Post Office scandal inquiry urged to put more focus on the lawyers – Legal Futures

‘The inquiry into the Post Office Horizon scandal has been urged to put more focus on the role of lawyers in perpetuating the organisation’s intransigence over the IT system’s problems.’

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Legal Futures, 10th September 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Former CPS solicitor rebuked for offensive Facebook posts – Legal Futures

‘ A solicitor who shared a petition from far-right group Britain First on her Facebook page while working for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

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Legal Futures, 7th September 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Misconduct in public office – ECtHR reviews foreseeability of common law offence – UK Human Rights Blog

‘On 6 July 2021 the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) published its judgment in the case of Norman v UK (Application no. 41387/17). The case concerned Mr Robert Norman, an officer at Belmarsh prison, who in 2015 was convicted of misconduct in public office for passing a variety of information to a tabloid journalist in exchange for money. The ECtHR found that, in Mr Norman’s case, the offence itself did not constitute a breach of Article 7 ECHR (no punishment without law): Mr Norman’s conduct was sufficiently serious for it to have been foreseeable that it would constitute a criminal offence. The ECtHR also found that the newspaper’s disclosure of Mr Norman’s activities to the police, and his subsequent prosecution and conviction, did not breach his rights under Article 10 ECtHR (freedom of expression).’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 6th September 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

‘I’m still traumatised’: UK music industry blighted by sexual harassment and abuse, report finds – The Independent

‘A damning new report has highlighted the ongoing prevalence of sexual harassment and abuse in the music industry, as the UK begins to see the return of live music.’

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The Independent, 3rd September 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New training needed for police after children and mentally ill people Tasered, watchdog warns – The Independent

‘Police must be trained to use Tasers only when “absolutely necessary”, a watchdog has said after a review found the weapons were being used against children and mentally ill people.’

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The Independent, 26th August 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Costs judge rejects “regrettable” overcharging allegations – Legal Futures

Posted August 23rd, 2021 in asylum, costs, fees, immigration, law firms, news, professional conduct, solicitors by tracey

‘A judge has rejected claims by the wife of a convicted Kazakh businessman that she was overcharged by a London law firm for her asylum application and described the allegations of misconduct she levelled as “regrettable”.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd August 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Ex-police officer who sexually exploited domestic abuse victims sentenced – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A former police officer who used his position to groom and sexually exploit vulnerable women has been sentenced.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 20th August 2021

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Cressida Dick referred to police watchdog over ‘defence of officer facing criminal trial’ – The Independent

‘Dame Cressida Dick has been referred to the police watchdog after publicly supporting a senior officer who faces a criminal trial in relation to a bullying probe.’

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The Independent, 22nd August 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police officer keeps job after sharing offensive George Floyd meme – The Guardian

‘A police officer who sent an offensive meme depicting the arrest of George Floyd to a WhatsApp group of colleagues has avoided losing his job.’

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The Guardian, August 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Kevin Clarke death: police watchdog reopens investigation – The Guardian

‘The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has reopened its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Kevin Clarke, a mentally ill black man who could be heard saying the words “I can’t breathe” while he was being restrained by police shortly before he died.’

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The Guardian, 16th August 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Abuse of disabled patients forces watchdog to close hospital – The Independent

‘A mental health hospital has been closed by the care watchdog after inspectors saw evidence of patients being abused. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has forced the closure of Eldertree Lodge, in Staffordshire, which looked after more than 40 adults with learning disabilities and autism.’

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The Independent, 10th August 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Smitten prison officer helped inmate lover escape – BBC News

‘A former prison officer has been jailed for forming a relationship with an inmate and helping him escape.’

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BBC News, 10th August 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Professional Discipline & Regulatory Team Bulletin – Summer 2021 – 23 Essex Street

Posted August 6th, 2021 in chambers articles, expert witnesses, hospitals, news, professional conduct by sally

‘In this edition of the Professional Discipline & Regulatory Team quarterly bulletin, Carolina Cabral discusses the need for expert evidence where matters are of common sense(pp.2-4) and Divya Puri helpfully reminds us of the process and procedure to be undertaken when applying for a High Court extension to an interim order (pp.5-7) We also include our usual brief summary of some recent cases.’

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23 Essex Street, 2nd August 2021

Source: www.23es.com

Robyn Williams: Met launch legal bid to sack senior police officer reinstated after abuse video clip – The Independent

‘The Metropolitan Police are waging a legal battle over the sacking of a senior officer who was convicted of possessing a child abuse video. Superintendent Novlett Robyn Williams successfully appealed against the decision to dismiss her earlier this year and was reinstated as a police officer.’

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The Independent, 4th August 2021

Source: www.independent.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

Met police seek judicial review over senior black officer’s reinstatement – The Guardian

‘The Metropolitan police want go to the high court to insist it was correct in its decision to sack a decorated black officer after she was found with a child abuse video, sent to her on WhatsApp, on her phone.’

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The Guardian, 4th August 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

BTAS rejects calls to soften sanctions for ‘low level’ sexual misconduct – Legal Futures

‘The Bar Tribunals & Adjudication Service (BTAS) has rejected the argument that a starting point of 12-months’ suspension for sexual misconduct is too much for some less serious types of behaviour.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd August 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Marcus Coutain: Knee-on-neck arrest PC will not face disciplinary action – BBC News

‘A police officer who knelt on a black man’s neck during an arrest will not face disciplinary proceedings, the police watchdog has decided.’

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BBC News, 29th July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Stockwell Six: Fourth member of group to appeal against conviction – BBC News

‘A fourth member of the so-called Stockwell Six, who were “fitted up” by a corrupt police officer, is mounting an appeal against his conviction.’

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BBC News, 26th July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

When complaints must be referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct – UK Police Law Blog

Posted July 27th, 2021 in bias, chambers articles, complaints, news, ombudsmen, police, professional conduct by sally

‘In R (Rose) v Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police [2021] EWHC 875 (Admin), a businessman successfully challenged a decision not to refer his complaint to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) under the mandatory referral criteria. The High Court concluded that the chief constable had failed to review the conduct alleged and consider whether, if substantiated, it would constitute serious corruption as defined in the (then) Independent Complaints Commission (IPCC) Statutory Guidance on the handling of complaints. Instead, he had performed an assessment of the merits which had rendered the decision not to refer the complaint unlawful. The case makes clear that complaints engaging the mandatory criteria, especially that of “serious corruption”, must be referred to the IOPC.’

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UK Police Law Blog, 26th July 2021

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com