‘’O, reason not the need!” – Why King Lear was wrong or: The Importance of Reasons in Disciplinary Proceedings – Francis Taylor Building

‘The general importance of the duty to give reasons at common law is well known to disciplinary practitioners. The recent debate generated by the comments made by the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley, in the context of police misconduct further highlights the importance of all disciplinary panels arriving at decisions which are robust and sustainable against legal challenge.’

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Francis Taylor Building, 12th March 2024

Source: www.ftbchambers.co.uk

Retired UK GP suspended for five months after climate protests – The Guardian

‘A doctor who went to jail after a series of climate protests has been taken off the medical register for five months – and still faces being permanently struck off. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) – the disciplinary arm of the General Medical Council (GMC) – suspended Dr Sarah Benn on Tuesday, having found last week that her fitness to practise as a doctor had been impaired by reason of misconduct.’

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The Guardian, 23rd April 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Does time spent on an immediate suspension order whilst awaiting appeal count towards the overall period of suspension? Nabeel Aga v The General Dental Council [2023] EWHC 3208 (Admin) – 2 Hare Court

‘The decision late last year by Ritchie J in Aga v GDC caused uproar in the regulatory and professional discipline worlds.’

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2 Hare Court, 5th April 2024

Source: www.2harecourt.com

Cookery teachers banned after altering pupils’ food – BBC News

‘Two cookery teachers have been permanently banned from the profession after altering pupils’ dishes in a bid to improve their grades.’

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BBC News, 23rd April 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Suspended sentence for struck-off solicitor who misused client funds – Legal Futures

‘A solicitor who used a client’s £132,000 divorce settlement to pay off her tax bill and give money to her daughter has been handed a suspended prison sentence.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd April 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The Bar Standards Board publishes the Fieldfisher review of its enforcement system – Bar Standards Board

‘The leading law firm Fieldfisher LLP was appointed in 2023 to carry out an end-to-end review of the Bar Standards Board’s (BSB) enforcement system, encompassing all the BSB’s systems, processes and policies. After agreement in principle by the Board, the full report is today being published.’

Full report

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Bar Standards Board, 12th April 2024

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Report calls for major overhaul of BSB enforcement processes – Legal Futures

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has the right approach to dealing with complaints about barristers’ conduct but there are “a large number of areas” for improvement, a major review has concluded.’

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Legal Futures, 12th April 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Met Police refers itself to watchdog after woman fatally stabbed in Westminster home – The Independent

Posted April 10th, 2024 in delay, missing persons, murder, news, ombudsmen, police, professional conduct by sally

‘Scotland Yard has referred itself to the police watchdog after officers waited until the next morning to respond to calls and then found a woman stabbed to death.’

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The Independent, 9th April 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Former police officer jailed after having sex with woman during 999 call to her home – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A police officer who had sex with a woman after responding to a 999 call at her home has been jailed.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 5th April 2024

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Women’s rights barrister faces suspension for accusing judge of ‘boys’ club’ attitude – The Independent

‘More than 60 lawyers, campaigners, politicians and academics are backing a women’s rights lawyer who faces suspension after challenging a judge for having “a boys’ club” attitude in a ruling on a domestic abuse case.’

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The Independent, 7th April 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Taxi driver who showed female passenger explicit link loses licensing appeal – Local Government Lawyer

‘A taxi driver who admitted showing a female passenger a weblink to an explicit website has lost an appeal to drive an East Cambridgeshire District Council licensed taxi or private hire vehicle.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 2nd April 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

SRA fines “unfair” and “schizophrenic”, solicitors argue – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) approach to fines has been branded unfair and “schizophrenic” in the wake of hefty penalties handed out to solicitors convicted of drink-driving.’

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Legal Futures, 25th March 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘It’s an excuse to overreach’: families’ anger over UK police restraint deaths blamed on disputed condition – The Guardian

‘Acute behavioural disturbance and excited delirium have been cited in police watchdog reports and inquests into 44 deaths – but campaigners say it is pseudoscience.’

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The Guardian, 17th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Apathy and ignorance around legal ethics ‘root causes’ of misconduct – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 11th, 2024 in law firms, legal education, legal profession, news, professional conduct by tracey

‘Lawyers’ lack of interest in ethics may be fuelling an increase in rogue behaviour in the profession, an academic expert on the legal profession has suggested. Professor Richard Moorhead told a conference of lawyers yesterday that “apathy” and “ignorance” were a “root cause” of unethical behaviours that have manifested in issues such as the Post Office scandal.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 8th March 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Calls for inquiry after refugee children made to guess who got foster care in ‘game’ – The Guardian

‘Foster families and social workers are demanding an independent inquiry after it emerged that Home Office-employed staff forced refugee children to play a game to guess who would be the next one to be placed in foster care.’

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The Guardian, 4th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Solicitor struck off for antisemitic and offensive tweets – Legal Futures

Posted February 23rd, 2024 in disciplinary procedures, internet, Judaism, news, professional conduct, racism, solicitors by michael

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) today struck off the practitioner it found earlier this week had published antisemitic and offensive posts on Twitter.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd February 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barrister “recklessly misled” BSB in applying for practising certificate – Legal Futures

Posted February 23rd, 2024 in barristers, deceit, disciplinary procedures, news, professional conduct by michael

‘A barrister who “recklessly misled” the Bar Standards Board (BSB) into giving him a practising certificate (PC) by falsely stating that he was a door tenant at a set of chambers has been disbarred.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd February 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Teachers in England could face ban for failing to report evidence of sexual abuse of children – The Guardian

‘Teachers in England face being banned if they fail to report evidence of children being subjected to sexual abuse under plans for new legislation announced by the home secretary, James Cleverly.’

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The Guardian, 21st February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

SDT rules that solicitor posted antisemitic tweets – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) yesterday upheld allegations that a solicitor published antisemitic and offensive posts on social media and also abused Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) staff.’

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Legal Futures, 21st February 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

David Carrick: Rapist PC stripped of full state-funded pension – BBC News

‘Rapist police officer David Carrick has been stripped of his full state-funded pension, the mayor of London has confirmed.’

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BBC News, 18th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk