Environmental Law News Update – Six Pump Court

‘In this latest Environmental Law News Update, Christopher Badger and Laura Phillips consider the Bar Council’s Brexit Working Group paper on environmental law, the publication of revised voluntary guidelines for issuing Green Bonds, and pledges by the Mayor of London for a ‘zero-emission’ city by 2050.’

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Six Pump Court, 26th June 2017

Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk

FGM: More than 5,000 new cases in England – BBC News

Posted July 5th, 2017 in female genital mutilation, health, London, news, statistics, women by sally

‘The NHS in England recorded 5,391 new cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the past year, data reveals.’

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BBC News, 4th July 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Stop and search is not used fairly, most young BAME people believe – The Guardian

‘Three-quarters of young black and minority ethnic (BAME) people believe they and their communities are being targeted unfairly by stop and search despite a steep decline in the use of the controversial tactic, according to new research.’

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The Guardian, 29th June 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Legal aid cuts ‘may have stopped Grenfell tenants pursuing safety concerns’ – The Guardian

‘Cuts to legal aid may have stopped tenants in Grenfell Tower from pursuing safety concerns that could have prevented the fire, the president of the Law Society, Robert Bourns, has suggested.’

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The Guardian, 29th June 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Uber to appeal against English tests for drivers – BBC News

Posted June 28th, 2017 in appeals, examinations, London, news, taxis by sally

‘The introduction of an English language test for private hire drivers has been delayed after Uber won the right to appeal against the plans.’

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BBC News, 28th June 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Solicitor who took client data to new firm without consent rebuked and fined – Legal Futures

‘A London solicitor who took confidential information from defunct London firm Davenport Lyons (DL) to his new employer without client consent has been rebuked and fined £2,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

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Legal Futures, 26th June 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Continuing Duty under s.17 Children Act 1989 – Community Care Blog

Posted June 23rd, 2017 in children, housing, judicial review, local government, London, news, statutory duty by tracey

“The Administrative court has confirmed that the duty on local authorities under s.17 of the Children Act 1989 is an ongoing one and held that Lewisham London Borough Council had acted irrationally in concluding in a follow-up assessment that a mother had the means to provide her children with accommodation and that the children were not in need within the meaning of s.17.”

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Community Care Blog, 22nd June 2017

Source: communitycare11kbw.com

Stephen Lawrence murder inquiry: IPCC delays corruption probe – BBC News

Posted June 21st, 2017 in corruption, evidence, inquiries, London, murder, news, police by sally

‘An investigation into evidence given to the Stephen Lawrence murder inquiry will only be concluded after a separate corruption investigation is completed, the police watchdog has announced.’

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BBC News, 20th June 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

English courts’ willingness to uphold parties’ choice of law provides certainty in Brexit world, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

‘A Court of Appeal decision upholding the parties’ choice to use English law under a swap agreement will provide some relief to financial firms despite the ongoing uncertainty around the UK’s decision to leave the EU, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 21st June 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Southwark LBC v Akhtar Upper Tribunal [2017] UKUT 150 (LC) – Tanfield Chambers

‘The Upper Tribunal reversed decisions from the First Tier Tribunal in respect of the validity of estimated service demands, the requirements to prove the service of a notice under section 20B in light of the incorporation of section 196 of the Law of Property Act 1925 in the lease, and whether a tenant had waived the Landlord’s non-compliance with service charge mechanism of the lease by conduct.’

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Tanfield Chambers, 1st June 2017

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk

An unsatisfactory situation – Tanfield Chambers

‘Since the Supreme Court turned the law of dispensation from the consultation requirements upside down in Daejan Investments Ltd v Benson [2013] UKSC 14; [2013] 2 EGLR 45, the Upper Tribunal has been troubled with very few cases involving the requirements to consult leaseholders on major works. However, the decision in Lessees of Foundling Court and O’Donnell Court v Camden London Borough Council and others [2016] UKUT 366 (LC); [2016] EGLR 59 has rewritten preconceptions as to who needs to be consulted and caused landlords some new headaches.’

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Tanfield Chambers, 12th June 2017

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk

R (C) v Islington LBC – Arden Chambers

‘The Administrative Court has held that priority within a housing allocation scheme providing that existing social housing tenants are to be preferred over other applicants, such as the homeless and women fleeing domestic violence, for certain local lettings of eg new and refurbished accommodation was justified and accordingly had not been unlawfully discriminatory for the purposes of art.14 and ss.19, 29 Equality Act 2010; the introduction of the local lettings policies had complied with s.149 Equality Act 2010 and s.11 Children Act 2004; but the operation of a system of direct offers, used particularly to allocate accommodation to homeless applicants, had not been sufficiently set out in the scheme and was accordingly unlawful.’

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Arden Chambers, 31st May 2017

Source: www.ardenchambers.com

Anti-Muslim hate crimes increase fivefold since London Bridge attacks – The Guardian

Posted June 8th, 2017 in hate crime, Islam, London, news, racism, terrorism by sally

‘The London Bridge attacks have triggered a big spike in hate crimes with a significant amount of them being attacks in the street directed at British Muslims.’

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The Guardian, 7th June 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Making it up as you go – Nearly Legal

‘C was accepted for the full housing duty by Islington, with her 3 children, as a result of domestic violence. C is profoundly deaf. She had been living in Southwark, but following the DV, was in refuge in Islington and applied as homeless there. She was, eventually, given 3 bed temporary accommodation in Islington.’

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Nearly Legal, 6th June 2017

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Pro bono legal advice panel for victims of London attack – Law Society

Posted June 7th, 2017 in charities, law firms, Law Society, London, news, pro bono work, solicitors, terrorism by sally

‘People bereaved and injured following the attack on London Bridge will be offered free legal advice through a panel of solicitor firms to be convened by the Law Society of England and Wales with LawWorks, the solicitors’ pro bono charity, and the City of London Law Society.’

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Law Society, 6th June 2017

Source: www.lawsociety.org.uk

HMP Wandsworth loses reform prison status – The Guardian

Posted June 5th, 2017 in London, news, prison officers, prisons, rehabilitation by tracey

‘The future of the government’s reform prisons has been thrown into doubt after Wandsworth prison, seen as the flagship of the scheme, lost its status and reverted back to a normal prison.’

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The Guardian, 4th June 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Resident pursues judicial review over development partner choice – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 24th, 2017 in judicial review, local government, London, news, planning by sally

‘A local resident is to launch a legal challenge to the London Borough of Haringey’s decision to press ahead with a development vehicle for one of the country’s largest regeneration schemes.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd May 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Dramatic drop’ in reported pension scam cases, but losses increase – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 24th, 2017 in consumer protection, fraud, London, news, pensions, police, statistics by sally

‘The number of suspected cases of pension fraud reported to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) has dramatically decreased over the past two years, even as the value of individual cases has soared, according to figures from the City of London Police.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 23rd May 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Homeless duties, human rights and suitability decisions – Nearly Legal

‘Poshteh v Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea [2017] UKSC 36. Ms Posheth had refused an offer of accommodation in discharge of duty because a round window in the property had reminded her of when she was imprisoned in Iran (though she did say it would have been suitable as temporary accommodation). She had had a panic attack on viewing the property. RBKC found the property was suitable and reasonable to accept on review, upheld on appeal and in the court of appeal.’

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Nearly Legal, 21st May 2017

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Regrette rien – Nearly Legal

Posted May 22nd, 2017 in homelessness, housing, judicial review, local government, London, news by tracey

‘R (oao Sambotin) v London Borough of Brent (2017) EWHC 1190 (Admin). Once a local authority has made a homeless decision under section 184 Housing Act 1996, can it change its mind? That was the issue in this judicial review.’

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Nearly Legal, 21st May 2017

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk