The law of vicarious liability is on the move… and hasn’t finished moving yet – Zenith PI Blog

Posted March 23rd, 2016 in negligence, news, personal injuries, prisons, vicarious liability by tracey

‘“The law of vicarious liability is on the move”, so began Lord Reed in his judgment in Cox -v- Ministry of Justice [2016] UKSC 10.’

Full story

Zenith PI, 23rd March 2016

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

Deaths in detention a ‘national stain’, says report – BBC News

Posted March 18th, 2016 in death in custody, mental health, news, police, prisons, statistics by tracey

‘More than 200 people have died of “non-natural” causes in detention in Britain since the start of 2014, says the Equality and Human Rights Commission.’

Full story

BBC News, 18th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Free to light up… for a little longer – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 17th, 2016 in appeals, health, human rights, news, prisons, smoking by tracey

‘In Secretary of State for Justice v Paul Black [2016] EWCA Civ 125 the Court of Appeal ruled that the Crown was not bound by Part 1 of the Health Act 2006 to ban smoking inside public prisons.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 15th March 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Michael Gove announces plans for ‘reform prisons’ – The Guardian

Posted March 17th, 2016 in bills, news, prisons by tracey

‘A new bill is to pave the way for “reform prisons” modelled on academy schools, with league tables and provision for failing jails to be taken over by more successful prisons, the justice secretary, Michael Gove, has told MPs.’

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The Guardian, 16th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Serial killer Joanne Dennehy demands compensation for solitary confinement – Daily Telegraph

‘Lawyers are using the European Convention on Human Rights in support of the triple murderer.’

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Daily Telegraph, 13th March 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Vicarious liability: The Supreme Court speaks – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 9th, 2016 in assault, negligence, news, prisons, Supreme Court, vicarious liability by tracey

‘Two important Supreme Court judgments concerning vicarious liability were handed down last week. Mohamud v WM Morrison Supermarkets [2016] UKSC 11 affirms the “close connection” test set out in Lister v Hesley Hall Ltd [2001] UKHL 22 and rejects the formulation of a new test for vicarious liability based on “representative capacity”. Cox v Ministry of Justice [2016] UKSC 10 extends the sorts of relationships where a defendant can be made vicariously liable for the conduct of an individual and evaluates Various Claimants v Catholic Child Welfare Society [2012] UKSC 56 (the ‘Christian Brothers’ case).’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 8th March 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

HMP Doncaster: Inspectors criticise safety at ‘very poor’ site – BBC News

Posted March 9th, 2016 in health & safety, news, prisons, reports, violence by tracey

‘A prison branded inadequate two years ago remains “very poor”, with “many violent incidents” leaving staff and inmates injured, inspectors have said. Privately-run HMP Doncaster suffered from a “lack of staff” and “ineffective initiatives” aimed at reducing violence, a report said.’

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BBC News, 9th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prison smoking ban overturned by court of appeal – The Guardian

Posted March 8th, 2016 in appeals, news, prisons, smoking, Wales by sally

‘A compulsory, immediate ban on smoking in prisons has been overturned by the court of appeal, allowing the Ministry of Justice to introduce its own voluntary, phased controls.’

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The Guardian, 8th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Michael Gove sets out new rules to safeguard independence of prison inspectors – The Independent

Posted March 1st, 2016 in Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, reports by sally

‘The independence of prison inspectors is to be guaranteed following complaints that the former Justice Secretary, Chris Grayling, tried to water down their reports by removing criticisms of his approach to penal policy.’

Full story

The Independent, 10th February 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prisons inspector calls for time limit on immigration detention – The Guardian

Posted March 1st, 2016 in detention, immigration, news, prisons by sally

‘The new chief inspector of prisons has backed calls for a limit on how long people can be held in immigration removal centres after finding one detainee held for more than five years.’

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The Guardian, 1st March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Carer found guilty of murdering her multiple sclerosis-suffering father – The Guardian

‘A carer who claimed she suffocated her father because of his “intolerable” multiple sclerosis has been found guilty of murder.’

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The Guardian, 26th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

G4S to sell controversial youth jail contracts – The Guardian

‘The private security firm G4S is to sell its UK children’s services business, including its contracts to run two youth prisons, weeks after damning footage emerged of its staff using excessive force on children.’

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The Guardian, 26th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Violent murderer entitled to compensation for human rights breach, judge finds – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 25th, 2016 in compensation, delay, human rights, murder, news, prisons, violence by sally

‘The High Court has ruled that Anwar Hussain was a victim of a ‘systematic failure’ after his Parole Board hearing was delayed.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 25th February 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Inside Oakwood prison: the private jail struggling to prove bigger is better – The Guardian

Posted February 24th, 2016 in contracting out, news, prisons by sally

‘The Guardian has been granted unprecedented access to two prisons. In the second of two reports, Amelia Gentleman finds a supersize G4S-run jail grappling with a lack of profit, inexperienced staff and suicidal inmates.’

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Inside Wandsworth prison: drug drones and demoralised staff – The Guardian

Posted February 23rd, 2016 in aircraft, drug abuse, drug trafficking, news, prison officers, prisons, reports by sally

‘The Guardian has been granted unprecedented access to two prisons to see the impact of funding cuts. In the first of two reports, Amelia Gentleman finds broken windows and bored inmates at the UK’s most overcrowded jail.’

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New offences and sentencing – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Two further significant provisions of the Serious Crime Act 2015 have been brought into force. First, on 10 November 2015, section 79 created section 40CB of the Prison Act 1952, which provides for an offence of throwing any article or substance into a prison without authorisation.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 22nd February 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Prison ‘did not always know whereabouts of inmates’ – The Guardian

Posted February 18th, 2016 in news, prisons, reports by sally

‘Staff at an overcrowded, chaotic and violent prison did not always know where inmates were, an inspection has revealed.’

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The Guardian, 17th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Prisons fail to act on inmates’ suicide risks, says watchdog – The Guardian

Posted February 16th, 2016 in news, prisons, reports, suicide by sally

‘Clues that prisoners may take their own lives are too often missed, a watchdog has warned.’

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The Guardian, 16th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

PM calls for rethink of treatment of pregnant women in prison – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 8th, 2016 in children, pilot schemes, pregnancy, press releases, prisons, statistics, women by tracey

‘Treatment of pregnant women and female prisoners with babies to be reformed including tagging, problem-solving courts and alternative resettlement units.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 8th February 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Prisons which release most criminals who reoffend will be named and shamed, David Cameron pledges – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 8th, 2016 in news, prisons, recidivists by tracey

‘David Cameron also wants to create six “reform prisons” whose governors would be given more freedom to implement reforms and control spending.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th February 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk