Regulating Big Tech in the UK – Competition Bulletin

‘Following hot(ish) on the heels of the EU’s Digital Markets Act, the UK’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (“the Bill”) was published on 25 April 2023. It seeks to do three things: (1) to establish a new ex-ante regulatory regime for digital markets, conferring powers on the CMA, via its Digital Markets Unit, to impose conduct requirements and make “pro-competitive interventions” (“PCIs”) in relation to designated firms, and to impose hefty penalties for failure to comply; (2) to reform the existing competition law system, notably relating to merger controls, market inquiries and enforcement; and (3) to enhance consumer rights and enforcement. This post focusses on the first of these.’

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Competition Bulletin, 17th May 2023

Source: competitionbulletin.com

Information Commissioner reprimands two police forces for recording 200,000 phone conversations without consent – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued Surrey Police and Sussex Police with reprimands under its new approach to enforcement against the public sector, instead of imposing a £1m monetary penalty, after finding that some officers at both police forces were using an app that automatically recorded phone conversations.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th April 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

William Hill let customer bet £23,000 in 20 minutes – BBC News

Posted March 28th, 2023 in consumer protection, fines, gambling, money laundering, news, penalties by sally

‘Three gambling firms owned by William Hill are to pay penalties of £19.2m for failing to protect consumers and weak anti-money laundering controls.’

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BBC News, 28th March 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The 8th Annual Property Law Lecture at the School of Law and Social Justice in the University of Liverpool – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted March 13th, 2023 in damages, forfeiture, penalties, speeches by tracey

‘Forfeiture, penalties and damages in property law. The 8th Annual Property Law Lecture at the School of Law and Social Justice in the University of Liverpool given by Mr Justice Fancourt, Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster on Tuesday, 21 February 2023.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 8th March 2023

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Universities rebuked over academic misconduct cases in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted February 28th, 2023 in complaints, coronavirus, examinations, news, ombudsmen, penalties, reports, universities by sally

‘Universities have been reprimanded over unfair treatment of students accused of academic misconduct in a report by the higher education ombudsman for England and Wales.’

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The Guardian, 27th February 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Penalties for gambling breaches – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 16th, 2023 in appeals, gambling, local government, news, penalties, tribunals by tracey

‘Philip Kolvin KC examines a recent tribunal judgment that contains some helpful analysis for gambling operators and their advisers.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th January 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

SRA to step up action over non-compliance with transparency rules – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is to take a “more robust approach” to enforcing its transparency rules after its latest work indicated widespread non-compliance.’

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Legal Futures, 20th December 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

On credibility and penalties – Nearly Legal

Posted November 1st, 2022 in county courts, deposits, landlord & tenant, news, penalties by sally

‘A county court deposit penalty claim judgment, but well worth noting because a) a Circuit Judge decision by HHJ Luba KC, b) there are some broader points in application , and c) well it is quite the case.’

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Nearly Legal, 30th October 2022

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Tribunal upholds fixed penalties imposed on HMO landlord for property management failures but reduces amount payable – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 30th, 2022 in houses in multiple occupation, local government, news, penalties, repairs by tracey

‘A landlord has been ordered to pay £23,000 for failing to maintain two Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) after Tendring District Council took action.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 25th August 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Nurse fined £10k over NHS pay protest in lockdown wins compensation – The Guardian

Posted May 26th, 2022 in compensation, coronavirus, demonstrations, fines, news, penalties, police, regulations by sally

‘Two NHS nurses have won compensation from Greater Manchester police (GMP) after being fined over a socially distant protest about NHS pay during lockdown.’

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The Guardian, 25th May 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government to make it easier to levy penalties on companies responsible for leaving potholes – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 16th, 2022 in local government, news, penalties, roads by tracey

‘Local authorities will be able to scrutinise poorly performing road work companies more often as part of a new performance-based inspections regime aimed at preventing poor quality road works. The new Government policy will see the worst performing utility companies face financial penalties if they fail to meet “strict” standards.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th May 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Covid breach court case criticised by Bedford gym owner – BBC News

Posted May 3rd, 2022 in coronavirus, local government, news, penalties, prosecutions, regulations by sally

‘A gym boss who is among 20 people who overturned a prosecution for a gym-related Covid breach said the case against him was a waste of time.’

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BBC News, 3rd May 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK law firms aiding Russian oligarchs could face penalties, No 10 suggests – The Guardian

Posted March 1st, 2022 in law firms, news, penalties, Russia, sanctions by sally

‘Law firms and PR outfits working to stop Russian oligarchs from being hit by UK sanctions could themselves be targeted by financial curbs, No 10 has suggested, as it warned them to “think very carefully” before propping up those allied to Vladimir Putin’s regime.’

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The Guardian, 28th February 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Racist online trolls banned from football stadiums by new law – Home Office

Posted January 13th, 2022 in internet, news, penalties, racism, sport by tracey

‘Vile racist language and other online abuse connected to football could see offenders banned from attending matches in England and Wales for up to 10 years.’

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Home Office, 12th January 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

First Tier Tribunal wrongly struck out landlord penalty appeal after solicitor failed to pay hearing fee, Upper Tribunal rules – Local Government Lawyer

‘A private landlord will have her appeal of a £7,000 penalty for failure to license a house in multiple occupation (HMO) decided by a different judge after it was initially refused by the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) because her solicitor failed to pay the hearing fee on time, the Upper Tribunal has ruled.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 7th September 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Bar refuses to back down on sexual misconduct sanctions – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The bar disciplinary tribunal has rejected calls for more lenient sanctions against barristers who commit sexual misconduct, saying that public trust in the profession must be maintained.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 4th August 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Landlord wins appeal over penalty for letting of flat without licence as Upper Tribunal says matter should have been dealt with informally – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 3rd, 2021 in appeals, landlord & tenant, licensing, local government, news, penalties by sally

‘A landlord has won an Upper Tribunal appeal over the imposition of a £2,500 financial penalty by a council for letting a flat without a licence.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 2nd August 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Boris Johnson announces football ban for online racists – The Independent

Posted July 15th, 2021 in internet, news, penalties, racism, sport by tracey

‘Racist abuse of footballers online will trigger a ban on attending matches, Boris Johnson has announced – closing a legal loophole.’

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The Independent, 14th July 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Councils issue £1m in penalties against businesses for breach of Covid restrictions – Local Government Lawyer

‘Local authorities have issued 1,201 penalties to businesses for violating Covid business restrictions, to a value of £1,076,820, research has revealed.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st June 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Lockdown fines: Fixed penalty notices should all be reviewed – MPs – BBC News

Posted April 27th, 2021 in coronavirus, fines, news, penalties, regulations by sally

‘All fixed penalty notices for Covid lockdown breaches, which can be as high as £10,000, should be reviewed – according to a parliamentary committee.’

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BBC News, 27th April 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk