Ofcom to investigate GB News and TalkTV over impartiality rules – The Guardian

Posted July 5th, 2023 in complaints, media, news, ombudsmen, parliament, political parties by sally

‘Ofcom has launched investigations into GB News and TalkTV as the media regulator struggles to handle how rightwing television channels are employing serving politicians as presenters.’

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The Guardian, 3rd July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Advertising watchdog bans Hyundai and Toyota electric car ads – The Guardian

Posted June 28th, 2023 in advertising, complaints, news, ombudsmen, transport by sally

‘The UK advertising watchdog has banned campaigns by Toyota and Hyundai for exaggerating the speed at which electric cars can be charged and misleading consumers about the availability of rapid-charging points across the UK and Ireland.’

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The Guardian, 28th June 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Online safety bill: changes urged to allow access to social media data – The Guardian

‘Online safety experts will struggle to sound the alarm about harmful content if landmark legislation does not allow independent researchers to access data from social media platforms, campaigners have warned.’

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The Guardian, 19th June 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Anglian Water ad banned by regulator over pollution record – The Guardian

‘An ad campaign by Anglian Water extolling how it cleans water by creating wildlife-friendly wetlands has been banned for not telling consumers about its history of releasing sewage into the environment.’

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The Guardian, 13th June 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ofsted school inspections to change after Ruth Perry’s family campaign – BBC News

Posted June 12th, 2023 in education, mental health, news, ombudsmen, teachers by tracey

‘School inspections in England are to change after the suicide of head teacher Ruth Perry led to calls for reform. Ofsted will revisit schools graded inadequate over child welfare within three months, and there will be an overhaul of its complaints system.’

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BBC News, 12th June 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police watchdog for England and Wales demands new powers amid trust crisis – The Guardian

Posted June 9th, 2023 in disciplinary procedures, news, ombudsmen, police, professional conduct by tracey

‘The head of the police inspectorate in England and Wales has demanded sweeping new powers to compel police forces to tackle what he described as the worst crisis in law and order in living memory.’

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The Guardian, 9th June 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Watchdog bans Shell’s ‘misleading’ low-carbon ads – The Independent

‘Shell omitted any mention that oil and gas continued to make up the “vast majority” of its business, the Advertising Standards Authority said.’

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The Independent, 6th June 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Home Office faces legal claims over seizure of asylum seekers’ phones – The Guardian

‘The Home Office faces a wave of legal claims after the UK’s surveillance watchdog found a blanket policy of seizing thousands of asylum seekers’ mobile phones caused “significant harm”.’

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The Guardian, 4th June 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ombudsman criticises council for “significant failings” under Equality Act that exacerbated poor mental health of resident – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Housing Ombudsman has found severe maladministration for Tandridge District Council after the local authority “did not abide by its duties under the Equality Act or its own safeguarding policy”, leading to the exacerbation of a resident’s poor mental health.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st June 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Watchdog bans alcohol ads featuring rapper ArrDee – The Independent

Posted May 31st, 2023 in advertising, alcohol abuse, complaints, news, ombudsmen, young persons by sally

‘Ads for alcohol brand Litty Liquor have been banned for featuring the under-25-year-old rapper ArrDee and encouraging excessive and irresponsible drinking.’

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The Independent, 31st May 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ad watchdog takes action against tax repayment agents – The Independent

Posted May 31st, 2023 in advertising, HM Revenue & Customs, news, ombudsmen, taxation by sally

‘Ads for three tax agents have been banned for exaggerating refunds, being unclear about fees and failing to mention that clients were signing over rights to a cut of potential repayments from previous years.’

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The Independent, 30th May 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The power to withdraw under scrutiny in the Court of Appeal – Local Government Lawyer

‘In a judgment handed down on 10 May 2023, the Court of Appeal held that the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman did not have a power to withdraw a report issued on completion of his investigation. Amy Tschobotko and Jason Tandy consider below the implications of the judgment for public bodies when discharging their functions, including when carrying out reviews and responding to legal challenges.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th May 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Court of Appeal finds Ombudsman decision to withdraw report was unlawful, but dismisses appeal by developer – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 22nd, 2023 in appeals, fees, local government, news, ombudsmen, planning by tracey

‘The Court of Appeal has dismissed a developer’s appeal concerning whether the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman had the power to withdraw a final report into Tewkesbury Borough Council’s refusal to waive a planning fee, re-open its investigation and then issue a second final report in favour of the council.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th May 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Work-related suicide probe call after death of head teacher Ruth Perry – BBC News

‘Every work-related suicide should be investigated by the Health and Safety Executive, experts have said, in the wake of the death of a head teacher following an Ofsted inspection.’

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BBC News, 22nd May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

HMP Stoke Heath must improve emergency response after death – BBC News

Posted May 19th, 2023 in death in custody, news, ombudsmen, prisons by tracey

‘Staff at HMP Stoke Heath must be better prepared to deal with medical emergencies after an inmate died in the prison’s yard, a report has found.’

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BBC News, 18th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Elections watchdog to conduct analysis of implementation of voter ID – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 10th, 2023 in elections, identification, local government, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The Electoral Commission has revealed it will conduct a “full report” on the May 2023 local elections, which will analyse the impact of the voter ID requirement.’

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Local Government Lawyer, May 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

GB News broke rules over Covid jab claims – Ofcom – BBC News

‘A GB News programme which broadcast claims that the Covid-19 vaccination programme amounted to “mass murder” has been found to have broken Ofcom rules.’

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BBC News, 9th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Armed forces complaint ‘used as weapon against me’ – BBC News

‘Four years on from submitting a complaint alleging she had been raped while in the armed forces, “Jane” is still awaiting a decision and says it was used as a “weapon” against her.
She told the BBC that colleagues knew things about the confidential process “they should never have known”. Her concerns are not unique, according to a report by the ombudsman for armed forces complaints.’

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BBC News, 4th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ultrasounds adverts banned for misleading parents about ability to reassure – The Independent

Posted May 3rd, 2023 in advertising, children, health, news, ombudsmen, pregnancy by tracey

‘Adverts for ultrasound services have been banned for misrepresenting the extent to which scans can provide reassurance about the wellbeing of an unborn baby.’

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The Independent, 3rd May 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

North Yorkshire Police delays reducing child safeguarding – report – BBC News

Posted May 3rd, 2023 in child abuse, children, delay, news, ombudsmen, police, sexual offences by tracey

‘Delays in evidence gathering and a “lack of knowledge” about online child abuse inquiries are reducing North Yorkshire Police’s ability to safeguard children, a report said.’

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BBC News, 3rd May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk