Extinction Rebellion protest: Met accused of 521 abuses of power – The Guardian

‘Police carried out widespread abuses of power during Extinction Rebellion’s two weeks of protests in October, according to investigators who have collated dozens of reports from protesters.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 20th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Doctors may face suspension over NHS ‘worst maternity scandal’ – The Guardian

‘Doctors who saw but did not report babies and mothers receiving poor care during the NHS’s worst maternity scandal could be suspended or struck off, the General Medical Council has warned. The medical profession’s regulator has asked NHS bosses for details of any doctor they believe may have ignored their professional duty to raise the alarm about threats to patient safety at the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS hospital trust (SaTH).’

Full Story

The Guardian, 20th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Professional Standards Authority v HCPC and Wood [2019] EWHC 2819 (Admin) – Charging motivation and lies in investigation – 2 Hare Court

‘Mr Wood was a paramedic called to attend Patient A, a highly vulnerable patient who suffered from a split personality disorder. Within 10-15 minutes of leaving the patient, Mr Wood began to text her. Over the course of the following month he continued to contact her. Some of those messages were sexually explicit and others attempted to arrange a meeting with the patient for sex. He also asked her to keep the messages a secret.’

Full Story

2 Hare Court, 1st November 2019

Source: www.2harecourt.com

Solicitor tried to take unfair advantage of other lawyer’s error – Legal Futures

‘A solicitor discarded an undertaking he had given and tried to take advantage of a mistake made by the law firm on the other side of a conveyancing transaction, it has emerged.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 15th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Stephen Port: jury to decide whether police blunders were a result of homophobia – Daily Telegraph

‘A jury will look at whether “prejudice” played a part in how police initially treated the deaths of serial killer Stephen Port’s victims, a coroner has ruled.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 15th November 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Teacher sacked over gay dating app activity wins £700,000 payout – The Guardian

‘A primary school headteacher who was sacked after having sex with two 17-year-old boys he met through a gay dating app has been awarded nearly £700,000 compensation by a tribunal.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 15th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Barrister disbarred over indecent child photographs – Legal Futures

‘A barrister jailed for making indecent photographs of children has been disbarred.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 15th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court recuses “organ grinder” circuit judge – Legal Futures

Posted November 13th, 2019 in bias, delay, disclosure, documents, judges, news, professional conduct, recusal by sally

‘The High Court has ordered the recusal of a circuit judge who used “intemperate language” and told a barrister that he expected to see “the organ grinder” appear at the next hearing of a case.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 13th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

City watchdog slams own staff’s ‘shameful’ toilet habits – BBC News

Posted November 13th, 2019 in financial services ombudsman, news, ombudsmen, professional conduct, standards by sally

‘City of London regulators tasked with mucking out the financial stables have been making a “shameful” mess of their own, it has emerged.’

Full Story

BBC News, 13th November 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tribunal lifts practising controls from ABS accountant – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has lifted practising restrictions on a finance director who was sanctioned less than three years ago, over the objections of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 11th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Expert who “fall short” face “much more robust” response – Litigation Futures

‘Expert witnesses who “fall short of the mark” face a “much more and properly robust” response from the courts, a recently retired Court of Appeal judge has warned.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 11th November 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Joseph Hudson discusses Leeds United’s Kiko Casilla’s recent FA disciplinary charge – Park Square Barristers

Posted November 7th, 2019 in disciplinary procedures, news, professional conduct, racism, sport by sally

‘LUFC goalkeeper Kiko Casilla is alleged to have racially abused Charlton Athletic forward Jonathan Leko during the Championship match between Charlton and Leeds on 28 September 2019.’

Full Story

Park Square Barristers, 6th November 2019

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Public inquiry launched into abuse at Brook House immigration detention centre – The Independent

Posted November 7th, 2019 in detention, immigration, inquiries, news, ombudsmen, police, professional conduct, standards by tracey

‘A public inquiry has been launched into allegations of abuse at the Brook House immigration detention centre.’

Full Story

The Independent, 6th November 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The new SRA Standards and Regulations: Greater freedom for solicitors? – 4 New Square

‘In this article, Helen Evans and Clare Dixon of 4 New Square review whether the new principles, codes of conduct and disciplinary procedure rules wholeheartedly reflect a relaxation of the SRA’s grip, or whether competing forces are apparent. They also consider whether one of the unintended consequence of some of the liberalisation is to introduce a two-tier regulatory system for solicitors practising within regulated entities (such as firms) and those outside that structure. Finally, they reflect on the likely impact of the new rules and relaxed burden of proof on the troublesome issues of dishonesty and lack of integrity- an issue that the Divisional Court was still picking apart as recently as last week in the matter of SRA v Siaw.’

Full Story

4 New Square, 21st October 2019

Source: www.4newsquare.com

‘How Did Liverpool Escape League Cup Expulsion?’ – Ashley Cukier on the EFL Disciplinary Panel’s Decision – Littleton Chambers

Posted November 1st, 2019 in disciplinary procedures, fines, news, professional conduct, sanctions, sport by sally

‘The English Football League (“EFL”) yesterday [3 October] announced that Liverpool FC had been found guilty of misconduct and fined £200,000 – of which £100,000 will be suspended until the end of Season 2020/21 – for having breached EFL Rules by fielding an ineligible player in their League Cup third round match against Milton Keynes Dons. The sanction has raised eyebrows in some parts: in 2016 the EFL, in an ostensibly more severe sanction, deducted 3 points from Bury FC for fielding an ineligible player and, as recently as last month, Grays Athletic FC were expelled from the FA Cup for the same offence. In the latest edition of the Littleton Sports Group’s ‘Five Things You Need to Know’ series, Ashley Cukier considers the sanction handed to Liverpool by the EFL Board.’

Full Story

Littleton Chambers, 3rd October 2019

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

Bar Council attacks “overwhelming” handbook updates – Legal Futures

Posted October 31st, 2019 in barristers, news, professional conduct by sally

‘The Bar Council has strongly criticised the Bar Standards Board (BSB) for bombarding barristers with updates to its handbook which risked becoming “overwhelming”.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 31st October 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Behaviour of family judge meant hearing amounted to serious procedural irregularity, High Court judge finds – Local Government Lawyer

‘A district judge who was found “shaking with rage” during a case on a child’s care plan has had her ruling overturned on grounds of serious procedural irregularity.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 31st October 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

A Summary Of Recent Corporate Insolvency Cases – Hardwicke Chambers

‘Phillip Patterson provides a summary of recent corporate insolvency cases covering:

– Fraudulent trading;
– Misfeasance, transactions defrauding creditors and the duties of directors; and
– The out of court appointment of administrators.’

Full Story

Hardwicke Chambers, 9th October 2019

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

George Swift 2019 Lecture – Henderson Chambers

‘Kenneth Hamer gave the George Swift 2019 Lecture at the University of Southampton to the Royal College of General Practitioners, Wessex Faculty, on “The Implications of Bawa-Garba and the Boundaries of Professional Conduct”.’

Full Story

Henderson Chambers, 11th October 2019

Source: www.hendersonchambers.co.uk

Grenfell inquiry: key questions answered – The Guardian

‘Why was it set up, why is it split into two parts and why are some people unhappy with it?’

Full Story

The Guardian, 29th October 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com