CMA provisionally finds construction firm cartels rigged £150m of contracts – The Independent

Posted June 24th, 2022 in competition, construction industry, contracts, fines, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘A group of 10 construction firms illegally colluded to rig bids for £150 million of major contracts, according to provisional findings by the UK competition watchdog.’

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The Independent, 24th June 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Upcoming Data Reform Bill “to give Parliament and Government greater oversight” of Information Commissioner’s Office – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 22nd, 2022 in bills, data protection, government departments, news, ombudsmen, parliament by sally

‘The Government has set out plans to reform the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) that will give Parliament and the Secretary of State greater oversight of the data regulator and broaden the legal responsibility underpinning its work.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st June 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

ICO fines “World’s largest facial network” – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Information Commissioner’s Office has issued a Monetary Penalty Notice of £7,552,800 to Clearview AI Inc for breaches of the UK GDPR. Ibrahim Hasan looks at the background to the case.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 10th June 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Reports of Calcot abuse prompt calls for reform of children’s social care in UK – The Guardian

‘Ministers are facing calls for urgent reform of the children’s residential care system in the wake of shocking reports of vulnerable youngsters being abused and sexually assaulted at homes run by a private firm making huge profits.’

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The Guardian, 9th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK watchdog bans vegan TV ad for showing violence towards animals – The Guardian

Posted June 8th, 2022 in advertising, animal cruelty, animals, complaints, news, ombudsmen, veganism by sally

‘The advertising watchdog has banned a TV ad for Vegan Friendly UK after receiving complaints about graphic violence towards animals.’

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The Guardian, 8th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Judgment: Competition and Markets Authority v Flynn Pharma Ltd and another, and Competition and Markets Authority v Pfizer Inc and another [2022] UKSC 14 – UKSC Blog

Posted May 27th, 2022 in appeals, competition, costs, news, ombudsmen, Supreme Court by sally

‘The Respondent is a public body tasked with investigating companies suspected of breaching competition law and penalising those found to have done so. The Appellants are both pharmaceutical companies fined by the CMA and both appealed to the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) challenging the CMA’s decision. The CAT allowed the appeals in part, set aside part of the CMA’s decision, and remitted the case to the CMA for reconsideration.’

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UKSC Blog, 25th May 2022

Source: ukscblog.com

Agent’s abused former partner in legal action against MI5 – BBC News

‘A woman who was terrorised and abused by an MI5 agent is taking legal action against the security service.’

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BBC News, 21st May 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ombudsman investigation sees council agree to repay five years of care fee top-ups after it failed to offer affordable alternative placement first – Local Government Lawyer

‘Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council has agreed to reimburse “a significant amount of money” to a woman after it did not offer her mother an affordable care home placement, before asking her to pay a top-up towards her mother’s fees.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 6th May 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Ofsted to get new powers to tackle illegal unregistered schools in England – BBC News

Posted May 9th, 2022 in bills, education, government departments, news, ombudsmen, school children by tracey

‘New legislation would give the schools regulator powers to crack down on unregistered schools operating illegally in England, ministers say.’

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BBC News, 8th May 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK watchdog will have power to impose huge fines on big tech firms – The Guardian

‘A new tech watchdog will be given the power to impose multibillion-pound fines on major firms such as Google and Facebook if they breach rules designed to protect consumers and businesses.’

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The Guardian, 5th May 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

“Ground down” veteran barrister fined for direct access offences – Legal Futures

‘A veteran barrister has been fined £4,250 by a Bar disciplinary tribunal for carrying out litigation without authorisation and handling client money on behalf of a direct access client.’

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Legal Futures, 26th April 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

UK consumer law enforcement powers to be bolstered – OUT-LAW.com

‘Businesses that breach UK consumer protection laws will be subject to fines of up to 10% of their annual global turnover under changes to legislation the UK government has committed to making.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 21st April 2022

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Ombudsman criticises council after child left without suitable educational provision for 14 months – Local Government Lawyer

‘An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has seen Southend-on-Sea City Council agree to pay £9,000 to the mother of a child who was left without suitable schooling for more than a year.’

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Local Government Lawyer, April 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

UK to make fake reviews illegal and tackle ‘subscription traps’ – The Guardian

Posted April 20th, 2022 in competition, consumer protection, deceit, internet, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘Fake reviews are to be outlawed and consumers will have more chances to get out of subscriptions they do not want under a package of measures proposed by the UK government to stop people being ripped off online.’

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The Guardian, 20th April 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Leeds burger van’s Madeleine McCann posts ruled offensive – BBC News

Posted April 20th, 2022 in advertising, children, complaints, families, missing persons, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘Adverts by a takeaway firm featuring Madeleine McCann were likely to cause distress and offence, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled.’

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BBC News, 20th April 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Dorset, West Mercia and Bedfordshire police told to improve – BBC News

Posted April 13th, 2022 in criminal justice, news, ombudsmen, police, victims by tracey

‘A watchdog has ordered three police forces to improve how they investigate crime and respond to the public.’

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BBC News, 13th April 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ombudsmen release joint guidance to tackle common mistakes in aftercare of mental health in-patients – Family Law

‘The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) and the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) have released new guidance to tackle common and repeated mistakes seen in the aftercare of patients receiving support under the Mental Health Act.’

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Family Law, 11th April 2022

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Ombudsman raps council for using incorrect information to place child on protection plan – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 11th, 2022 in children, complaints, families, local government, news, ombudsmen, social services by tracey

‘Buckinghamshire Council caused significant distress after it shared incorrect information and failed to suitably include a mother in its process when deciding to place her child on a child protection plan, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th April 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Two Lidl ads banned over ‘misleading’ Tesco price comparison – The Guardian

Posted April 8th, 2022 in advertising, complaints, consumer protection, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘Two Lidl adverts claiming shoppers could make big savings compared with Tesco have been banned after a complaint from the rival discounter Aldi.’

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The Guardian, 6th April 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ombudsman calls for stronger regulation of managing agents – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 24th, 2022 in agency, housing, landlord & tenant, maladministration, news, ombudsmen, reports by sally

‘A culture clash between a regulated and largely unregulated sector creates challenges for the social housing sector’s engagement with managing agents, according to new research from the Housing Ombudsman.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 23rd March 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk