Up to 60 per cent of prisoners have head injuries, as experts warn brain damage may fuel crime – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 27th, 2018 in crime, mental health, news, personal injuries, prisons, violent offenders by tracey

‘More than half of criminals may have suffered a head injury which could be fuelling their offending, a new review by British brain experts suggests.’

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Daily Telegraph, 26th February 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

More than 100 women in Yarl’s Wood detention centre go on hunger strike over ‘inhumane’ conditions – The Independent

Posted February 23rd, 2018 in demonstrations, detention, immigration, mental health, news, women by tracey

‘More than 100 women in Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre have gone on hunger strike over “inhumane” conditions at the facility. Around 120 female detainees began their protest on Wednesday, urging the Home Office to end “offensive” practices which they said leave people “breaking down psychologically” after being detained for immigration reasons.’

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The Independent, 22nd February 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Psychiatrist suspended for 12 months after man drowned in epileptic fit – The Guardian

‘A senior psychiatrist has been suspended for 12 months following the death of a vulnerable teenager who suffered an epileptic fit and drowned in a bath at an NHS care unit.’

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The Guardian, 21st February 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Barristers ‘more stressed’ than NHS staff – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 21st, 2018 in barristers, mental health, news by tracey

‘Barristers are less happy in their working lives than staff in the National Health Service, with stress and a failure of chambers to help with pressures outside work among major concerns.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 19th February 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Coroner criticises hospital failings and busy A&E department over death of rape victim who overdosed on diet pills – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 15th, 2018 in drug abuse, duty of care, hospitals, inquests, mental health, negligence, news, victims by sally

‘A coroner has criticised hospital failings in an overwhelmed A&E department over the death of rape victim who overdosed on diet pills.’

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Daily Telegraph, 14th February 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Court of Appeal castigates judge who thought litigant with severe depression was “putting on act” – Litigation Futures

Posted February 15th, 2018 in appeals, costs, evidence, judges, mental health, news, setting aside by sally

‘A senior circuit judge who “clearly thought” that a litigant with severe depression was “putting on an act” has been strongly attacked by the vice-president of the civil division of the Court of Appeal.’

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Litigation Futures, 15th February 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Vulnerable people ‘trapped in homelessness’ due to law – BBC News

Posted February 14th, 2018 in homelessness, housing, local government, mental health, news, reports by michael

‘Vulnerable people are unable to access social housing, potentially trapping them “in a cycle of homelessness”, due to a change in the law.’

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BBC News, 14th February 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tasers used 58 times in mental health settings – BBC News

Posted February 2nd, 2018 in mental health, news, police, statistics, weapons by sally

‘Police drew, aimed or fired Tasers in mental health hospitals, wards, and clinics 58 times in the first six months of figures being recorded.’

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BBC News, 1st February 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Taxpayers who miss tax return deadline due to depression ‘less likely to be fined than ever’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 31st, 2018 in fines, income tax, mental health, news, time limits by sally

‘Taxpayers suffering from depression are being treated with increasing leniency by HMRC if they file a late tax return.’

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Daily Telegraph, 30th January 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

One in three people with legal problems in UK develop health issues – report – The Guardian

Posted January 29th, 2018 in civil justice, criminal justice, health, legal aid, mental health, news, reports by sally

‘Almost one-third of those with legal problems in the UK report developing a stress-related or physical illness as a result of their experience, according to a new international survey comparing people’s perceptions of justice around the world.’

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The Guardian, 29th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

NHS patients having to be sectioned to get help, says regulator – The Guardian

Posted January 24th, 2018 in detention, mental health, news, reports by tracey

‘A lack of mental health services in England means a growing number of patients are having to be sectioned to get help, according to the NHS care regulator. A review by the Care Quality Commission found that the rise in the number of detentions under the Mental Health Act was due partly to the fact that the healthcare system was “under considerable strain”.’

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The Guardian, 23rd January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

A failure to engage – ‘Medical advisors’ on homeless vulnerability – Nearly Legal

Posted January 22nd, 2018 in doctors, homelessness, mental health, news, psychiatrists by sally

‘This is a s.204 appeal of a ‘not vulnerable’ review decision by LB Tower Hamlets. It is of particular interest because of the consideration of the role and place of the ‘medical advisors’ used by LBTH – Now Medical, and the strong criticism of the handling and consideration of medical reports.’

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Nearly Legal, 21st January 2018

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Law Society urges end to enforced medical treatment of vulnerable people – The Guardian

‘Vulnerable people sectioned under the Mental Health Act are being subjected to medical treatment without consent and are not protected by effective legal safeguards, the Law Society has warned.’

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The Guardian, 22nd January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Woman jailed for setting bed on fire ‘killed herself in prison’ – The Guardian

Posted January 16th, 2018 in arson, bail, inquests, mental health, news, suicide by sally

‘A 21-year-old woman was found dead in prison while serving a sentence for arson after setting herself on fire, an inquest jury has heard.’

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The Guardian, 15th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

SDT issues mental health warning to employers in case of solicitor under billing pressure – Legal Futures

Posted January 10th, 2018 in forgery, mental health, news, professional conduct, solicitors, tribunals by sally

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has decided against striking off a solicitor it found had forged correspondence and lied to both her client and her employer, after finding that a root cause of her misconduct was the firm’s culture and the pressure it exerted on her to meet billing targets.’

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Legal Futures, 10th January 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Rape victim who overdosed on diet pills did not receive appropriate care because A&E was overcrowded, inquest hears – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 9th, 2018 in health, inquests, mental health, news, rape, suicide, victims by sally

‘A rape victim who sent a final text about overdosing on diet pills did not receive appropriate care because A&E was overcrowded, an inquest heard.’

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Daily Telegraph, 8th January 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Triple killer Theodore Johnson jailed for 26 years – BBC News

Posted January 8th, 2018 in domestic violence, mental health, murder, news, recidivists, sentencing by sally

‘A man who killed three former partners has been jailed for a minimum of 26 years.’

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BBC News, 5th January 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Former exec given suspended sentence for filming up women’s skirts – The Guardian

Posted January 8th, 2018 in mental health, news, sentencing, suspended sentences, voyeurism by sally

‘A former executive at an international entertainment company has been spared jail after he admitted filming up women’s skirts using a hidden camera.’

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The Guardian, 5th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Restitution claims for failure to pay for aftercare services – Community Care Blog

Posted December 21st, 2017 in appeals, mental health, news, repayment, restitution, social services by tracey

‘If an individual has in years past paid him or herself for mental health aftercare services, which should have been paid for by public bodies, does that person have a valid restitution claim to be refunded the monies spent? The Court of Appeal in Richards v Worcestershire County Council [2017] EWCA Civ 1998 has upheld the decision of Newey J at first instance, that a claimant can bring a private law action against public authorities under Part 7 of the CPR, when it is alleged that:
· the public authority was responsible for providing mental health aftercare services to the claimant pursuant to section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983;
· aftercare services were received by the claimant; and
· those services were paid for by the claimant themselves.
Such a claim would be brought in restitution, on the basis that the payments made by the claimant served to relieve the public authority of liabilities which they ought to have been bearing under section 117.’

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Community Care Blog, 18th December 2017

Source: communitycare11kbw.com

Swindon mum of eight killer has appeal rejected – BBC News

Posted December 20th, 2017 in appeals, mental health, news, sentencing by tracey

‘A woman jailed for murdering a mother of eight has had an appeal against her conviction and sentence rejected.’

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BBC News, 20th December 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk