Category: news

Equalities watchdog to hold inquiry into methods of challenging decisions about adult social care – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 20th, 2021 in community care, equality, Equality and Human Rights Commission, human rights, inquiries, judicial review, local government, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has launched an inquiry that will consider the effectiveness of existing methods of challenging local authority decisions about individuals’ entitlements to adult social care or support in England and Wales, including – but not limited to – complaints to local authorities and Ombuds, and judicial review.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th July 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Perils of going against officer advice – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 20th, 2021 in agriculture, areas of outstanding natural beauty, environmental protection, news, planning, reasons by sally

‘Skiing off-piste is dangerous. Reasons include instability of snow, hidden rocks and cliff edges and inaccessibility. Similarly, if local authority planning committee members go ‘off-piste’ in determining an issue against officer recommendations, without giving intelligible and adequate reasons for doing so, their decision risks a fatal crash in the High Court. So on 21 May 2021 Mrs Justice Tipples quashed planning consent given by Cornwall County Council for the development of a detached two-storey agricultural dwelling with garage and parking in the Rame Head area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) against officer recommendations. This was because the council ‘was under a common law duty to give reasons for the grant of planning permission’ and it was ‘a case where the defects in reasons go to the heart of the justification for permission and undermine its validity.’ The case in question was R (Cross) v Cornwall Council [2021] EWHC 1323 (Admin).’

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Law Society's Gazette, 19th July 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ep147: Vicarious Trauma in the Legal Profession – Law Pod UK

Posted July 20th, 2021 in legal profession, mental health, news, podcasts by sally

‘In Episode 147 Emma-Louise Fenelon speaks to Rachel Francis and Joanna Fleck about their book Vicarious Trauma in the Legal Profession.’

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Law Pod UK, 19th July 2021

Source: audioboom.com

RROs – late payments, rent arrears and deposits considered by the Upper Tribunal – Nearly Legal

Posted July 20th, 2021 in deposits, landlord & tenant, news, rent, repayment by sally

‘An Upper Tribunal appeal decision on a Rent Repayment Order decision that raised three issue. t”he treatment of payments made by a tenant after the landlord has stopped committing the relevant housing offence, but in respect of rent arrears which fell due while the offence was being committed; secondly, the treatment of rent deposits; and thirdly, whether the failure of the tenant to pay rent and the existence of substantial arrears are matters of conduct which can properly be taken into account when considering the amount to be repaid.”’

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Nearly Legal, 18th July 2021

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Appeal court quashes 12 more convictions in Post Office IT scandal – The Guardian

Posted July 20th, 2021 in appeals, computer programs, false accounting, fraud, news, postal service by sally

‘The court of appeal has cleared 12 more former post office operators who were wrongly convicted of offences because of the Post Office’s defective Horizon IT system.’

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The Guardian, 19th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

With the Nationality and Borders Bill, the UK is choosing cruelty over morality – EIN Blog

Posted July 20th, 2021 in asylum, bills, citizenship, immigration, news, refugees by sally

‘Immigration is currently dominated by the effects of the ever-growing number of individuals being displaced from their home countries across the world. For countries such as the UK, we have a responsibility to aid these people and offer support for the simple reason that we have the capacity and resources to do so. Despite this, governments have turned the act of seeking refuge into the political zeitgeist of our time; forcing ministers to decide whether to assist the vulnerable or to close the gates to those who desperately need entry.’

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EIN Blog, 19th July 2021

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Inaccessible Venues Are Infringing On Disability Rights – Each Other

Posted July 20th, 2021 in disability discrimination, disabled persons, equality, human rights, news, theatre by sally

‘Popular West End musical Six has drawn criticism from disability activists after announcing that it is moving from the Lyric Theatre to the Vaudeville theatre, which lacks accessible facilities for disabled people.’

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Each Other, 16th July 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

Writing fake online reviews could be made illegal – BBC News

Posted July 20th, 2021 in competition, consumer protection, electronic commerce, internet, news, unfair commercial practices by sally

‘A plan to crack down on online rip-offs including making it illegal for people to write or host fake reviews has been outlined by the government.’

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BBC News, 19th July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK bus privatisation breached basic rights, says ex-UN rapporteur – The Guardian

Posted July 20th, 2021 in contracting out, news, reports, transport by sally

‘Britain’s bus services outside London were so damaged by privatisation that people were unable to access basic needs such as work, education and healthcare, according to a scathing report by the former UN special rapporteur on human rights.’

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The Guardian, 19th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Gay rugby player wins five-year battle against deportation to Kenya – The Guardian

Posted July 19th, 2021 in appeals, asylum, deportation, government departments, homosexuality, immigration, Kenya, news, sexual orientation discrimination, sport by michael

‘A gay rugby player is celebrating after winning a five-year battle against deportation to Kenya, where he feared he would be persecuted because of his sexuality.’

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The Guardian, 19th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Building Safety Bill – Commons Library Research Briefing

Posted July 19th, 2021 in accidents, bills, building law, construction industry, fire, health & safety, housing, news, parliament by michael

‘Second Reading of the Building Safety Bill (Bill 132 of 2021-22) is expected to take place on Wednesday 21 July.’

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House of Commons Library, 16th July 2021

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Article 31 of the Refugee Convention – Commons Library Research Briefing

Posted July 19th, 2021 in asylum, bills, immigration, news, parliament, refugees by michael

‘Article 31 of the 1951 Refugee Convention is concerned with “refugees unlawfully in the country of refuge”.’

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House of Commons Library, 15th July 2021

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Nationality and Borders Bill 2021-22 – Commons Library Research Briefing

Posted July 19th, 2021 in asylum, bills, consultations, immigration, news, parliament, trafficking in human beings by michael

‘The Nationality and Borders Bill of 2021-22 was introduced to the House on 6 July. Second reading will take place on 19 and 20 July.’

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House of Commons Library, 15th July 2021

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Fraudster jailed for duping over 200 victims in million-pound fake car sales scam – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted July 19th, 2021 in Crown Prosecution Service, fraud, imprisonment, money laundering, news, sentencing by michael

‘A fraudster posing as a car salesman has been jailed today (16 July 2021) for defrauding over 200 unsuspecting car buyers out of more than one million pounds.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 16th July 2021

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Colin Pitchfork: Double killer will not be on sex offenders register – BBC News

Posted July 19th, 2021 in child abuse, DNA, forensic science, murder, news, parole, rape, sexual offences by michael

‘A man who raped and murdered two 15-year-old girls will not be placed on the sex offenders register when he is released.

The Ministry of Justice said it was because Colin Pitchfork’s crimes were committed before 1997, when the register was introduced.’

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BBC News, 19th July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Post Office Horizon scandal: More subpostmasters cleared – BBC News

Posted July 19th, 2021 in appeals, computer programs, disciplinary procedures, fraud, inquiries, miscarriage of justice, news, postal service by michael

‘The Court of Appeal has cleared 12 more former subpostmasters who were wrongly convicted of offences during the Post Office Horizon scandal.’

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BBC News, 19th July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Calls for legal review of UK welfare screening system which factors in age – The Guardian

Posted July 19th, 2021 in age discrimination, equality, fraud, local government, news by michael

‘An automated system that screens welfare claimants for signs they might commit fraud or error has based its verdicts in part on applicants’ age, it has emerged, sparking calls for a review of whether the system is legal.’

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The Guardian, 18th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK government seeks to extend protection of ivory-bearing animals – The Guardian

Posted July 19th, 2021 in animal cruelty, animals, government departments, news by michael

‘The plans would see the Ivory Act broadened to cover more animals, with ministers saying elephants are not the only species at risk. The proposed protections opened for public consultation on Saturday [17 July], and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has urged industry stakeholders and members of the public to share their views.’

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The Guardian, 17th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Laws of nature: could UK rivers be given the same rights as people? – The Guardian

Posted July 19th, 2021 in environmental health, environmental protection, human rights, news, water by michael

‘In 2018, Frome Town Council tried to pass a bylaw giving part of the river [Frome] and the adjacent Rodden meadow the status of a person in law. This would establish their right to exist, flourish and thrive, and for the river to flow freely and have a natural water cycle, as well as ensuring timely and effective restoration if they were damaged.’

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The Guardian, 17th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Charity launches legal challenge against UK’s foreign aid cuts – The Guardian

Posted July 19th, 2021 in budgets, charities, government departments, judicial review, news by michael

‘A charity has launched a legal challenge against Boris Johnson’s £4bn of cuts to the foreign aid budget which critics warn will cause significant suffering to some of the world’s poorest people.’

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The Guardian, 16th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com