Judges to get counselling to help them cope with sex crime cases – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 6th, 2017 in courts, internet, judges, mental health, news, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘Judges are to get mental health help to deal with sex crime cases, the new Lord Chief Justice has announced, as he said we must recognise that “judges are human” too.’

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Daily Telegraph, 5th December 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Undercover policeman’s son sues force after discovering his father was an officer ‘left him with depression’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 5th, 2017 in compensation, families, investigatory powers, mental health, news, police by tracey

‘A man who says he suffered a depressive illness as a result of discovering his father was an undercover police officer rather than a political activist has won the latest round of a High Court compensation battle with the Metropolitan Police.’

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Daily Telegraph, 4th December 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Changes to police powers relating to mental health and places of safety – UK Police Law Blog

Posted December 1st, 2017 in detention, mental health, news, police by tracey

‘On 11 December 2017, significant amendments will come into force altering the power of the police to detain people who appear to be suffering from mental disorder. This blog post is intended to highlight the fact of the amendments, outline some key changes and point to sources of further information.’

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UK Police Law Blog, 29th November 2017

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

Speech by the Lord Chief Justice: Justice – Mental Health and Fair Trial Report – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted December 1st, 2017 in criminal justice, mental health, speeches by tracey

‘Speech by the Lord Chief Justice: Justice – Mental Health and Fair Trial Report.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 28th November 2017

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Judge hits out at lack of provision of secure accommodation for teenager – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 29th, 2017 in care orders, mental health, news, young persons by sally

A judge is to protest to ministers for the second time in a year about the lack of secure accommodation for vulnerable young people.

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Local Government Lawyer, 29th November 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

UK justice system failing defendants with mental health issues – charity – The Guardian

‘Specialist prosecutors should review all decisions to charge suspects with mental health vulnerabilities and the defence of insanity should be amended, a law reform charity has said.’

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The Guardian, 27th November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

No overcrowding link to prison suicide, study suggests – BBC News

Posted November 27th, 2017 in mental health, news, prisons, suicide by sally

‘There is no clear link between prison suicides and overcrowding behind bars, an international study has suggested.’

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BBC News, 25th November 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mental Capacity Guidance Note: A Brief Guide to Carrying out Capacity Assessments – 39 Essex Chambers

Posted November 24th, 2017 in consent, Court of Protection, mental health, news by sally

‘The purpose of this document is to provide for social workers and those working in front-line clinical settings a brief overview of the law and principles relating to the assessment of capacity. Its focus is on (a) how to apply the MCA 2005 principles when assessing capacity; and (b) how to record your assessment, primarily in the context of health and welfare decisions.’

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39 Essex Chambers, 17th November 2017

Source: www.39essex.com

Mental Capacity Guidance Note: A Brief Guide to Carrying Out Best Interest Assessments – 39 Essex Chambers

Posted November 23rd, 2017 in mental health, news by sally

‘The purpose of this document is to provide for social workers and those working in front-line clinical settings a brief overview of the law and principles relating to the assessment of best interests. Its focus is on: (a) how to apply the MCA 2005 principles when assessing best interests; and (b) how to record your assessment, primarily in the context of health and welfare decisions. It is a companion to our brief guide to carrying out capacity assessments.’

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39 Essex Chambers, 17th November 2017

Source: www.39essex.com

Recovery of Damages for Future Care Costs Does Not Disentitle a Person to After-Care Services Under Mental Health Act 1983 – Garden Court Chambers

Posted November 23rd, 2017 in appeals, costs, damages, local government, mental health, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal determined that a person discharged from liability to be detained under s 3 Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA 1983) but who still required “after-care services” pursuant to s 117 of the Act was entitled to have his local authority provide such services under s 117 at any time before he had exhausted sums awarded to him in respect of costs of care for the injury he suffered.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 10th November 2017

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Court of Appeal Overturns Birmingham CC v D: 16-17 Year Olds Who Lack Capacity Not Deprived of Their Liberty Within Art 5 Where Parents Consent to Their Confinement – Garden Court Chambers

‘This is the appeal from the decision of Keehan J in Birmingham CC v D [2016] EWCOP 8.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 10th November 2017

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

“Places of Safety” Under the Mental Health Act 1983 – New Regulations – Garden Court Chambers

Posted November 23rd, 2017 in detention, mental health, news, police, regulations by sally

‘Changes to the powers under ss 135 and 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 are being brought in by ss 80 – 83 of the Policing and Crime Act 2017 with effect from 11 December 2017. New regulations (Mental Health Act 1983 (Places of Safety) Regulations 2017/1036) were published on 31 October 2017, also due to come into effect on 11 December 2017.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 10th November 2017

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Homelessness Update – Doughty Street Chambers

‘Annual Review of Developments in Homelessness Law presentation slides.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 17th November 2017

Source: www.doughtystreet.co.uk

“After care services” – when is a local authority required to provide after care services – s.3 mental health act 1983 – Zenith PI

Posted November 15th, 2017 in community care, detention, local government, mental health, news by tracey

‘Tinsley v Manchester City Council & others [2017] EWCA CIV 1704. The question in the appeal: Is a person who has been compulsorily detained in a hospital for mental disorder under section 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (“the 1983 Act”) and has then been released from detention but still requires “after-care services” entitled to require his local authority to provide such services at any time before he had exhausted sums reflecting the costs of care awarded to him in a judgment in his favour against a negligent tortfeasor.’

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Zenith PI, 13th November 2017

Source: zenithpi.wordpress.com

Mother killed herself after ‘serious failure’ by mental health unit – The guardian

Posted November 15th, 2017 in birth, hospitals, inquests, mental health, news, suicide by tracey

‘A mother who killed herself while suffering from postnatal depression died as a result of a “very serious failure” that allowed her to leave a mental health unit unchaperoned, a coroner has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 14th November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police investigating 30 years of alleged sexual and physical abuse against children at mental health unit – The Independent

Posted November 10th, 2017 in child abuse, hospitals, mental health, news, sexual offences, young persons by tracey

‘Police are investigating almost 30 years of alleged physical and sexual abuse against children and young adults being treated at a mental health unit.Hertfordshire Constabulary said the number of victims at the Hill End Hospital Adolescent Unit in St Albans was not yet clear.’

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The Independent, 9th November 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Wellbeing at the Bar success prompts quarterly roll-out of new Certificate – The Bar Council

Posted November 7th, 2017 in barristers, mental health, press releases by tracey

‘The Wellbeing at the Bar website has acted as a catalyst in bringing the Bar’s attention to wellbeing. Following the successful introduction of a Certificate of Recognition for good wellbeing practice, which attracted over 30 applications in its inaugural round, the Bar Council has announced that it will reopen Certificate applications. This will enable chambers, Inns, Circuits, Specialist Bar Associations and organisations that employ barristers to apply on an ongoing basis, with applications assessed each quarter.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 6th November 2017

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Council loses appeal over after-care services and personal injury damages – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 3rd, 2017 in appeals, community care, local government, mental health, news by tracey

‘Manchester City Council has lost an appeal over whether a person who has been compulsorily detained in a hospital for mental disorder under the Mental Health Act 1983 and has then been released from detention but still requires “after-care services” is entitled to require his local authority to provide such services at any time before he has exhausted the sums received in damages from his personal injury claim.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 3rd November 2017

Source: localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Public Law Podcast Seminar on Radicalisation Part 2: Inquests and Article 2 ECHR – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted November 2nd, 2017 in death in custody, human rights, inquests, mental health, news, terrorism by tracey

‘Inquests and Article 2 ECHR – Caroline Cross and Suzanne Lambert

The highlights of the Public Law Seminar given by members of 1 Crown Office Row are now available for podcast download here or from iTunes under Law Pod UK, Episodes 13, 14 and 15. For non-Apple devices the podcasts are available via the Audioboom app.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 27th October 2017

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Government starts work on Law Commission health care and mental capacity recommendations – Law Commission

‘The Government has launched a new consultation looking at the regulation of health care professionals, based on recommendations from a 2014 report by the UK Law Commissions.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 1st November 2017

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk/