Windrush pensioner facing homelessness at 89 as Home Office ‘unable to verify her identity’ – The Independent

Posted July 2nd, 2024 in homelessness, housing, identification, local government, London, news, passports by sally

‘An 89-year-old woman from the Windrush generation is facing homelessness because the Home Office says it cannot verify her identity.’

Full Story

The Independent, 1st July 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Council refunded £1.5m to ‘gagged’ leaseholders – BBC News

‘A London council has been forcing residents into silence as a condition of them receiving money owed to them for building work and services they had been overcharged for – in some cases by tens of thousands of pounds.’

Full Story

BBC News, 30th June 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

What is a ‘New Matter’ in an Immigration Appeal? – EIN Blog

Posted July 1st, 2024 in appeals, immigration, jurisdiction, news, tribunals by sally

‘Since many immigration appeals may take months to be heard by the Immigration Tribunal, circumstances will understandably evolve, which could constitute a new matter for the purposes of the appeal. When appealing an immigration decision, it is important to consider whether a new matter is raised because the Immigration Tribunal does not have jurisdiction to consider the matter without the consent of the Secretary of State. In this post, we examine new matters in immigration appeals, asking what is a new matter in an immigration appeal and what is the process of raising a new matter in an immigration appeal? Further information on the process of appealing an immigration refusal can be found in these Part 1 and Part 2 guides on how to appeal a UK visa or immigration refusal decision.’

Full Story

EIN Blog, 1st July 2024

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Leasehold miscellaneous – Nearly Legal

Posted July 1st, 2024 in fees, forfeiture, landlord & tenant, leases, news, service charges by sally

‘A few quick notes on various leasehold related cases. Howe Properties (NE) Ltd v Accent Housing Ltd (2024) EWCA Civ 297. Accent Housing levied a management fee on leaseholders which was at flat rate and a) differed by tenure (freehold and assured tenancies were at different rates) and b) was charged as against Accent’s management costs across its whole estate, some 3058 leasehold properties, not just this specific development.’

Full Story

Nearly Legal, 30th June 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Pensions Ombudsman decisions offer reassurance around risks of providing online systems – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 1st, 2024 in complaints, electronic filing, news, ombudsmen, pensions by sally

‘Two recent decisions of the UK Pensions Ombudsman (PO) place the onus on the scheme member to use providers’ online systems correctly and to switch to alternative means of communication when those systems are unavailable.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 28th June 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Robert Colvin and Elizabeth Forster: Rolling Judicial Reviews: A New Era of Court Monitoring in Complex Cases? – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted July 1st, 2024 in asylum, children, judicial review, local government, news, statutory duty by sally

‘On 5 June 2024, the Administrative Court gave its final word on relief in the (relatively) long running ECPAT UK judicial review (see R (ECPAT UK) v Kent County Council [2024] EWHC 1353 (Admin)). The case centred on Kent County Council’s (“KCC”) failure to meet its statutory duty to look after unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (“UAS children”) arriving at its coast and the Home Secretary’s systematic, routine and (ultimately) unlawful use of hotels to accommodate them outside of the care system. While the Court’s findings of illegality on the part of both defendants were uncontroversial – indeed KCC conceded it was acting (owing to a purported lack of resource) illegally (see R (ECPAT UK) v Kent CC, SSHD [2023] EWHC 1953 (Admin), para 161) – it was the Court’s willingness to extend its usual role and monitor the defendants’ compliance with its ruling which makes this case unique.’

Full Story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 1st July 2024

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

New statutory guidance on the Best Value Duty – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has recently issued welcomed guidance on best value standards and interventions, following a consultation last summer, writes Olivia Carter.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 26th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Fitness for human habitation claims – what are they worth? – Local Government Lawyer

‘Rhiannon Moody examines a recent case where damages were awarded over a council property that was unfit for human habitation.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 28th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

The test for ceasing to maintain an EHCP – Local Government Lawyer

‘Abby Buttle reports on a successful appeal to the Upper Tribunal on the test for ceasing to maintain an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 28th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Law firm fines should be a minimum of £5k, says SRA – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has proposed that any fine it imposes on law firms should be at least £5,000, as well as ending fines for solicitors convicted of drink-driving.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 1st July 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Water companies win first stage of search providers’ overcharging claim – Legal Futures

Posted July 1st, 2024 in class actions, conveyancing, damages, news, water, water companies by sally

‘Water companies have the upper hand after the first stage of a High Court claim brought by conveyancing search providers claiming to have been overcharged for a decade.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 1st July 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

CPS Statement: Decision not to charge in relation to fatal collision at The Study Prep School, Wimbledon – Crown Prosecution Service

‘CPS Statement: Decision not to charge in relation to fatal collision at The Study Prep School, Wimbledon.’

Full Story

Crown Prosecution Service, 26th June 2024

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Court interpreter supplier faces group action over employment rights – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The language services company contracted to provide courtroom services faces a fresh headache after it emerged that interpreters and translators are joining forces to potentially bring a group claim over employment rights.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 27th June 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘Tourist tax’ on hold as hotels appeal – BBC News

Posted July 1st, 2024 in appeals, consultations, government departments, holidays, hotels, news by sally

‘The first so-called coastal tourist tax in the UK, set to be introduced in parts of Dorset, has been put on hold following opposition from hotels.’

Full Story

BBC News, 1st July 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Frightening and frustrating’ move to eVisas risks repeat of Windrush scandal, experts warn – The Guardian

Posted July 1st, 2024 in documents, government departments, immigration, news, visas by sally

‘The government is telling migrants who have lived in Britain for decades to provide proof for every year of their residency as part of the controversial transition to digital visas, immigration lawyers have warned.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 29th June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Man who arranged Katie Piper acid attack could get parole in July – The Guardian

Posted July 1st, 2024 in assault, grievous bodily harm, imprisonment, news, parole, rape, sexual offences by sally

‘The man who arranged for the model and TV presenter Katie Piper to be attacked with acid could be eligible for parole next month.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 30th June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Drug gang jailed for £24.5m importation – BBC News

Posted July 1st, 2024 in drug offences, drug trafficking, gangs, imprisonment, news, sentencing by sally

‘An organised crime gang has been jailed after the largest ever seizure of illegal drugs in East Sussex.’

Full Story

BBC News, 28th June 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Cafe owner jailed for sexually abusing boy, 14 – BBC News

Posted July 1st, 2024 in child abuse, children, imprisonment, news, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘A charity cafe owner who sexually assaulted a teenager has been sentenced to eight years in prison.’

Full Story

BBC News, 28th June 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tackling the regulation of sexually explicit deepfakes – Kingsley Napley Criminal Law Blog

‘Artificial intelligence, and its use on social media, is making it continuously harder to distinguish between real and fake information online. Although fact checking is often required when considering written or spoken words, with the advent of so-called “deepfakes”, we now also need to fact check some of the images or videos we see online.’

Full Story

Kingsley Napley Criminal Law Blog, 25th June 2024

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

Controversial Suspected Inflicted Head Injuries pilot launched: Lawyers raise concern about lack of consultation and potential unfairness – Transparency Project

‘When a child suffers a head injury which medical professionals suspect may be inflicted, safeguarding processes are triggered, often leading to care proceedings and the removal of the child from the care of their parents, usuall y for many months and sometimes forever.’

Full Story

Transparency Project, 27th June 2024

Source: transparencyproject.org.uk