Domestic violence concerns raised as new law against psychological abuse fails to come into effect – The Independent

Posted September 1st, 2016 in domestic violence, mental health, news, psychiatric damage by sally

‘Police forces in England and Wales are failing to take action on a new law against psychological abuse, it has been revealed, prompting concerns that domestic violence is not being targeted effectively.’

Full story

The Independent, 31st August 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Kingsley Burrell: Family’s long fight for custody death answers – BBC News

Posted September 1st, 2016 in complaints, death in custody, mental health, news, police, racism, restraint by sally

‘More than five years after his death in custody, the family of Kingsley Burrell is still waiting to learn if three police officers will face charges. His case has now been taken up by the Black Lives Matter movement. But after years of delays, the family’s questions are still the same – just how and why did he die?’

Full story

BBC News, 1st September 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Canines in court: therapy dogs making the wait for a verdict ‘more human’ – The Guardian

Posted August 30th, 2016 in animals, courts, dogs, family courts, mental health, news by sally

‘Unique in the UK, Chelmsford county court hosts therapy dogs each week, to reduce stress and make court less intimidating.’

Full story

The Guardian, 28th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Man who shot wife at care home sentenced to six years in psychiatric hospital – The Guardian

Posted August 25th, 2016 in care homes, detention, elderly, firearms, homicide, mental health, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man who shot his 81-year-old wife dead at a care home has been sentenced to six years in a psychiatric hospital.’

Full story

The Guardian, 24th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Man given suspended sentence for death threat to MP – The Guardian

‘A man who sent a threatening voice message to senior Labour MP Ben Bradshaw the day before the killing of parliamentary colleague Jo Cox has been given a suspended sentence.’

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Vulnerability after Hotak/Johnson/Kanu – Nearly Legal

Posted August 23rd, 2016 in appeals, homelessness, housing, mental health, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘Mr M had applied to Southwark as homeless. He provided a GP’s letter stating that he suffered from depression, was prescribed anti-depressants and was awaiting therapy. Soon after, Mr M’s brother was murdered and he was badly affected by this.’

Full story

Nearly Legal, 22nd August 2016

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Woman gets £2m over near-drowning in school swimming lesson – The Guardian

‘A woman who won a judgment against her local authority after she nearly drowned during a school swimming lesson 16 years ago has been awarded £2m in compensation.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

I was held after reading a book on a plane – we need to rethink our terror laws – The Guardian

Posted August 16th, 2016 in aircraft, mental health, news, terrorism by sally

‘It has been an overwhelming few weeks, but the reaction to my book about Syria has raised important issues about the treatment of Muslims and how we tackle radicalisation.’

Full story

The Guardian, 15th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Peter Sutcliffe could be tried for attacks on up to 13 other victims – Daily Telegraph

‘Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe could face a new trial for a series of previously unsolved attacks on women.’
Full story

Daily Telegraph, 14th August 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Yorkshire Ripper: tribunal rules Peter Sutcliffe can be sent to mainstream prison – The Guardian

Posted August 12th, 2016 in appeals, mental health, murder, news, prisons, sentencing, tribunals by sally

‘The Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, who murdered 13 women during the 1970s, may be released from Broadmoor, the secure psychiatric hospital, and sent to a mainstream prison after a tribunal concluded his mental illness was under control.’

Full story

The Guardian, 12th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lee Arnold jailed for life for murder of Salford student William Lound – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted August 2nd, 2016 in drug abuse, mental health, murder, press releases, sentencing by tracey

‘A 37-year-old man has been sentenced today at Minshull Street Crown Court to life imprisonment for the murder of William Lound, a Salford University student, who was stabbed to death in his flat in February 2016. He must serve a minimum of 23 years and four months in prison.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 1st August 2016

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Number of people dying after coming into contact with police rises sharply to 200 – The Independent

Posted July 28th, 2016 in complaints, death in custody, mental health, news, police, reports, statistics, suicide by tracey

‘Some 200 people died during or following contact with police in the UK last year, according to new figures.
A report released by the Independent Police Complaints Commission reveals the number of deaths has risen 63 per cent in the last five years – with a spike of 37 per cent in the last year alone.’

Full story

The Independent, 26th July 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prison’s gross failures contributed to death of inmate, inquest finds – The Guardian

‘A catastrophic series of failures contributed to the death of a prisoner, who died after setting fire to his cell, an inquest jury ruled.’

Full story

The Guardian, 26th July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Divorced helicopter pilot who refuses to leave the marital home could be jailed – Daily Telegraph

‘A helicopter pilot who barricaded himself in the home he lost in his £6m divorce will be jailed if he does not get out of the property by next week.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 27th July 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Facing the Facts – Nearly Legal

Posted July 25th, 2016 in homelessness, housing, local government, mental health, news, suicide by sally

‘R (on the application of Hoyte) v London Borough of Southwark [2016] EWHC 1665 Admin is a useful decision of the High Court on the subject of repeat homelessness applications.’

Full story

Nearly Legal, 25th July 2016

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Tasers have no place in mental health care – The Guardian

Posted July 19th, 2016 in bills, firearms, human rights, mental health, news by sally

‘For more than 10 years, Tasers have been used against patents in locked psychiatric settings, without monitoring or investigation. This practice must end.’

Full story

The Guardian, 18th July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Pregnant mental health patient ‘pinned to floor’ – BBC News

Posted July 18th, 2016 in hospitals, mental health, news, pregnancy, restraint by sally

‘A mental health trust has launched an investigation after a heavily pregnant patient was allegedly dragged from a seat and pinned to the floor by staff.’

Full story

BBC News, 16th July 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Council “unreasonable” for refusing to accept third application for assistance – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 15th, 2016 in homelessness, housing, local government, mental health, news by tracey

‘The London Borough of Southwark acted unlawfully when it had refused to accept a third application for homelessness assistance from applicant “JH”, the administrative court has found.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 13th July 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Bar mental health – Counsel

Posted July 13th, 2016 in alcoholism, barristers, legal profession, mental health, news, statistics by sally

‘Is the Bar doing enough to help protect barristers’ wellbeing? Grania Langdon-Down investigates the initiatives for change.’

Full story

Counsel, July 2016

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Mental Capacity Law Newsletter – 39 Essex Chambers

Posted July 12th, 2016 in mental health, news by sally

Mental Capacity Law Newsletter (PDF)

39 Essex Chambers, July 2016

Source: www.39essex.com