Negligence case by schizophrenic man who killed three OAPs gets go-ahead – The Independent

‘A paranoid schizophrenic who killed three pensioners will be allowed to continue his legal challenge over his treatment from authorities before the deaths, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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The Independent, 20th February 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prisoners with mental illness wait too long for beds – BBC News

Posted February 19th, 2024 in delay, hospitals, mental health, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, statistics by tracey

‘Prisoners with severe mental illnesses are waiting too long for hospital care, says the chief inspector of prisons.’

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BBC News, 19th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bristol University loses appeal over suicide of disabled student on exam day – The Guardian

Posted February 15th, 2024 in appeals, disabled persons, examinations, mental health, news, suicide, universities by sally

‘The family of a disabled undergraduate who killed herself on the day of a “truly terrifying” oral exam have won the latest stage of a legal battle to compel universities to take more care of students struggling with their mental health.’

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The Guardian, 14th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Handcuffed migrants face unlimited detention in ‘prison-like’ conditions, anti-torture committee finds – The Independent

Posted February 8th, 2024 in asylum, detention, immigration, mental health, news, reports, restraint by sally

‘Migrants facing unlimited detention in “prison-like” UK immigration sites are being handcuffed to beds and allowed to self-harm, a European anti-torture committee has found.’

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The Independent, 8th February 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Current Affairs Digest: Law – House of Lords Library

‘Sentences of imprisonment for public protection (IPPs) were abolished in 2012. However, this abolition did not apply retrospectively to prisoners already serving IPPs. Recent prison population data on IPPs has shown over 1,200 prisoners have never been released. This briefing examines concerns raised by campaign groups, professional bodies and international partners about the impact of IPPs on prisoners’ release prospects and mental health.’

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House of Lords Library, 6th February 2024

Source: lordslibrary.parliament.uk

Half of barristers “generally content” with their working lives – Legal Futures

Posted February 7th, 2024 in barristers, mental health, news, statistics by sally

‘Half of barristers feel generally content with their working lives, an increase on the previous time they were surveyed, a report for the Bar Council has found.’

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Legal Futures, 6th February 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Section 117 after-care statutory guidance – a missed opportunity? – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 6th, 2024 in detention, local government, mental health, news, statutory duty by tracey

‘Lee Parkhill reviews new Government guidance on the joint duty under s.117 of the Mental Health Act 1983.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 2nd February 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

New data on wellbeing at the Bar – The Bar Council

Posted February 6th, 2024 in barristers, mental health, news, reports, statistics by tracey

‘Today the Bar Council has published the Wellbeing at the Bar Report 2024. The data shows some improvements in wellbeing at the Bar.’

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The Bar Council, 2nd February 2024

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Time to address “silent crisis” of finding safe placements for children with profound needs long overdue, says judge – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 31st, 2024 in children, hospitals, local government, mental health, news, placement orders by tracey

‘The High Court has ruled that a vulnerable teenage girl should be moved from hospital to her local authority’s proposed placement in an unregistered placement “as a matter of urgency”, under a high degree of restriction to keep her safe.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 30th January 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.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

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

High Court judge gives guidance on use of intermediaries in Family Court – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has given guidance on the use of intermediaries in the Family Court, in a case concerning a 2-and-a-half year old girl, which was in week 127 at the hearing last month.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 25th January 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Prisoners with severe mental health needs spending months in isolation, report finds – The Guardian

Posted January 25th, 2024 in mental health, news, prisons, reports, self-harm by sally

‘A prisoner who repeatedly self-harmed spent more than 800 days in segregation, according to a damning report that reveals that jails are using isolation to manage severe mental health needs.’

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The Guardian, 25th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Capacity in context – a paradigm case – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 23rd, 2024 in Court of Protection, disabled persons, mental health, news, sexual offences by tracey

‘Alex Ruck Keene KC (Hon) analyses a recent ruling where the judge’s observations about capacity, and in particular how to approach questions of capacity under constraint, are of broader application.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th January 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Barrister who caused assistant’s “collapse” must pay £155,000 – Legal Futures

‘A barrister who caused her assistant to suffer a mental and physical “collapse” has been ordered to pay her over £155,000 in compensation by an employment tribunal.’

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Legal Futures, 9th January 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Boy kept in solitary confinement wins £31,500 payout – The Guardian

Posted December 19th, 2023 in compensation, detention, human rights, mental health, news, young offenders by tracey

‘The UK government has agreed to pay £31,500 compensation after accepting that a 15-year-old boy with serious mental health problems was subjected to “inhuman or degrading treatment” by being kept in solitary confinement for almost two months.’

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The Guardian, 18th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Betsi Cadwaladr fined £200k for mental health failings – BBC News

Posted December 19th, 2023 in fines, health & safety, hospitals, mental health, news, suicide by tracey

‘A health board has been fined £200,000 after a woman killed herself on one of its mental health wards.’

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BBC News, 18th December 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Civil Justice Council working group consult on procedure for determining mental capacity in civil proceedings – Local Government Lawyer

‘A Civil Justice Council (CJC) working group has launched a consultation on the procedure for determining mental capacity in civil proceedings.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 18th December 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Tier 4 CAMHS, detainability under the Mental Health Act 1983 and (righteous) judicial frustration – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 11th, 2023 in children, detention, local government, mental health, news by tracey

‘Alex Ruck Keene KC (Hon) analyses a recent High Court ruling on whether a 15-year-old should continue to be deprived of her liberty in a hospital.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th December 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘The law needs to catch up on student mental health’ Published 8 hours ago – BBC News

Posted December 11th, 2023 in bereavement, duty of care, families, mental health, news, suicide, universities by tracey

‘A court case this week could change the way universities are expected to look after their students – including their mental health.’

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BBC News, 11th December 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk