Ad watchdog takes action against tax repayment agents – The Independent

Posted May 31st, 2023 in advertising, HM Revenue & Customs, news, ombudsmen, taxation by sally

‘Ads for three tax agents have been banned for exaggerating refunds, being unclear about fees and failing to mention that clients were signing over rights to a cut of potential repayments from previous years.’

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The Independent, 30th May 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The power to withdraw under scrutiny in the Court of Appeal – Local Government Lawyer

‘In a judgment handed down on 10 May 2023, the Court of Appeal held that the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman did not have a power to withdraw a report issued on completion of his investigation. Amy Tschobotko and Jason Tandy consider below the implications of the judgment for public bodies when discharging their functions, including when carrying out reviews and responding to legal challenges.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th May 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Court of Appeal finds Ombudsman decision to withdraw report was unlawful, but dismisses appeal by developer – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 22nd, 2023 in appeals, fees, local government, news, ombudsmen, planning by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has dismissed a developer’s appeal concerning whether the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman had the power to withdraw a final report into Tewkesbury Borough Council’s refusal to waive a planning fee, re-open its investigation and then issue a second final report in favour of the council.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th May 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Work-related suicide probe call after death of head teacher Ruth Perry – BBC News

‘Every work-related suicide should be investigated by the Health and Safety Executive, experts have said, in the wake of the death of a head teacher following an Ofsted inspection.’

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BBC News, 22nd May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

HMP Stoke Heath must improve emergency response after death – BBC News

Posted May 19th, 2023 in death in custody, news, ombudsmen, prisons by sally

‘Staff at HMP Stoke Heath must be better prepared to deal with medical emergencies after an inmate died in the prison’s yard, a report has found.’

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BBC News, 18th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Elections watchdog to conduct analysis of implementation of voter ID – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 10th, 2023 in elections, identification, local government, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The Electoral Commission has revealed it will conduct a “full report” on the May 2023 local elections, which will analyse the impact of the voter ID requirement.’

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Local Government Lawyer, May 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

GB News broke rules over Covid jab claims – Ofcom – BBC News

‘A GB News programme which broadcast claims that the Covid-19 vaccination programme amounted to “mass murder” has been found to have broken Ofcom rules.’

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BBC News, 9th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Armed forces complaint ‘used as weapon against me’ – BBC News

‘Four years on from submitting a complaint alleging she had been raped while in the armed forces, “Jane” is still awaiting a decision and says it was used as a “weapon” against her.
She told the BBC that colleagues knew things about the confidential process “they should never have known”. Her concerns are not unique, according to a report by the ombudsman for armed forces complaints.’

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BBC News, 4th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ultrasounds adverts banned for misleading parents about ability to reassure – The Independent

Posted May 3rd, 2023 in advertising, children, health, news, ombudsmen, pregnancy by sally

‘Adverts for ultrasound services have been banned for misrepresenting the extent to which scans can provide reassurance about the wellbeing of an unborn baby.’

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The Independent, 3rd May 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

North Yorkshire Police delays reducing child safeguarding – report – BBC News

Posted May 3rd, 2023 in child abuse, children, delay, news, ombudsmen, police, sexual offences by sally

‘Delays in evidence gathering and a “lack of knowledge” about online child abuse inquiries are reducing North Yorkshire Police’s ability to safeguard children, a report said.’

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BBC News, 3rd May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Met Police may be failing to spot serial killers like Stephen Port – watchdog – BBC News

Posted April 28th, 2023 in crime prevention, homicide, inquests, London, murder, negligence, news, ombudsmen, police by sally

‘The Metropolitan Police may be failing to identify serial killers because it is not properly investigating unexpected deaths, a watchdog says.’

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BBC News, 28th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK government publishes Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 26th, 2023 in bills, competition, consumer protection, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The UK government has published its long-awaited Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Bill, designed to boost competition and crack down on unfair business practices.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 25th April 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

HMP Highpoint: Man should have had probation appointment before death – ombudsman – BBC News

Posted April 24th, 2023 in drug abuse, Ministry of Justice, news, ombudsmen, probation, suicide by sally

‘A man who died two days after being released from prison should have had a scheduled probation appointment, an ombudsman found.’

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BBC News, 24th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BetVictor ad banned for featuring footballers popular with under-18s – The Independent

Posted April 19th, 2023 in advertising, children, gambling, news, ombudsmen, sport by sally

‘An ad for gambling firm BetVictor has been banned for featuring two footballers popular with under 18-year-olds.’

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The Independent, 19th April 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK advertising watchdog to probe ‘free trial’ subscription traps – OUT-LAW.com

‘Businesses using “free trial” ads to engage consumers for their subscription services have been urged to review their online marketing content, as the UK’s Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) has set out its plan to target non-compliant trials and other promotional subscription offers in upcoming enforcement action.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 13th April 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Council’s failures left disabled child in chronic pain for three years, watchdog finds – The Guardian

Posted April 13th, 2023 in children, disabled persons, fines, housing, local government, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘A severely disabled child missed out on vital NHS surgery and was left in chronic pain for more than three years because a council failed to move them out of unsuitable housing despite repeated pleas from health professionals, a watchdog has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 13th April 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Etihad adverts banned over ‘misleading’ environmental claims – The Independent

‘Adverts for Etihad have been banned for making exaggerated claims about the airline’s efforts to achieve “sustainable aviation”.’

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The Independent, 12th April 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK torture policy labelled ‘fatally flawed’ after watchdog report – The Guardian

‘The UK’s policy on torture has been described as “fatally flawed” after a watchdog identified non-compliance by intelligence agencies and the Ministry of Defence.’

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The Guardian, 11th April 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Statistics watchdog rebukes Sunak over inaccurate asylum backlog figures – The Guardian

Posted April 5th, 2023 in asylum, government departments, immigration, news, ombudsmen, refugees, statistics by sally

‘Rishi Sunak and his immigration minister have been scolded by the UK statistics watchdog for using inaccurate figures to back up spurious claims about asylum seekers.’

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The Guardian, 5th April 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

TikTok fined £12.7m for illegally processing children’s data – The Guardian

Posted April 5th, 2023 in children, data protection, fines, internet, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘TikTok has been fined £12.7m for illegally processing the data of 1.4 million children under 13 who were using its platform without parental consent, Britain’s data watchdog said.’

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The Guardian, 4th April 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com