Unregulated firms employing solicitors “must be clear with clients” – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has spelled out the importance of unregulated firms that employ solicitors under its new rules ensuring that clients understand the limitations of the arrangement.’

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Legal Futures, 30th July 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Police may have broken law during Carl Beech investigation – ex-judge – The Guardian

‘A retired high court judge, whose review found a catalogue of failings in Scotland Yard’s £2.5m inquiry into false claims about a VIP paedophile ring made by a former nurse, says the police may have broken the law during their investigation.’

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The Guardian, 30th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police must offer women detainees period products under new rules – BBC News

Posted July 24th, 2019 in codes of practice, detention, equality, health, human rights, news, ombudsmen, police, women by sally

‘Police in England and Wales must offer female detainees free sanitary products in case they are on their period while in custody, under new legislation.’

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BBC News, 23rd July 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Minister urged to intervene over Feltham youth jail violence – The Guardian

‘Urgent intervention is needed at Feltham young offender institution, the chief inspector of prisons has warned, after a review uncovered rocketing levels of violence and self-harm.’

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The Guardian, 24th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Brexit activist Darren Grimes wins appeal against £20,000 Electoral Commission fine – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 22nd, 2019 in brexit, budgets, EC law, fines, news, ombudsmen, referendums, statutory interpretation by sally

‘Brexit activist Darren Grimes has won an appeal against a £20,000 fine imposed by the Electoral Commission for his activity during the 2016 Brexit referendum.’

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Daily Telegraph, 19th July 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Social housing: changes to intervention and enforcement – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Regulator of Social Housing is running a consultation on changes to its guidance on intervention, enforcement and use of powers. Sarah Greenhalgh analyses the proposals.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 12th July 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Ombudsman urges councils to check procedures when dealing with people with ‘hidden disabilities’ – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 3rd, 2019 in disabled persons, local government, London, news, ombudsmen, reports by sally

‘The Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman has called on councils to check their procedures to avoid disadvantaging people with ‘hidden disabilities’, following the publication of three separate investigation reports into London councils.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 2nd July 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Watchdog criticises ‘chaotic’ police use of facial recognition – The Guardian

‘Police forces are pushing ahead with the use of facial recognition systems in the absence of clear laws on whether, when or how the technology should be employed, a watchdog has said.’

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The Guardian, 27th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sharon Perrett murder: Police ‘stopped calling abuse victim’ – BBC News

Posted June 28th, 2019 in domestic violence, inquiries, murder, news, ombudsmen, police, sentencing, victims by sally

‘Police stopped trying to call an abuse victim shortly before she was murdered by her partner because her phone was off, an inquiry has found.’

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BBC News, 27th June 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ombudsman urges county council to bring its assessments into line with Care Act 2014 – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 26th, 2019 in disabled persons, duty of care, local government, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has called on Somerset County Council to put in place the recommendations he has made to bring its assessments into line with the requirements of the Care Act.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th June 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

GP who “involves his Christian faith” with patient consultations investigated by medical watchdog – Daily Telegraph

‘A GP who allegedly involves his Christian faith in consultations with his patients is under investigation by the medical watchdog.’

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd June 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Investigation into abuse at Brook House IRC risks failure to meet requirements of Article 3 – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted June 21st, 2019 in detention, human rights, immigration, inquiries, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘MA, BB v Secretary of State for the Home Department (The Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) [2019] EWHC 1523.
The High Court has held that an effective Article 3 investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (“PPO”) into allegations of serious physical and mental abuse in an Immigration Removal Centre requires the PPO to have powers are to compel witness attendance, hold hearings in public and ensure that the claimants have properly-funded representation to enable them to review and comment on witness evidence and provide lines of enquiry.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 19th June 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

UK firms overcharging loyal customers could soon face instant fines – The Guardian

Posted June 18th, 2019 in consumer protection, contracts, fines, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘Firms that exploit consumer loyalty by overcharging longstanding customers could soon face instant fines under plans unveiled by the government.’

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The Guardian, 18th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Anti-money laundering supervisor “should practise what it preaches” – Legal Futures

Posted June 14th, 2019 in barristers, consultations, money laundering, news, ombudsmen, regulations by sally

‘The body that oversees legal regulators’ anti-money laundering (AML) efforts needs to show the same level of transparency that it is demanding of them, the Bar Council has said.’

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Legal Futures, 14th June 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Pension code of practice updated as industry cracks down on scammers – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 12th, 2019 in claims management, codes of practice, complaints, fraud, news, ombudsmen, pensions by tracey

‘The updated Pensions Scam Industry Group (PSIG) code of practice (107 page / 2.6MB PDF) includes a number of changes, such as guidance designed to help trustees and providers deal with claims management companies and updates on how to notify the UK’s fraud reporting centre Action Fraud of scams.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 10th June 2019

Source: www.out-law.com

Junk food adverts from McDonald’s, M&S and Asda banned for targeting children online – The Independent

Posted June 6th, 2019 in advertising, children, food, health, internet, news, ombudsmen, statistics by tracey

‘Junk food adverts from McDonald’s, Marks & Spencer and Asda have been banned after they were discovered on children’s websites and YouTube channels.’

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The Independent, 6th June 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Medical watchdog GMC needs to regain trust of doctors, finds review – The Guardian

‘The General Medical Council must fundamentally reform to regain the trust of the doctors it regulates and end their “toxic fear” of reprisals if they make mistakes, says a hard-hitting report.’

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The Guardian, 6th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Mental health hospital where patients were secluded in unfurnished, unsafe rooms, rated inadequate by watchdog – The Independent

‘Vulnerable patients at one of England’s largest charity-run mental health hospitals were kept in unsafe seclusion rooms for excessive amounts of time and without beds, blankets or pillows, a damning report has found. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated adolescent mental health services at St Andrew’s Healthcare hospital in Northampton ”inadequate”.’

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The Independent, 6th June 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Facial recognition tech: watchdog calls for code to regulate police use – The Guardian

‘The information commissioner has expressed concern over the lack of a formal legal framework for the use of facial recognition cameras by the police. A barrister for the commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, told a court the current guidelines around automated facial recognition (AFR) technology were “ad hoc” and a clear code was needed.’

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The Guardian, 23rd May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

NHS and care regulator missed care home abuse of vulnerable patients on multiple occasions – The Independent

‘Health watchdogs had no concerns on multiple visits to a private hospital at the centre of a police investigation into the abuse of patients in the months after it had been inspected, The Independent has learnt.’

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The Independent, 23rd May 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk