‘No justification’ for changing Human Rights Act, government told – The Independent

Posted July 9th, 2021 in human rights, news, parliament, select committees by tracey

‘There is “absolutely no justification” for the government to change the Human Rights Act, a parliamentary inquiry has found.’

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The Independent, 8th July 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Curbs on protests in policing bill breach human rights laws, MPs and peers say – The Guardian

Posted June 22nd, 2021 in bills, demonstrations, human rights, news, reports, select committees by sally

‘Restrictions on protests in the controversial new policing bill breach human rights laws and will increase the risk of peaceful demonstrators in England and Wales being criminalised, MPs and peers have warned.’

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The Guardian, 22nd June 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sewell says commission did find evidence of ‘persistent discrimination’ despite controversial race report – The Independent

Posted May 28th, 2021 in equality, inquiries, news, race discrimination, reports, select committees by tracey

‘A commission on racial inequality found evidence of “persistent race-based discrimination”, its chair told MPs on Thursday – despite barely mentioning the phrase in its widely contested report published earlier this year.’

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The Independent, 27th May 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘Unjust’ six-month time limit for reporting domestic abuse to police must be extended, MPs urge – The Independent

‘The government must urgently extend the “unjust” six-month time limit for domestic abuse victims to report domestic physical violence to the police, according to MPs who are to raise the issue in parliament.’

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The Independent, 22nd May 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New laws could lead to politicisation of the NHS, leading MPs warn – The Independent

‘The Commons health select committee said the planned new powers that would be granted to Matt Hancock under proposed changes legislation lack the necessary safeguards or detail on how the powers would be used.’

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The Independent, 14th May 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Anti-protest curbs in UK policing bill ‘violate international rights standards’ – The Guardian

‘Anti-protest curbs contained in the new policing bill are disproportionate, hand subjective powers to officers and the home secretary, and violate international human rights standards, MPs and peers have been told.’

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The Guardian, 28th April 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judges call for probe of discrimination in the judiciary – Litigation Futures

‘A group of serving judges has called on the justice select committee to conduct a “wholly independent audit” of discrimination in the judiciary.’

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Litigation Futures, 26th April 2021

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Covid-19 and the courts – The House of Lords Constitution Committee’s report – Transparency Project

Posted April 14th, 2021 in constitutional law, coronavirus, courts, inquiries, news, select committees by sally

‘In a report published at the end of last month the House of Lords Constitution Committee made a number of criticisms of the way the courts have responded to the coronavirus pandemic and the suspension of live hearings necessitated by the lockdown, and made various recommendations as to the need for more resources to reduce the backlog of cases and create a better justice system for the future.’

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Transparency Project, 11th April 2021

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Public Accounts Committee warns of “huge backlogs” in courts, justice system under “unprecedented pressure” – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Ministry of Justice “faces significant risks across the full range of its services, without a clear sense of prioritisation” and huge backlogs that have built up are causing “unacceptably long waiting times for people to access justice”, the Public Accounts Committee has said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th March 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

MPs launch inquiry into Government approach to permitted development rights – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 25th, 2021 in housing, inquiries, local government, news, planning, select committees by sally

‘The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has launched a new inquiry to examine the Government’s approach to permitted development rights (PDR).’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th March 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Criminals escaping justice as victims drop court cases due to delays, watchdog warns – The Independent

‘Rapists and other serious criminals are walking free because victims are dropping court cases because of delays, a watchdog has warned.’

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The Independent, 2nd March 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK government accused of ‘dragging heels’ on racism – The Guardian

‘The government is still “dragging its heels” on racism, according to MPs and race equality campaigners critical of its response to a damning parliamentary report on Black people and human rights.’

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The Guardian, 11th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ministers move to stop backbench revolt over UK courts’ role in genocide rulings – The Guardian

‘The government is seeking to fend off a backbench revolt over China by giving the foreign affairs select committee new powers to investigate whether a country is so clearly breaching human rights that the UK should not agree to a free trade deal with it.’

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The Guardian, 31st January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK regulator to write to WhatsApp over Facebook data sharing – The Guardian

Posted January 27th, 2021 in data protection, internet, news, privacy, select committees by sally

‘The UK’s data regulator is writing to WhatsApp to demand that the chat app does not hand user data to Facebook, as millions worldwide continue to sign up for alternatives such as Signal and Telegram to avoid forthcoming changes to its terms of service.’

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The Guardian, 26th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Antiquated process’: data regulator on obtaining Cambridge Analytica warrant – The Guardian

Posted November 25th, 2020 in auditors, data protection, fines, internet, news, privacy, select committees, warrants by sally

‘The information commissioner has criticised the “antiquated process” that led to Facebook getting hold of Cambridge Analytica’s servers before the UK regulator itself, and renewed calls for an international approach to data privacy to tackle the emerging threat of data havens.’

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The Guardian, 24th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lord Chancellor rails against lawyers who “vaunt political views” online – Legal Futures

‘The Lord Chancellor yesterday told lawyers who “vaunt their political views” on social media to raise their profile and attract work that they are giving the profession a bad name.’

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Legal Futures, 19th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

MPs demand explanation for disproportionate numbers of Black teens in custody – The Independent

‘A parliamentary committee is demanding an explanation from ministers for the “disproportionate” incarceration of Black and minority ethnic (Bame) teenagers, after a report found they make up more than half of inmates youth custody.’

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The Independent, 12th November 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Virus backlogs must not become “new normal”, says Lord Chief – Legal Futures

‘The Lord Chief Justice told MPs yesterday that he is “extremely concerned” that the backlogs that have grown across the justice system since March should not be “viewed by anybody as the new normal”.’

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Legal Futures, 11th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Forces claims bill condemned as attack on independent legal profession – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Law Society has endorsed parliamentary criticism of proposed legislation aimed at curbing what the government calls vexatious claims against service personnel.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 30th October 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Legal aid services are on brink of collapse, lawyers tell MPs – The Guardian

‘Legal aid services are on the brink of collapse due to successive cuts and the disruption wreaked by Covid-19, say lawyers.’

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The Guardian, 29th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com