Higher education reform much-needed, but government must take time to get the framework right, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

‘Reforming higher education in England is both long overdue, and vitally needed to protect the sector’s hard-won reputation.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 15th January 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

City watchdog denies going soft on banks after dropping inquiry – The Guardian

Posted January 11th, 2016 in banking, financial regulation, inquiries, news, ombudsmen, tax avoidance by tracey

‘The acting chief executive of the City watchdog has denied claims it has gone soft on banks following the decision to drop its inquiry into banking culture.’

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The Guardian, 9th January 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Traveller Movement condemns Met Police inquiry into racism as ‘a whitewash’ – The Independent

Posted January 11th, 2016 in appeals, complaints, inquiries, internet, news, ombudsmen, police, racism, travellers by tracey

‘The Metropolitan Police is examining whether its staff need to change the way they engage with members of the two ethnic minority groups, despite its official investigation into the racism claims concluding without any officers being formally disciplined or charged.’

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The Independent, 9th January 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Family of hate preacher linked to ‘Jihadi John’ win right to UK citizenship – Daily Telegraph

‘Hani al-Sibai has been on a terror sanctions list since 2005 and resisted deportation to his native Egypt for almost 20 years – but the High Court has ruled his family should be given UK citizenship.’

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Daily Telegraph, 5th December 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Dyson advert sucks, says watchdog – The Guardian

Posted December 2nd, 2015 in advertising, complaints, news, ombudsmen, statistics by sally

‘Advertising Standards Authority upholds complaint by Gtech over press and YouTube campaign, saying tests “did not reflect normal conditions”.’

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The Guardian, 2nd December 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bride-to-be used fake email addresses to win £25,000 wedding competition – The Guardian

Posted December 2nd, 2015 in advertising, compensation, complaints, electronic mail, marriage, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘A bride-to-be tried to win a competition for a £25,000 wedding by using thousands of fake email addresses to secure the highest vote.’

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The Guardian, 2nd December 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Austerity and Public Law: Richard Clayton QC: Accountability, Judicial Scrutiny and Contracting Out – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘Austerity Britain is shrinking the public sector and accelerating the process of contracting out services. However, the legal protections contracting out gives to service users are piecemeal and inadequate, raising very real concerns about how findings of unlawfulness are to be addressed.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 30th November 2015

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

FCA launches investigation into insurance companies which ‘snoop’ on customers – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 25th, 2015 in consumer protection, inquiries, insurance, internet, news, ombudsmen, privacy by sally

‘The regulatory body said insurers are going to great lengths to harvest personal data.’

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Daily Telegraph, 25th November 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

UK police forces urged to review handling of child grooming cases – The Guardian

‘Police forces in England and Wales have been urged to review their handling of child grooming cases after inspectors found serious failings in the case of Breck Bednar, a 14-year-old who was murdered in a “sexual and sadistic” attack by a teenager he met online.’

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The Guardian, 23rd November 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Telegraph misled readers over NHS x-ray service, press watchdog finds – The Guardian

Posted November 20th, 2015 in doctors, hospitals, industrial action, media, news, ombudsmen, Sunday trading, x-rays by tracey

‘The Daily Telegraph misled readers by suggesting NHS radiology departments were closed on Sundays in an article about Justice Secretary Michael Gove breaking his foot, according to a ruling from the Independent Press Standards Organisation.’

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The Guardian, 20th November 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Debt advice firm that made 1m unsolicited calls fined £120,000 – The Guardian

‘A company that made more than1m unsolicited calls in a month offering to write off people’s debts has been fined £120,000 by a government watchdog.’

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The Guardian, 10th November 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Home Office criticised over delays in immigration cases – BBC News

Posted November 10th, 2015 in complaints, delay, government departments, immigration, news, ombudsmen, reports by sally

‘The Home Office has been accused of delays and poor decision making in its handling of immigration cases.’

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BBC News, 10th November 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

CPS fine sparks call for data protection rethink – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Data protection arrangements should be reviewed in the modern world of social media and cybercrime, a specialist solicitor has said, after it emerged the Crown Prosecution Service delivered unencrypted DVDs to a film studio for 12 years.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 9th November 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

IPCC could investigate Bradford City fire after police referral – BBC News

Posted November 9th, 2015 in complaints, fire, inquiries, news, ombudsmen, police, sport by sally

‘West Yorkshire Police has referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) over the 1985 Bradford City fire disaster.’

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BBC News, 6th November 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Criminals may be behind TalkTalk’s cyber breach, but it can still be penalised by regulators – Technology Law Update

‘The revelations emerging about a major cyber attack on telecoms and broadband supplier TalkTalk are every CIO’s worst nightmare. But hard-working companies that are doing their best to stay ahead of the hackers shouldn’t be criticised, should they?’

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Technology Law Update, 23rd October 2015

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

Charity Commission and terrorism suspect campaigners Cage in high court – The Guardian

‘The right to fund unpopular causes is at the heart of a key case heard in the high court on Wednesday, in a legal battle that pits controversial campaigners Cage against the charity regulator.’

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The Guardian, 21st October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The Sun’s ‘cleavage week’ ads escape ban – The Guardian

Posted October 21st, 2015 in advertising, complaints, jurisdiction, media, news, ombudsmen, photography, women by sally

‘A competition in the Sun inviting readers to submit a photo of their cleavage for the chance to win £1,000 has escaped a ban from the advertising watchdog.’

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The Guardian, 21st October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Georgia Williams murder: Killer not stopped after previous attack – BBC News

‘A teenager hanged by a man obsessed with asphyxiating girls was failed by police and social services assigned to her killer after an earlier attack, a serious case review has found.’

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BBC News, 14th October 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New fast-track eviction powers could breach human rights, warns watchdog – The Guardian

‘Government proposals to legally require landlords to check the immigration status of their tenants risk a serious breach of human rights, an official watchdog has warned.’

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The Guardian, 12th October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jayden Parkinson: Police employee cleared of misconduct – BBC News

Posted September 30th, 2015 in murder, news, ombudsmen, police, professional conduct by sally

‘A Thames Valley Police employee has “no case to answer” for misconduct over the investigation into the disappearance of Jayden Parkinson, watchdogs said.’

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BBC News, 30th September 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk