Regina v Cosford and others – WLR Daily

Regina v Cosford and others [2013] EWCA Crim 466; [2013] WLR (D) 147

“The test for identifying a public office turned on the nature of the duty undertaken and, in particular, whether it was a public duty in the sense that it represented the fulfilment of one of the responsibilities of government such that the public had a significant interest in its discharge extending beyond an interest in anyone who might be directly affected by a serious failure in the performance of the duty. The existence or otherwise of a public office was a question of law to be decided by a trial judge not by a jury.”

WLR Daily, 16th April 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Leveson: counsel’s relationship with barrister did not compromise inquiry – The Guardian

Posted April 24th, 2013 in barristers, confidentiality, inquiries, news, professional conduct by sally

“Lord Justice Leveson has cleared the junior counsel to his inquiry over suggestions she compromised its impartiality by conducting a relationship with the lead barrister for victims of press intrusion.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Barristers: help shape the future of supervision – Bar Standards Board

Posted April 16th, 2013 in barristers, consultations, news, professional conduct by sally

“Practising barristers can help shape future policy by having their say on a new approach to the way they are supervised by the Bar Standards Board.”

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 16th April 2013

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

High Court backs ban against teacher who condemned ‘homosexual lifestyle’ – The Independent

“The High Court has upheld a classroom ban on a Christian school teacher who condemned the ‘homosexual lifestyle’ in front of pupils.”

Full story

The Independent, 12th April 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

McDaid v Nursing and Midwifery Council – WLR Daily

Posted April 10th, 2013 in appeals, evidence, law reports, midwives, professional conduct, whistleblowers by sally

McDaid v Nursing and Midwifery Council [2013] EWHC 586 (Admin); [2013] WLR (D) 132

“A professional conduct adjudication panel which had exceptionally decided to proceed in the absence of the accused was bound, in particular, to take reasonable steps to expose weaknesses in the case against the accused and to make such points on her behalf as the evidence permitted.”

WLR Daily, 21st March 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Barrister Conduct ‘Trends and Performance’ Report Released – Bar Standards Board

he Bar Standards Board’s Professional Conduct Department (PCD) has today released its third quarter ‘trends and performance’ report.

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 8th April 2013

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Candid camera? Barristers now free to talk to the media about their cases – Legal Futures

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in barristers, codes of practice, media, news, professional conduct by sally

“Barristers can now speak to the press about their cases, after the Bar’s Code of Conduct was changed.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 2nd April 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The former chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, Sir Norman Bettison, would “have a case to answer for gross misconduct” over his dealings with his police authority in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster, the police watchdog said today – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 28th, 2013 in complaints, news, police, professional conduct, reports by tracey

“The former chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, Sir Norman Bettison, would
‘have a case to answer for gross misconduct’ over his dealings with his police
authority in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster, the police watchdog said
today.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 28th March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Doctors allowed to date former patients – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 27th, 2013 in doctors, medical ethics, news, professional conduct by tracey

“A watchdog has updated its guidance on doctors having romantic relationships
with their former patients, urging medical professionals to use their
‘professional judgement’ to decide if it is appropriate.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 26th March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Another Distinction Between Professional Disciplinary Proceedings and Internal Employment Disciplinary Hearings: Christou v London Borough of Haringey – Littleton Chambers

“If an individual has already been charged and given a warning for misconduct in a disciplinary process, can that process later be reopened, re-run and the individual dismissed for the same charge on the same evidence?”

Full story

Littleton Chambers, 14th March 2013

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

Armed protection officer who bunked off work to meet lover sentenced to nine months in prison – The Independent

“An armed diplomatic security officer who abandoned his duties for extra-marital sex has been sentenced to nine months in prison.”

Full story

The Independent, 18th March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

NHS foreign doctors must speak English, say ministers – BBC News

Posted February 25th, 2013 in doctors, EC law, immigration, licensing, news, professional conduct by sally

“Foreign doctors wanting to treat NHS patients in England will have to prove they have the necessary English skills, the government has confirmed.”

Full story

BBC News, 24th February 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Diversity Review of Complaints Processes – Bar Standards Board

Posted February 20th, 2013 in barristers, complaints, diversity, minorities, news, professional conduct by sally

“The Bar Standards Board has commissioned an external agency to review its professional conduct complaints processes. The action was taken following an internal report which showed that Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) barristers were over represented in the complaints process.”

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 19th February 2013

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

AKJ and others v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and another; AJA and others v Same and others – WLR Daily

AKJ and others v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and another; AJA and others v Same and others [2013] EWHC 32 (QB); [2013] WLR (D) 49

“An intimate sexual relationship instigated by an undercover police officer with a member of the public for the purposes of obtaining information fell within the scope of ‘personal or other relationship with a person’ for the purposes of section 26(8) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 so that, by section 65, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal had exclusive jurisdiction to hear a claim brought against the police under the Human Rights Act 1998.”

WLR Daily, 18th January 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Royal College of Surgeons publishes landmark document on professional standards for cosmetic practice – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted February 8th, 2013 in cosmetic surgery, news, professional conduct by sally

“The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) has published a landmark document setting out professional standards for cosmetic practice, addressing the widespread lack of regulation of all aspects of the industry.”

Full story

Hardwicke Chambers, 29th January 2013

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Libor scandal: RBS fined £390m – BBC News

Posted February 6th, 2013 in banking, fines, interest, news, professional conduct by sally

“Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has been fined £390m ($610m) by UK and US authorities for its part in the Libor rate-fixing scandal.”

Full story

BBC News, 6th February 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lobbyists’ code of conduct bill to be debated for first time in parliament – The Guardian

Posted February 1st, 2013 in bills, lobbying, news, parliament, professional conduct by tracey

“Lobbyists working in Westminster or local government would have to sign a public register and agree to a code of conduct under a bill being debated for the first time in parliament on Friday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Assisted suicide: GMC signals doctors safe to provide medical records to Dignitas patients – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 1st, 2013 in assisted suicide, doctors, medical records, news, professional conduct by tracey

“Doctors will be able to provide medical records to patients who want them to
travel abroad for an assisted suicide without being struck off, new guidelines
make clear for the first time.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 1st February 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Changes to Public Access Training Announced – Bar Standards Board

“Public access barrister training is to be overhauled under proposals announced by the Bar Standards Board today.”

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 28th January 2013

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Leveson: Press and politicians still seek solution – BBC News

“For months, the Leveson Inquiry dominated the news, as a succession of high-profile witnesses gave evidence – actors Hugh Grant and Sienna Miller, singer Charlotte Church; the parents of Milly Dowler and Madeleine McCann; editors, proprietors, police chiefs, politicians.”

Full story

BBC News, 27th January 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk