Student wins lawsuit forcing IPCC to re-examine assault claim – The Guardian

‘A student who alleges he was assaulted by police during a demonstration has won a lawsuit forcing an official watchdog to conduct a fresh examination of his allegations.’

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The Guardian, 19th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Worker rights watchdog fails to bring a single prosecution in a year – The Guardian

Posted August 15th, 2016 in budgets, complaints, employment, enforcement, news, ombudsmen, prosecutions, statistics by sally

‘A workers’ rights watchdog has had its funding cut by more than half since 2010 and has failed to bring a single prosecution in the past year, according to research by Labour.’

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The Guardian, 14th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Banking watchdog to announce measures to boost competition – The Guardian

Posted August 8th, 2016 in banking, competition, consumer credit, fees, news, ombudsmen, statistics by sally

‘Overdraft fees and an easier system of moving personal and small business accounts are expected to be at the centre of measures intended to bolster competition in the banking sector.’

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The Guardian, 8th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police watchdog IPCC ‘favours black complainants’ – BBC News

‘The police watchdog is now “more likely to believe black complainants than white police officers”, according to a former officer and equality campaigner.’

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BBC News, 31st July 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Universities getting better on consumer law issues, but work still to be done, says CMA – OUT-LAW.com

‘Awareness among universities of their responsibilities under consumer protection law is increasing, although some poor practices remain, the UK’s competition watchdog has found.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 26th July 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

LGO urges action by council on planning complaint against predecessor body – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Local Government Ombudsman has issued a further report against Durham County Council in relation to a planning complaint involving a predecessor authority.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th July 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Prison’s gross failures contributed to death of inmate, inquest finds – The Guardian

‘A catastrophic series of failures contributed to the death of a prisoner, who died after setting fire to his cell, an inquest jury ruled.’

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The Guardian, 26th July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

iPhone evidence ‘could be more effective than court hearing’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Resolving neighbour disputes using iPhone evidence and a video hearing might be more effective than the parties travelling several miles to court, a senior government official has said, outlining significant developments to modernise the justice system.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 21st July 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Prisons now unacceptably violent, says watchdog – BBC News

Posted July 20th, 2016 in assault, drug abuse, homicide, news, ombudsmen, prisons, statistics by sally

‘Prisons in England and Wales have become “unacceptably violent and dangerous places”, the chief inspector of prisons has warned. In his first annual report, Peter Clarke said the “grim situation” revealed in last year’s report was now “even worse” is some areas.’

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BBC News, 19th July 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police watchdog criticises force over delays in children’s cases – The Guardian

Posted July 20th, 2016 in child abuse, children, delay, news, ombudsmen, police, sexual grooming, sexual offences by sally

‘A police force has been criticised by independent inspectors for not always responding quickly enough when children are at risk of sexual exploitation. HM Inspectorate of Constabulary said the delays by Devon and Cornwall police could result in children being put at risk of significant harm, and the causes needed to be tackled promptly.’

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The Guardian, 20th July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Orgreave report ‘could prejudice Hillsborough inquiry’ – BBC News

‘A full report into allegations of police misconduct at the so-called Battle of Orgreave will not be made public, the Independent Police Complaints Commission has ruled.’

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BBC News, 12th July 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Student launches legal action against IPCC over CS spray incident – The Guardian

‘A university student who alleges he was assaulted by police during a demonstration has launched legal action against the Independent Police Complaints Commission.’

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The Guardian, 12th July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Human rights group condemns Prevent anti-radicalisation strategy – The Guardian

‘The government’s Prevent strategy aimed at combating homegrown terrorism is stifling freedom of expression within the classroom and risks being counterproductive, a human rights report warns.’

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The Guardian, 13th July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal services: removing barriers to competition – official-documents.gov.uk

‘Consultation on proposals to make amendments to the Legal Services Act 2007.’

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official-documents.gov.uk, 7th July 2016

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

Consultation on further liberalisation of legal services market – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The government today unveiled plans for a second wave of reforms aimed at opening the legal services market to new businesses.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 7th July 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ofcom faces High Court action by CityFibre over claims it protects BT from broadband competition – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 6th, 2016 in appeals, competition, internet, news, ombudsmen, telecommunications, tribunals by Mark L

‘Ofcom has been accused of making “ridiculous” policy decisions that will cement BT’s position in the broadband market as a “single, unassailable wholesale infrastructure provider” in a High Court challenge by alternative network builder CityFibre.’

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Daily Telegraph, 5th July 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Families hope for answers in Bristol review of hospital child deaths – The Guardian

‘The parents of young children who died on a controversial cardiac ward have spoken of their fears that they might not get the answers they crave ahead of the publication of an independent inquiry into their sons’ care.’

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The Guardian, 26th June 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Watchdog demands more powers to stop cold-calling kingpins from dodging fines – Daily Telegraph

‘Cold call kings behind millions of nuisance calls are getting away with it because the Government has refused to hold them personally liable, the departing Information Commissioner has told The Telegraph. Christopher Graham, in his final interview before stepping down, said he had repeatedly pressed ministers to give him the power to pursue the directors of cold-calling companies – but his pleas had been ignored.’

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Daily Telegraph, 18th June 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Pensions Ombudsman anonymity move will protect individuals, but could lead to vexatious claims, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 13th, 2016 in anonymity, complaints, news, ombudsmen, pensions, vexatious litigants by sally

‘The UK Pensions Ombudsman has begun publishing adjudicators’ opinions and formal ombudsman determinations on its website and will make the complainants anonymous in most cases.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 10th June 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

LGO demands action over backlog of 1,500 planning control cases at council – Local Government Lawyer

‘A Local Government Ombudsman investigation has found that the London Borough of Hackney had a backlog of 1,500 planning enforcement cases, some of them 15 years old.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 7th June 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk