AI developing too fast for regulators to keep up, says Oliver Dowden – The Guardian

‘Artificial intelligence is developing too fast for regulators to keep up, the UK’s deputy prime minister is to announce as he aims to galvanise other countries to take the threat seriously in advance of the UK’s AI safety summit in November.’

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The Guardian, 22nd September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Hospital watchdog takes action against NHS trust over patient safety concerns – The Independent

Posted September 22nd, 2023 in autism, health & safety, hospitals, learning difficulties, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘Hospital regulators have taken enforcement action against an NHS trust after patients were found to have ingested batteries and screws amidst a catalogue of failings. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) upheld its “inadequate” rating of Brooklands hospital in Birmingham – which specialises in care for adults with autism and learning disabilities – after an inspection in March.’

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The Independent, 22nd September 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Swansea: PC Jack Williams jailed for punching autistic man – BBC News

Posted September 22nd, 2023 in assault, autism, imprisonment, news, police, professional conduct, sentencing by sally

‘A policeman who punched an autistic man in the head seven times during an arrest has been jailed for 12 weeks.’

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BBC News, 21st September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal set to be cleared by UK regulator – The Guardian

Posted September 22nd, 2023 in competition, computer programs, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘Microsoft’s $69bn (£54bn) deal to buy Activision Blizzard, the maker of games including Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, looks set to be cleared after the UK competition regulator said a revised deal addresses its concerns.’

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The Guardian, 22nd September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Five companies fined £590,000 for making almost 2 million marketing calls targeting vulnerable people – The Independent

Posted September 21st, 2023 in advertising, elderly, fines, insurance, news, telecommunications by sally

‘Five companies have been fined a total of £590,000 for collectively making 1.9 million unwanted marketing calls to elderly and vulnerable people.’

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The Independent, 21st September 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Anonymous litigant barred from bitcoin costs challenge – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 21st, 2023 in anonymity, costs, cryptocurrencies, news by sally

‘The absence of a specific procedure rule requiring a paying party’s name and address in costs assessment proceedings does not permit the party to conceal their identity from the court, an appeal judge has ruled.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 20th September 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The Disability Ground in Abortion Law, and the Negative ‘Message’ it is Sending: R (Crowter) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care – Oxford Human Rights Hub

Posted September 21st, 2023 in abortion, disabled persons, human rights, news by sally

‘A recent decision of the Court of Appeal involved a very interesting legal challenge based on an alleged negative “message” in the law. It raises important questions about the law on disability-selective abortion, but also more broadly on the possibility of challenges to the law based on any allegedly negative message.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 21st September 2023

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Expert evidence – the importance of independence – Mills & Reeve

‘The rules on expert witnesses in the courts of England and Wales are governed by Part 35 of the Civil Procedure Rules. One of the fundamental principles when it comes to expert evidence is that of independence.’

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Mills & Reeve, 19th September 2023

Source: www.mills-reeve.com

Olly Stephens: Murdered boy’s dad says new law a ‘game-changer’ – BBC News

Posted September 21st, 2023 in bereavement, bills, consumer protection, internet, murder, news by sally

‘The father of a 13-year-old murdered by two schoolboys has welcomed a new law to make social media firms more responsible for users’ safety.’

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BBC News, 21st September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Use of x-rays in asylum age assessments “inaccurate” and “unethical”, experts warn – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 21st, 2023 in asylum, children, consent, immigration, medical treatment, news, x-rays by sally

‘Medical experts have criticised the use of x-rays to determine the age of lone migrant children and young people seeking asylum in the UK.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Three-quarters of rape survivors say police response damaged their mental health – The Guardian

Posted September 21st, 2023 in assault, mental health, news, police, rape, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘The full extent of the trauma rape survivors experience as a direct result of their interaction with police has been shown for the first time in a damning official survey.’

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The Guardian, 21st September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Online slots challenges grow as Government consults on new gambling legislation – The Independent

Posted September 21st, 2023 in gambling, internet, news, statistics by sally

‘The percentage of online gamblers seeking support for problems related to slot machines has almost doubled in the past five years, new figures show.’

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The Independent, 21st September 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Alice Litman inquest: Transgender services are underfunded, coroner says – BBC News

Posted September 21st, 2023 in hospitals, inquests, mental health, news, suicide, transgender persons by sally

‘The coroner investigating the death of a trans woman said services for transgender people were “underfunded and insufficiently resourced”.’

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BBC News, 20th September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Competition Appeal Tribunal gives first judgment under Subsidy Control Act 2022 – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 21st, 2023 in competition, local government, news, waste by sally

‘The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has handed down judgment on the first application for review of a subsidy decision under the Subsidy Control Act 2022, dismissing the application made by a local business against a Durham County Council decision on the basis that it did not involve the grant of a subsidy.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 19th September 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Childhood in care raises risk of entering English youth justice system eightfold – The Guardian

Posted September 21st, 2023 in care orders, children, criminal records, news, statistics, young offenders, youth courts by sally

‘The largest ever study of care experience and the youth justice system in England has revealed that children who have lived in care are eight times more likely to have received a youth justice caution or conviction than those who have not.’

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The Guardian, 21st September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Counsel’s fees to be excluded from clin neg fixed fees regime – Legal Futures

Fees for counsel’s advice in lower-value clinical negligence cases will not be recoverable under the fixed recoverable cost (FRC) regime unless a child or protected party is involved, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has proposed.

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Legal Futures, 20th September 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Troubles legacy bill enters law after receiving Royal Assent – BBC News

Posted September 20th, 2023 in bills, judicial review, news, Northern Ireland, terrorism, victims by sally

‘The government’s controversial Troubles legacy bill has received Royal Assent and entered into law.’

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BBC News, 19th September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Fears over right to protest after woman with sign at climate trial prosecuted – The Guardian

‘Civil liberty campaigners have warned that the prosecution of a woman for holding up a placard about the rights of jurors outside a court is part of the government’s increasing attacks on the right to protest.’

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The Guardian, 19th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Online Safety Bill: Crackdown on harmful social media content agreed – BBC News

Posted September 20th, 2023 in bills, children, government departments, internet, news by sally

‘Peers have passed a controversial new law aimed at making social media firms more responsible for users’ safety on their platforms.’

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BBC News, 19th September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Asylum seekers ‘degraded’ at detention centre: key points from Brook House inquiry – The Guardian

‘Report on immigration removal centre details “crushing” abuse and excessive use of force that has left detainees with PTSD.’

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The Guardian, 19th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com