Spiking: Low conviction rate is shocking, say victims – BBC News
‘A student who suspects she was a victim of spiking has said the low conviction rate is shocking but not surprising.’
BBC News, 15th February 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: news
Ministry of Justice widens scope of legal aid to cover looked-after children with SEN – Local Government Lawyer
‘The Ministry of Justice has changed the law so that foster parents and approved prospective adopted parents bringing SEND appeals on behalf of a looked-after child will “not be means assessed”.’
Local Government Lawyer, 14th February 2023
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Harold Shipman ad trivialised murders, says advertising watchdog – BBC News
‘A life insurance advert featuring serial killer Harold Shipman “trivialised” his murders and was distressing to victims’ families, the advertising watchdog said.’
BBC News, 15th February 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Legal victory in UK Japanese knotweed case could lead to more claims – The Guardian
‘A significant legal victory in a case brought by a householder affected by Japanese knotweed has raised the prospect of an increase in claims from people stricken by the hazardous plant.’
The Guardian, 14th February 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
Tenant jailed for council housing fraud estimated to have cost local authority £200k – Local Government Lawyer
‘A tenant who fraudulently obtained council housing in Dudley by lying about the fact she owned a property has been jailed for 32 months.’
Local Government Lawyer, 13th February 2023
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Star Hobson: Inquest into murdered toddler’s death concludes – BBC News
‘A coroner has concluded inquest proceedings into the death of murdered toddler Star Hobson.’
BBC News, 13th February 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Case Comment: Barton and Ors v Morris and Anor in place of Gwyn Jones (deceased) [2023] UKSC 3 – UKSC Blog
‘In this post, Henry Powell (Associate) and Antoni Hajdon (Of Counsel) in the Real Estate Disputes team at CMS, comment on the case of Barton & Ors v Morris & Anor in place of Gwyn Jones (deceased) [2023] UKSC 3 – handed down on 25 January 2023.’
UKSC Blog, 13th February 2023
Source: ukscblog.com
Clear chances missed to identify Wayne Couzens as danger to women – The Guardian
‘Police missed clear chances to identify Wayne Couzens as a potential sex offender and a danger to women before he kidnapped and murdered Sarah Everard, it can finally be revealed.’
The Guardian, 13th February 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
Striking a balance on student migration to the UK – EIN Blog
‘Net migration into the UK was 504,000 between June 2021 and June 2022, far higher than the previous record of 330,00. While the single biggest factor behind the rise in net migration was the new visas open to Ukrainians and BN(O) passport-holders from Hong Kong, it is the increase in the numbers coming to the UK on student visas that is the potential target of a government crackdown. Alan Manning argues that further research in this area is urgently needed.’
EIN Blog, 14th February 2023
Source: www.ein.org.uk
Insulate Britain activists found guilty over London roadblock – The Guardian
‘Three Insulate Britain activists have been found guilty of causing a public nuisance by a jury for a two-hour sit-down blockade of traffic.’
The Guardian, 13th February 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
Ordination training and employment status: Grabe – Law & Religion UK
‘In Ms F Grabe v The United Reformed Church [2022] UKET 2204367/2012, Ms Grabe had been a candidate for the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in the URC between November 2008 and June 2012. The URC’s practice is that If a member of a local church wishes to discern a potential call to ministry, the local church refers the applicant to the regional Synod. If the Synod agrees, the candidate then attends an Assessment Conference made up of an Assessment Board and an interview with representatives of the Church’s Educational and Learning Committee, during which the candidate’s qualifications and general knowledge about the URC are ascertained and discussed. If the Assessment Board approves the candidate for ordination training the candidate and the Education and Learning Committee are so informed.’
Law & Religion UK, 13th February 2023
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
Court allows review of UK visa rejections for ex-BBC journalists in Afghanistan – The Guardian
‘Eight former BBC journalists who had their applications to relocate from Afghanistan to the UK rejected are expecting their cases to be reconsidered after they successfully challenged the rationale behind the refusals at the high court.’
The Guardian, 13th February 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
Asylum support rate increased after Home Secretary’s unlawful failings – EIN Blog
‘On 16 December 2022, following a one-day trial heard in the High Court in Manchester, Fordham J. made an eyebrow-raising order including declarations that the Home Secretary had unlawfully failed to review the rate of asylum support payments under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (“IAA 1999”) and had failed to ensure the rate is adequate to meet the essential living needs of asylum seekers. Unbeknown to many, that state of affairs had been so since 14 September 2022. The Home Secretary would continue to be acting unlawfully unless and until she increased the rate, either by a policy decision or by amending the Asylum Support Regulations 2000.’
EIN Blog, 6th February 2023
Source: www.ein.org.uk
Without prejudice privilege – guidance from the Privy Council – Practical Law: Construction Blog
‘I advise many clients involved in construction projects who are on the cusp of a dispute. While they take legal advice on the merits of their position, my clients usually continue to seek to reach an amicable solution with their counterparty through direct negotiation as well as continuing to liaise on a day to day basis to get the job finished. In this context, my clients regularly ask, “Should my email be without prejudice?”. Although the law in this area is relatively settled, the question continues to throw up difficulties. I have been involved with several cases where one party has attempted to put material before a judge or adjudicator that the other side says is inadmissible because it was made without prejudice. The recent Privy Council case of A&A v Petroleum Co of Trinidad & Tobago sheds some light on this perennial problem.’
Practical Law: Construction Blog, 7th February 2023
Why an exceptional view might constitute a nuisance against your neighbours – Local Government Lawyer
‘Anjali Patel looks at the lessons to be learned from the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Tate Modern viewing platform dispute.’
Local Government Lawyer, 10th February 2023
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Highways: the ‘rule of thumb’ – Local Government Lawyer
‘In the first in a series of articles Jack Harding delves into some of the lesser-known authorities relating to the Highway Authority’s duty to maintain the highway under the Highways Act 1980.’
Local Government Lawyer, 10th February 2023
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Appeal rights exhausted care leavers and human rights assessments – Local Government Lawyer
‘A local authority recently conceded that Children Act 1989 duties take precedence over residual and discretionary Immigration Act 1999 powers. Amanda Weston KC and Maria Moodie explain why.’
Local Government Lawyer, 10th February 2023
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Self-employed consultant was employee of firm under Equality Act – Legal Futures
‘A self-employed consultant at a law firm fell within the definition of an employee for the purposes of claims under the Equality Act 2010, an employment tribunal has ruled.’
Legal Futures, 13th February 2023
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Compulsory purchase review to ensure laws are fit for future development projects – Law Commission
‘The Law Commission of England and Wales has announced that it will begin a review of the legislation governing compulsory purchase, in order to make the law simpler, consistent and more accessible.’
Law Commission, 6th February 2022
Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk
