Category: news

‘The High Court has dismissed a judicial review challenge to Metropolitan Police guidance requiring officers to activate WhatsApp’s disappearing messages function on force-issued devices, upholding the lawfulness of a policy that automatically deletes conversations after 90 days despite documented concerns from the Information Commissioner’s Office and the force’s own data protection impact assessment.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 4th August 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Re St. Mary-le-Moor Cadmore End [2026] ECC Oxf 12. An unopposed retrospective faculty application for the alteration of two original pews and their installation in the porch of St. Mary-le-Moor Cadmore End, was made against the background of a 2018 quinquennial inspection report; this report reiterated the need to undertake significant repairs to the nave roof. The unintended consequences of proceeding with the unauthorised installation of the pews have had an impact on the undertaking of developments in the parish over the next two years.’

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Law & Religion UK, 5th August 2026

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

‘Peter Waddell and another v Bluebell Cars Holding and others [2026] EWHC 2028 (Ch). The case concerned whether Mr Waddell’s removal was properly carried out under the investment agreement, in light of both the company’s performance and an investigation into Waddell’s conduct. Mr Waddell alleged that his removal was unlawful and brought through his company (PWHL)  an unfair prejudice petition against Freshstream, Big Motoring World and two directors who had been appointed by Freshstream.’

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Wilberforce Chambers, 3rd August 2026

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk

‘Mr Justice Dias has published his reasoning behind Oxfordshire County Council’s successful claim for an injunction in the High Court preventing individuals from attaching flags to highway infrastructure, saying that there was “little prospect absent an injunction” that the activity would stop.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 3rd August 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘The High Court has today [3rd August] handed down judgment in Northumbrian Water Ltd v Northumbrian Water Pension Trustees Ltd [2026] EWHC 1952 (Ch). The case concerned rules guaranteeing annual pension increases in line with RPI up to 5%, with any excess payable where the trustee considered, after consulting the scheme actuary, that this could be done without increasing the employer’s ordinary annual contributions. The disputed excess increases affected some 2,000 members and had an estimated value of about £26 million.’

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Pensions Barrister, 3rd August 2026

Source: www.pensionsbarrister.com

‘Titanium Capital Investments Limited & Anor v Hughes and Ors [2026] EWCA Civ 97.The Court of Appeal has handed down a significant judgment on the Partnership Act 1890 (the “1890 Act”) sections 29, 42 and 38. The appeal was by the Defendants against the Claimants and Additional Parties in a partnership dispute concerning a business that sold Covid Tests (LFTs) for a period of less than 7 months before the First Defendant, Mr Hughes, dissolved the partnership because, as he said in his notice of dissolution, he no longer trusted the Second Claimant, Mr Manduca.’

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Wilberforce Chambers, 31st July 2026

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk

‘A fairer end to relationships identifies four guiding principles: prioritising fair outcomes for children, protecting the vulnerable, providing a clear and accessible framework and protecting the distinct status of marriage. A fifth principle, autonomy, is referred to throughout the consultation, although it is not included in the list of guiding principles. Naturally, these principles can pull in different directions. Whilst the consultation does not explicitly acknowledge the tension or explain how the principles have been balanced with one another, such an analysis is, in our view, essential to promote a coherent framework. Focusing on outcomes for children, we analyse how this is weighed with autonomy and protecting the status of marriage, and whether the consultation always strikes the right balance.

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Financial Remedies Journal, 4th August 2026

Source: financialremediesjournal.com

‘After a four-day appeal hearing the Court of Appeal has given judgment in a number of appeals in Lufthansa v Astronics & Ors [2026] EWCA Civ 964. The main appeal concerned the significant issue of the proper approach to identifying the profits derived from infringement of a patent for the purposes of the exercise identified in s.61(1)(d) of the Patents Act 1977. One of the other appeals in the case concerned interest: what jurisdiction did the court have to award interest on such profits, was such jurisdiction available in respect of the period prior to the election (i.e. the election to take profits rather than damages), and what was the principled approach to the exercise of discretion as to the interest rate to apply?’

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Wilberforce Chambers, 30th July 2026

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk

‘Sarah Lucy Cooper is interviewed in the latest Law and Disorder Podcast on 11th July 2026 – The episode is entitled Don’t forget the pet – Does Family Law need to be amended for our animal Friends?’

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Thomas More Chambers, 12th July 2026

Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk

‘Single-sex spaces open to the public, such as toilets and changing rooms, should be organised based on biological sex, according to official guidance that has come into force.’

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BBC News, 5th August 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘A doctor who botched an operation so badly it was described as “not compatible with life” has been struck off the medical register.’

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BBC News, 4th August 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘A teacher who amended pupils’ coursework and awarded their grades “dishonestly” has been banned from the classroom.’

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The Independent, 4th August 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘The court of appeal on Tuesday [4th August] dismissed a bid by local campaign groups to challenge an earlier high court ruling that the scheme could proceed.’

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The Guardian, 4th August 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Four men and a woman have been found guilty of being part of a grooming gang that exploited teenage girls for sex.’

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BBC News, 3rd August 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Animal rights campaigners who say they were wrongly arrested for planning to disrupt the King’s coronation are taking legal action against the Metropolitan Police.’

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The Independent, 4th August 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘Public lawyers are familiar with the jurisdiction to grant a declaration where a claim has become academic, in circumstances where there is “good reason in the public interest”, and to do so would serve a “real and practical” purpose. Fordham J declined the invitation to grant declaratory relief relief in Wild Justice ont he basis that the alleged unlawful act had not in fact taken place; he was being asked a hypothetical, “would-if” question rather than dealing with an academic claim.’

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Administrative Court Blog, 31st July 2026

Source: administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com

‘In Mr R Daudet v Computacenter (UK) Limited [2024] 2301071/2023, Mr Daudet claimed unfair dismissal under s.98 Employment Rights Act 1996; direct discrimination because of race and/or religion or belief under s.13 Equality Act 2020, harassment related to race and/or religion or belief under s.26 Equality Act, and breach of contract. In brief, Computacenter said that the reason for his dismissal was that he had harassed a female employee.’

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Law & Religion UK, 4th August 2026

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

‘Section 63(3) is a non-mandatory provision of the Arbitration Act 1996 (the act), which confers on the arbitral tribunal the power to determine the recoverable costs of the arbitration on such basis as it considers appropriate, unless the parties have agreed otherwise. Where it does so, the tribunal must specify the basis on which the costs have been assessed, the items of recoverable costs and the amount awarded for each item (s63(3)(a) and (b))).’

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Law Society's Gazette, 31st July 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘The Independent has repeatedly called for all IPP prisoners to have their sentences reviewed as 2,400 languish in jail, many for petty crimes and some locked up as children, with no hope of release.’

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The Independent, 4th August 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘The court term in England & Wales ends today, 31 July 2026. Whilst this does not mean that the Court of Protection (or indeed the other courts) stop hearing cases, it does mean that there may now be a lull in what has been an exceptionally busy period for those concerned with mental capacity matters. We do not have an August Mental Capacity Report (for the July one – with huge thanks to Arianna Kelly for taking this on in my absence – see here); pending the September Report, there have been further developments in July which do merit flagging.’

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Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 1st August 2026

Source: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk