases are to be reviewed by an independent inquiry into maternity care at an NHS trust, BBC News has learned.’

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BBC News, 10th July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Manchester Arena Survivors lose bid for role in public inquiry – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 10th, 2020 in inquiries, judicial review, news, terrorism, time limits, victims by sally

‘A group of survivors of the terror attack at the Manchester Arena in 2017 have a lost a legal bid to be given “core participants” status at the public inquiry into the bombing.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 9th July 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court rules on preliminary issues in challenge relating to alleged UK involvement in torture – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In R (Reprieve & Ors) v Prime Minister [2020] EWHC 1695 (Admin), the High Court made a preliminary ruling that Article 6(1) of the ECHR does not apply to the forthcoming judicial review of the Government’s decision not to establish a public inquiry into allegations that the UK intelligence services were involved in the torture, mistreatment and rendition of detainees in the aftermath of 9/11. It was further held that the claimants are not entitled to the level of disclosure of open material outlined in SSHD v AF (No 3) [2009].’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 9th July 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Inquiry was “right to refuse” participants choice of lawyer – Legal Futures

Posted July 8th, 2020 in blood products, compensation, inquiries, medical treatment, news, solicitors by sally

‘The High Court has upheld a decision refusing two ‘core participants’ in the infected blood public inquiry the right to nominate their own solicitors.’

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Legal Futures, 8th July 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Grenfell Tower inquiry: Fire ‘inextricably linked with race’ – BBC News

‘The Grenfell Tower fire inquiry “must not ignore” the impact of race and poverty on the disaster, a lawyer representing survivors has said.’

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BBC News, 7th July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Denial of women’s concerns contributed to decades of medical scandals, says inquiry – The Guardian

Posted July 8th, 2020 in equality, inquiries, medical treatment, news, sex discrimination, women by sally

‘An arrogant culture in which serious medical complications were dismissed as “women’s problems” contributed to a string of healthcare scandals over several decades, an inquiry ordered by the government has found.’

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The Guardian, 8th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Grenfell Tower inquiry resumes but distancing rules anger families – The Guardian

‘Builders behind the disastrous Grenfell Tower refurbishment are finally set to face public questioning over the June 2017 fire that killed 72 people, as the delayed public inquiry resumes on Monday with strict social distancing rules that have angered the bereaved.’

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The Guardian, 6th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK intelligence torture case to be held in secret after challenge fails – The Guardian

‘A judicial review aimed at overturning a decision to ditch a judge-led inquiry into the involvement of British intelligence in torture and rendition will be heard in secret after a challenge involving two MPs failed.’

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The Guardian, 30th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Grenfell Fire: Do Black Lives Actually Matter? – Oxford Human Rights Hub

Posted June 23rd, 2020 in fire, health & safety, inquiries, minorities, news, reports by sally

‘On the 3rd anniversary of the Grenfell fire where 72 residents (at least 34 of whom were from a BAME background) lost their lives, is the country in a better position to avoid future cladding related fires?’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 18th June 2020

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

EHRC reports on inclusive justice – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Ten years after the Equality Act came into force, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have published their findings and recommendations in a report entitled “Inclusive Justice: a system designed for all”. Although the report recognises where progress has been made, it also identifies very significant problems.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 16th June 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Fight for Grenfell inquiry to look at racial stereotyping goes on – The Guardian

Posted June 16th, 2020 in equality, fire, health & safety, inquiries, minorities, news by sally

‘Campaigners believe bias and inequality were factors in high number of BAME deaths in fire.’

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The Guardian, 14th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Survivors of Manchester Arena bombing in legal action to secure core participant status at public inquiry – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 16th, 2020 in explosives, inquiries, news, terrorism, victims by sally

‘Survivors of the Manchester Arena bombing are taking legal action to try to secure core participant status at the public inquiry into the atrocity.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th June 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Racism contributed to disproportionate UK BAME coronavirus deaths, inquiry finds – The Guardian

‘Racism and discrimination suffered by Britain’s black, Asian and minority ethnic people has contributed to the high death rates from Covid-19 in those communities, an official inquiry has found.’

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The Guardian, 14th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Does the Buck Stop? Legal Liability for Death from Covid-19 – Garden Court Chambers

‘“If the government were an employee of mine I would have sacked them for gross negligence” – so said Anita Astley, manager of Wren Hall nursing home in Nottinghamshire, where 10 residents died from Covid-19 and 48 carers caught the virus in a three week period[1]. Ms Astley’s complaint poses in stark terms a question which has been circulating since the full and devastating extent of the consequences of the pandemic have become clear: what, if any, legal liability does the state have for deaths caused by Covid-19?’

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Garden Court Chambers, 9th June 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Mark Duggan police shooting: can forensic tech cast doubt on official report – The Guardian

‘The police shooting of Mark Duggan is a highly contentious case that has been widely cited by Black Lives Matter protesters in the UK.’

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The Guardian, 10th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Manchester Arena attack inquiry: Survivors take legal action – BBC News

Posted June 10th, 2020 in inquiries, murder, news, terrorism, victims by sally

‘Survivors of the Manchester Arena attack are taking legal action after losing their bid to be represented at the public inquiry into the bombing.’

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BBC News, 9th June 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Whitehall held secret review into 15 possible cases of torture or rendition – The Guardian

‘Fifteen potential cases of torture or rendition involving British intelligence at the height of the “war on terror” were examined last year in a secret Whitehall review, whose existence was revealed in court proceedings on Tuesday.’

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The Guardian, 9th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Postmasters were prosecuted using unreliable evidence – BBC News

‘The Post Office prosecuted postmasters over missing money despite having evidence its own computer system could be to blame.’

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BBC News, 8th June 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk