Innocent people caught up in serious police investigations due to data-handling errors, watchdog finds – The Independent

Posted February 1st, 2019 in mistake, news, ombudsmen, police, professional conduct, standards, statistics by tracey

‘Innocent people were wrongly caught up in serious police investigations such as child pornography and paedophile grooming because of data-handling errors, a watchdog found.’

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The Independent, 31st January 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Gambling regulator warns firms over use of gagging orders – The Guardian

‘The UK’s Gambling Commission has warned the industry over the use of gagging orders, after incidents of consumers being paid substantial sums of money in return for agreeing not to talk to the regulator.’

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The Guardian, 31st January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sex offenders put up in hotels as no space in bail hostels, says report – The Guardian

Posted January 24th, 2019 in bail, hotels, news, ombudsmen, prisons, probation, sexual offences, statistics by tracey

‘Sex offenders are being put up in high-street budget hotels without the knowledge of the proprietors or guests because spaces in closely monitored bail hostels are unavailable, inspectors have discovered.’

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The Guardian, 24th January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Javid accused of giving way to police over no conferring rule – Home Office

Posted January 18th, 2019 in codes of practice, death in custody, firearms, inquests, news, ombudsmen, police by tracey

‘The government was accused of watering down plans for a total ban on police conferring after the deaths of suspects, after it approved new rules for officers following the most controversial cases. The home secretary, Sajid Javid, on Thursday approved revised rules first drawn up by the police watchdog in 2014, but changed after fierce opposition from the police and claims that armed officers would lay down their weapons in protest.’

Home Office press release

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The Guardian, 17th January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ombudsman upholds 11 complaints against council over SEN provision in two years – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has criticised Norfolk County Council over its provision for children with special education needs after upholding 11 complaints in two years.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th January 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Metropolitan Police strip-searching children in cases ‘not properly justified’, inspection findsMetropolitan Police strip-searching children in cases ‘not properly justified’, inspection finds – The Independent

‘Children are being strip-searched by London’s Metropolitan Police in cases that may not be “properly justified”, a watchdog has found.’

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The Independent, 16th January 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police misconduct: Watchdog ‘bringing wrong cases’ – BBC News

Posted January 17th, 2019 in disciplinary procedures, news, ombudsmen, police, professional conduct, statistics by tracey

‘Only five police officers in England and Wales were dismissed in the last three years following misconduct cases ordered by the police watchdog.’

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BBC News, 17th January 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Norfolk council rebuked over special needs provision – The Guardian

Posted January 16th, 2019 in complaints, local government, news, ombudsmen, special educational needs by sally

‘The local government ombudsman has reprimanded a local authority over its provision for children with special educational needs after upholding 11 complaints against the council over the last two years.’

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The Guardian, 16th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Retailers broke rules by listing real fur items as fake, ASA says – The Guardian

‘The UK advertising watchdog has criticised two retailers for “misleading” consumers by advertising fashion items made from real animal fur as fake or “faux”.’

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The Guardian, 9th January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Review calls for new powers for corporate governance regulator – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 20th, 2018 in company directors, financial regulation, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘The UK needs a new corporate governance regulator, with a new mandate and enhanced powers to hold company directors to account, an independent review has concluded.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 20th December 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Accountancy watchdog criticised over legal services procurement – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 19th, 2018 in accountants, auditors, competition, legal services, news, ombudsmen, public procurement by sally

‘The accountancy regulator should adopt a more open procurement policy when tendering for legal and professional services, a review assessing its clout has found.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 18th December 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Gender pay gap targets must be set by all companies, Equality and Human Rights Commission says – Daily Telegraph

‘Targets to eliminate the gender pay gap must be set by all companies, Britain’s equality watchdog has suggested.’

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Daily Telegraph, 14th December 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ombudsman reminds councils of duty to provide alternative education – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 12th, 2018 in local government, news, ombudsmen, school exclusions by sally

‘The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has issued a reminder to council school attendance teams that their duty to provide alternative education may arise for reasons other than exclusion and illness.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 12th December 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

British Telecommunications plc v Office of Communications – Blackstone Chambers

Posted December 11th, 2018 in appeals, competition, costs, news, ombudsmen, telecommunications, tribunals by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has overturned the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s approach to awarding costs against Ofcom in telecommunications appeals.’

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Blackstone Chambers, 15th November 2018

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

Boohoo ‘broke advertising rules’, BBC Watchdog finds – BBC News

Posted December 5th, 2018 in advertising, complaints, news, ombudsmen, sale of goods, select committees, time limits by sally

‘Boohoo, the fast fashion retailer, broke Advertising Standards Authority rules with “misleading” promotions.’

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BBC News, 5th December 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ryanair faces legal action over refusal to refund cancelled flights – The Guardian

Posted December 5th, 2018 in airlines, compensation, complaints, EC law, industrial action, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority is taking legal action against Ryanair over the airline’s refusal to compensate thousands of UK customers affected by flight disruption over the summer.’

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The Guardian, 5th December 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Asylum seekers ‘too afraid’ to seek NHS care, report says – The Guardian

Posted November 29th, 2018 in asylum, data protection, health, human rights, immigration, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘Asylum seekers who need NHS care have been left in “considerable fear” because of the government’s “hostile environment” policies, according to the human rights watchdog.
In a highly critical report the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) says people have gone without medical help since ministers forced the NHS in England to impose upfront charges to access care last year.’

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The Guardian, 28th November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Services at scandal-hit Shrewsbury and Telford hospitals ‘inadequate’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 29th, 2018 in codes of practice, hospitals, news, ombudsmen, pregnancy, standards by tracey

‘A hospital trust at the centre of a maternity care scandal has been criticised by health inspectors in a new report.’

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Daily Telegraph, 29th November 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Online gambling firms fined in crackdown – BBC News

‘Three online casino companies have been fined and one has been prevented from operating in the UK following a crackdown by the industry regulator. The Gambling Commission has fined three firms almost £14m for not having “effective safeguards” to prevent money laundering and harm to customers from gambling.’

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BBC News, 29th November 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police ‘picking up pieces of mental health system’, says watchdog – The Guardian

Posted November 27th, 2018 in budgets, mental health, news, ombudsmen, police, statistics by tracey

‘Overstretched police forces are having to “pick up the pieces of a broken mental health system” on top of tackling crime, the emergency services watchdog has found. More than half of all mental health patients who need help in a place of safety are taken there in a police car rather than an ambulance, according to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services.’

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The Guardian, 27th November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com