Category: mental health

What the Princess of Pop teaches us about Capacity – Belinda Cheney – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted July 11th, 2022 in Court of Protection, deputyship, human rights, mental health, news by tracey

‘I was gripped by the Britney Spears saga. This phenomenally successful pop star was deemed to lack capacity in relation to most aspects of her life and finances for more than 13 years allowing her father full control over her considerable fortune and her person and critically, she was unable to object until the “Free Britney” movement highlighted the rampant injustice of the situation. Only then was she was permitted to appoint her own lawyer and “freed”. In this we consider briefly the similarities and differences between the US conservatorship and the UK deputyship.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 7th July 2022

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Cwm Taf Morgannwg fined £850k after Maesteg patient death – BBC News

Posted July 11th, 2022 in causing death of children or vulnerable adults, elderly, fines, hospitals, mental health, news by tracey

‘A health board has been fined £850,000 after a patient fell in the grounds of a hospital and died from her injuries after wandering from an unlocked ward.’

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BBC News, 9th July 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Professionals working with child in deprivation of liberty cases need to have clear and comprehensive understanding of operational procedures of other agencies, says High Court judge – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 7th, 2022 in children, deprivation of liberty safeguards, detention, local government, mental health, news, young offenders by sally

‘A Family Division judge has strongly criticised the lack of therapeutic care within a restrictive environment for young people who need this.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 7th July 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

A Response to the Criminal Justice Joint Evidence Review: Neurodiversity in the Criminal Justice System action plan – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 4th, 2022 in criminal justice, learning difficulties, mental health, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘In December 2020, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice commissioned HM Inspectorate of Prisons and HM Inspectorate of Probation, with support from HMICFRS, to undertake an independent review of neurodiversity in the criminal justice system (CJS).’

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Ministry of Justice, 30th June 2022

Article 2 inquest determination concerning Community Mental Health Services quashed – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 4th, 2022 in children, human rights, inquests, local government, mental health, news, statutory duty, suicide by tracey

‘Dominic Ruck Keene outlines a case in which an article 2 inquest determination concerning Community Mental Health Services was quashed.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st July 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Draft Mental Health Bill now published – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 1st, 2022 in bills, detention, learning difficulties, mental health, news by tracey

‘Following a commitment given in the Queen’s Speech in May 2022, a draft Mental Health Bill has been brought forward this week (27 June 2022). Alex Ruck Keene sets out the main elements and highlights some key points.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st July 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court gives guidance on scope of article 2 inquests – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted June 29th, 2022 in bias, coroners, evidence, human rights, inquests, mental health, news, suicide by sally

‘In R (Gorani) v HM Assistant Coroner for Inner West London [2022] EWHC1593 (QB), a Divisional Court comprising Macur LJ and Garnham J rejected on all grounds a wide-ranging challenge to the conduct of in inquest into a suicide. Of particular interest were the Court’s observations on the effect of a finding that the investigative duty under article 2, ECHR was engaged, and their clarification that a coroner does not need to hear submissions before refusing to make a ‘preventing future deaths’ report. That said, it is a broad and interesting judgment and deserves reading in full by those with an interest in coronial law.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 28th June 2022

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Robyn Skilton: Neglect contributed to Sussex teen’s death, coroner rules – BBC News

Posted June 29th, 2022 in causing death of children or vulnerable adults, children, coroners, hospitals, inquests, mental health, negligence, news, suicide, young persons by sally

‘A coroner plans to write to the government about mental health services for young people after ruling a girl’s death was contributed to by neglect.’

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BBC News, 28th June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Birmingham hospital faces criminal probe after death of vulnerable man – BBC News

Posted June 24th, 2022 in hospitals, inquests, mental health, negligence, news by tracey

‘A hospital and one of its managers are facing a criminal investigation into the death of a vulnerable man who absconded by climbing a fence.’

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BBC News, 23rd June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Paddy Power beheading: Coroner highlights authority ‘failures’ – BBC News

Posted June 22nd, 2022 in coroners, inquests, mental health, murder, news, offensive weapons, police by sally

‘The death of a man who was decapitated in a betting shop “would not have occurred” if his attacker had been referred to mental health services the month before, a coroner has concluded.’

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BBC News, 21st June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ex-soldier jailed for murdering couple in Somerset after parking dispute – The Guardian

Posted June 22nd, 2022 in armed forces, imprisonment, mental health, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A former soldier who murdered his nextdoor neighbours with a commando dagger after a dispute over parking has been told he will serve at least 38 years in prison before being considered for parole.’

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The Guardian, 21st June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court judge quashes determination of coroner not to hold Article 2 investigation – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 21st, 2022 in children, coroners, inquests, local government, mental health, news by sally

‘A High Court judge has quashed a coroner’s ruling that the inquest into the death of a 16-year-old girl will not investigate in what circumstances she came by her death.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th June 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

British Army veteran ‘living in fear’ as he fights deportation threat after 20 years living in UK – The Independent

Posted June 20th, 2022 in armed forces, assault, deportation, government departments, immigration, imprisonment, mental health, news by tracey

‘ British Army veteran who has spent more than 20 years living in the UK is “living in fear each and every second” due to the threat of deportation to Zimbabwe.’

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The Independent, 20th June 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New pilots to boost support for rape victims in court – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 17th, 2022 in bills, cross-examination, Crown Court, mental health, Ministry of Justice, news, pilot schemes, rape, sexual offences, victims, video recordings by tracey

‘Rape victims will receive enhanced support at 3 Crown Courts under a new pilot scheme launched by the government today (16 June 2022) as part of efforts to drive up prosecutions and convictions.’

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Ministry of Justice, 16th June 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Article 2 inquest determination concerning Community Mental Health Services quashed – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted June 16th, 2022 in coroners, hospitals, inquests, mental health, news, statutory duty by sally

‘In R (Patton) v HM Assistant Coroner for Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire [2022] EWHC 1377 (Admin), Mrs Justice Hill quashed a ruling that the Article 2 general (or systemic) duty has not been potentially engaged by the death of Kianna Patton.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 15th June 2022

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Questions over use of ‘psychological experts’ in parental alienation cases – The Guardian

Posted June 13th, 2022 in care orders, children, expert witnesses, families, family courts, mental health, news, parental rights by tracey

‘Mothers are having their children taken away by court-appointed “psychological experts” who are unregulated and do not have the necessary qualifications, the Association of Clinical Psychologists UK has warned.’

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The Guardian, 12th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Stockwell tenant jailed for murdering couple during lockdown – BBC News

Posted May 30th, 2022 in coronavirus, imprisonment, landlord & tenant, mental health, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man who stabbed his two landlords to death during the first lockdown has been jailed for life.’

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BBC News, 28th May 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

CPS guidance ‘makes things worse’ for rape survivors, victims’ commissioner says – The Guardian

Posted May 27th, 2022 in codes of practice, criminal justice, Crown Prosecution Service, disclosure, mental health, news, prosecutions, rape, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘New guidance designed to give rape victims confidence to get therapy before their trial “makes things worse” for survivors and lessened their protections, according to the victims’ commissioner, Vera Baird.’

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The Guardian, 26th May 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Unravelling – the effect of a debt moratorium on enforcement steps taken during it. – Nearly Legal

Posted May 16th, 2022 in damages, debts, enforcement, housing, leases, mental health, news, repossession by tracey

‘Lees v Kaye (2022) EWHC 1151 (QB). This is another judgment on the operation of the Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space Moratorium and Mental Health Crisis Moratorium) (England & Wales) Regulations 2020. (The first was part of the Brake v Axnoller litigation, the denouments of which I have yet to write up). The case highlights the potential impact of a moratorium and the importance of paying attention to them, because it can give rise to great difficulty in unravelling what has been done.’

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Nearly Legal, 15th May 2022

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Unequal impact of Covid should be part of UK inquiry, says chair – The Guardian

Posted May 13th, 2022 in children, coronavirus, equality, government departments, inquiries, mental health, news, race discrimination, racism by tracey

‘The chair of the UK Covid-19 public inquiry has urged the prime minister to significantly widen its scope to better examine the pandemic’s unequal impact on minority ethnic people, on children and on mental health.’

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The Guardian, 12th May 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com