MPs break the rules ‘because they do not agree with them’, says standards watchdog Kathryn Hudson – Daily Telegraph

‘The comments will add further pressure on MPs to beef up the watchdog which polices their work, perhaps by giving members of the public a vote over decisions whether or not to reprimand errant MPs.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th March 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ministry of Justice officials ‘helped private firms win government contracts’ – The Guardian

‘Ministers have ordered an immediate inquiry into allegations that former senior civil servants from the Ministry of Justice have used their Whitehall knowledge and contacts to help private companies secure government contracts worth millions.’

Full story

The Guardian, 14th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

This shaken baby syndrome case is a dark day for science – and for justice – The Guardian

‘A leading doctor faces being struck off for challenging the theory about the infant condition. It’s like Galileo all over again.’

Full story

The Guardian, 14th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Inquest criticises care of woman who killed herself in police cell – The Guardian

‘An inquest jury has criticised failings in the care of a woman who killed herself in a police cell, saying that insufficient steps had been taken to protect her welfare.’

Full story

The Guardian, 11th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Doctor who doubted shaken baby syndrome misled courts, panel rules – The Guardian

‘A Leading doctor who cast doubt on claims that parents had shaken their babies to death has been found guilty of misleading the courts.’

Full story

The Guardian, 11th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Commons sleaze watchdog in crisis as QC rubbishes legal arguments against reform – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 11th, 2016 in news, parliament, professional conduct, standards by tracey

‘Sir Kevin Barron steps aside from chairmanship of Standards Committee, as Lord Lester describes attempts to stop lay members from being given a vote as “absurd.” ‘

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 10th March 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police officer sacked for having sex with prostitutes on duty – The Guardian

Posted March 4th, 2016 in disciplinary procedures, news, police, professional conduct, prostitution by tracey

‘A police officer has been sacked for meeting prostitutes for sex in hotels while on duty, but his identity has been kept secret.’

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Curbs on ‘shameless’ armed forces claims within weeks – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Measures to curb legal claims against members of the armed forces are likely to be introduced this month.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd March 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Sole practitioner who overcharged client by 500% is struck off – Legal Futures

‘A sole practitioner who overcharged by 500% for private client work has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).’

Full story

Legal Futures, 2nd March 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Operation Elveden: The investigation into ‘chequebook journalism’ – BBC News

‘It cost £15m and took five years but what did Operation Elveden – the police investigation into inappropriate payments to police and public officials by journalists – aim to achieve?’

Full story

BBC News, 26th February 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

SRA: We want to be accountable to Parliament, not the Law Society – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has asked the House of Commons’ justice select committee to assume responsibility for holding it to account once independence from the Law Society has been achieved.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 26th February 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bradford dental nurse struck off for performing facelift – BBC News

‘A dental nurse who gave her friend a facelift despite not being qualified to do so has been struck off.’

Full story

BBC News, 15 February 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police mindset at Hillsborough was ‘all about public disorder’, inquest hears – The Guardian

‘South Yorkshire police officers requested dog handlers to come to Hillsborough in 1989 when people were trying to escape the lethal crush because police believed it was a pitch invasion, the new inquests into the disaster have heard.’

Full story

The Guardian, 12th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Court of Appeal reaffirms death of “near miss” rule for part 36 offers – Litigation Futures

Posted February 15th, 2016 in appeals, costs, damages, news, part 36 offers, professional conduct by sally

‘There is no longer a “near miss” rule for part 36 offers, appeal judges have made clear as they overturned a High Court decision which seemed to suggest that there was one.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 15th February 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Tribunal rules against doctor who made 99 claims against NHS – The Guardian

‘The conduct of a doctor who began 99 employment tribunal claims against the NHS in eight months fell “far below the standards to be expected” and was likely to “erode public confidence in the profession”, a disciplinary tribunal has ruled.
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) found Dr Farhan Hussain Zaidi’s fitness to practice was impaired by his misconduct and imposed conditions on his registration for 12 months.’

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Detective cleared over Plebgate meeting with Andrew Mitchell – The Guardian

Posted February 4th, 2016 in disciplinary procedures, news, police, professional conduct by tracey

‘A highly-commended detective has been cleared of giving a misleading account to the public of what was said during a meeting with the MP Andrew Mitchell over the Plebgate affair.’

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Kids Company: MPs say ‘catalogue of failures’ led to collapse – BBC News

‘The collapse of the Kids Company charity was a result of an “extraordinary catalogue of failures”, a committee of MPs has said.’

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BBC News, 1st February 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High Court: Wrong to assume it is “more improbable” that professionals will be dishonest – Legal Futures

Posted January 26th, 2016 in negligence, news, professional conduct, solicitors by sally

‘It would be wrong to assume that it is “inherently more improbable” that a professional person will be dishonest than anyone else, the High Court has said.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 26th January 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

CPS accused of suppressing police corruption evidence – The Guardian

‘Criminal trial prosecutors have been accused of suppressing evidence of police corruption in what has been called “misconduct of a particularly serious nature”. Lawyers are alleged to have covered up evidence that police received corrupt payments from a firm of private investigators in return for confidential information.’

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd January 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MPs’ code of conduct to include test for damage caused by sleaze scandals – The Guardian

Posted January 22nd, 2016 in news, parliament, professional conduct by sally

‘The code of conduct for MPs is being reviewed, with the possibility of a new test of whether a politician caught up in a sleaze scandal has damaged the reputation of the House of Commons.’

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd January 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk