Expert witness wins apology and payment from Legal Aid Agency – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 18th, 2017 in complaints, expert witnesses, fees, legal aid, news, ombudsmen, reports by sally

‘The Legal Aid Agency has been told to directly apologise and pay £10,000 to an expert witness in immigration cases for causing him distress, inconvenience and financial loss by excessively auditing his bills.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 17th July 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Police failing to disclose crucial evidence about defendants, report finds – The Independent

Posted July 18th, 2017 in criminal justice, disclosure, evidence, news, police, reports by sally

‘The police and Crown Prosecution Service have been accused of failing to disclose crucial information about cases, resulting in defendants’ right to a fair trial potentially being undermined, according to a new report. Compiled by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and the HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, it found that it was rare for police officers to tell prosecutors about evidence that could undermine their case or assist the accused’s – known in legal terms as unused material.’

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The Independent, 18th July 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Burglary sentencing guideline assessment published – Sentencing Council

Posted July 14th, 2017 in burglary, reports, sentencing by sally

‘The Council has published an assessment of its burglary sentencing guideline which came into force in January 2012. It follows an initial assessment published in 2016 and details the results of further analysis on the impact of the guideline.’

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Source: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk

Barristers are serving family law clients well, says new BSB research – Bar Standards Board

Posted July 13th, 2017 in barristers, family courts, news, press releases, reports by sally

‘The BSB has today published the findings of its research with people who have used barristers’ services during family legal proceedings. The findings show that most of those who took part in the research were positive about the service they received from their barrister.’

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Bar Standards Board, 11th July 2017

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Matthew Taylor report: Government should look at reducing the cost of employment tribunal fees – The Independent

‘Government officials should look at reducing the cost of employment tribunal fees, according to Matthew Taylor, who today publishes a long-awaited review into employment rights of workers in the gig economy.’

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The Independent, 11th July 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK watchdog criticises treatment of deportees on charter flights – The Guardian

Posted July 6th, 2017 in airlines, deportation, immigration, news, reports, restraint by sally

‘The enforced removal of some people from Britain on escorted chartered flights falls short of humane treatment, with some leaving the country in waist restraint belts or leg restraints almost as a default, according to an official watchdog.

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The Guardian, 5th July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Why we need more black and minority ethnic magistrates – The Guardian

‘Jacqueline Macdonald-Davis and Jessica Baldwin are spearheading a campaign to court greater diversity among volunteers to the bench.’

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The Guardian, 4th July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Stalking victims being failed, say watchdogs – BBC News

Posted July 5th, 2017 in harassment, news, police, reports, stalking, victims by sally

‘Victims of harassment and stalking are being left at risk because of failings by police and prosecutors in England and Wales, say two watchdogs.’

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BBC News, 5th July 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police failed to protect Bijan Ebrahimi prior to his murder, IPCC says – The Guardian

‘Police repeatedly failed to protect a disabled Iranian refugee as neighbours waged a violent seven-year campaign of hate that culminated in his murder by a misguided vigilante, a report has concluded.’

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The Guardian, 5th June 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK minimum wage law ‘should cover more self-employed workers’ – The Guardian

Posted July 4th, 2017 in flexible working, minimum wage, news, reports, self-employment by sally

‘The government should step in to help those suffering from extreme low pay by extending minimum wage legislation so that it covers minicab drivers and other parts of the 4.8 million-strong self-employed workforce, a thinktank has urged.’

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The Guardian, 4th July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Amber Rudd urged to publish report on deaths in police custody – The Guardian

Posted July 3rd, 2017 in death in custody, delay, news, reports, statistics by sally

‘The home secretary has been accused of sitting on a report from a critical inquiry into deaths in police custody.’

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The Guardian, 2nd July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

SAS soldiers ‘suspected’ of executing unarmed Afghans and covering up potential war crimes – The Independent

Posted July 3rd, 2017 in Afghanistan, armed forces, news, reports, war crimes by sally

‘A “rogue” Special Air Service (SAS) unit is suspected of executing unarmed civilians in Afghanistan and fabricating reports to cover up potential war crimes, according to reports.’

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The Independent, 2nd July 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Review of NHS correspondence backlog finds 1,788 cases of potential harm – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 29th, 2017 in data protection, health, news, privacy, reports by sally

‘A review of how NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) handled a huge backlog of unprocessed clinical correspondence has found 1,788 cases of potential harm to patients, the National Audit Office has said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 27th June 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

BSB consults on extending cab-rank rule to direct access cases – but comes out against it – Legal Futures

Posted June 29th, 2017 in barristers, competition, consultations, news, reports by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has argued against extending the cab-rank rule to work where barristers are instructed directly, arguing that access to justice would not improve, it might discourage them from taking instructions from the public, and may lead to clients invoking the rule inappropriately.’

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Legal Futures, 27th June 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Stop and search is not used fairly, most young BAME people believe – The Guardian

‘Three-quarters of young black and minority ethnic (BAME) people believe they and their communities are being targeted unfairly by stop and search despite a steep decline in the use of the controversial tactic, according to new research.’

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The Guardian, 29th June 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Legal aid cuts ‘may have stopped Grenfell tenants pursuing safety concerns’ – The Guardian

‘Cuts to legal aid may have stopped tenants in Grenfell Tower from pursuing safety concerns that could have prevented the fire, the president of the Law Society, Robert Bourns, has suggested.’

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The Guardian, 29th June 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lord Carey quits Church of England role after report found he ‘colluded’ with sex abuse bishop – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 27th, 2017 in clergy, conspiracy, news, reports, sexual offences by sally

‘George Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, has resigned from his post in the Church of England over a report that said he was among senior figures who “colluded” with paedophile bishop Peter Ball.’

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Daily Telegraph, 26th June 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Jeremy Hunt and NHS ‘delayed telling patients’ about mislaid confidential documents after private firm blunder – The Independent

Posted June 27th, 2017 in data protection, health, ministers' powers and duties, news, privacy, reports by sally

‘Jeremy Hunt has been accused of leaving Parliament and patients in the dark after hundreds of thousands of pieces of confidential medical correspondence was discovered “languishing in a warehouse”. At least 1,700 patients may have been harmed by the major blunder, according to a new report into the incident from the National Audit Office (NAO).’

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The Independent, 27th June 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Sally Hodkin murder: Failings led to killing by Nicola Edgington – BBC News

Posted June 26th, 2017 in mental health, murder, news, police, reports by sally

‘A series of NHS and police failings led to the brutal murder of a woman by a psychiatric patient, a report has found.’

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BBC News, 23rd June 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

No legal barriers to social investment, but pension schemes still not investing – Law Commission

Posted June 23rd, 2017 in contribution, Law Commission, news, pensions, press releases, reports by sally

‘There are no legal or regulatory barriers to pension schemes making social investments, according to a new report by the Law Commission.’

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Law Commission, 23rd June 2017

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk