Governance under the spotlight – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 2nd, 2019 in auditors, government departments, local government, news, standards by sally

‘As Roman satirist Juvenal was always asking down the pub: ‘Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?’ (But who guards the guards themselves?). For the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) the answer is the redoubtable House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC).’

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Law Society's Gazette, 1st July 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Home Office to lift cap on ‘inadequate’ help for trafficking victims – The Independent

‘The Home Office has been accused of “failing for years” in its legal obligation to support victims of trafficking after ministers admitted current provision falls short of what is needed.’

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The Independent, 1st July 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Guidelines “preserve GCs’ independence amidst corporate tension” – Legal Futures

‘Comprehensive guidelines to boost the roles of, and relationships between, in-house lawyers (IHLs) and non-executive directors (NEDs), have been drawn up in the hope of minimising the chances of an ethical lapse damaging both the companies they serve and the public interest.’

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Legal Futures, 28th June 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Gambling addict’s parents launch action to hold government liable for his death – The Guardian

Posted June 28th, 2019 in compensation, gambling, human rights, inquests, news, regulations, standards, suicide by sally

‘The parents of a gambling addict who took his own life have launched a legal bid to hold the government liable for his death, potentially opening the floodgates to multiple compensation claims citing lax regulation by the state.’

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The Guardian, 28th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Dozens of army instructors have been ‘accused of abusing recruits since 2015’, new figures reveal – Daily Telegraph

‘More than 100 Army instructors have been court-martialled or disciplined in the last four years for offences including abusing recruits, it has been reported.’

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Daily Telegraph, 22nd June 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Charity watchdog investigating claims of sex cover up by charity run by new Oxfam boss – Daily Telegraph

‘The charity watchdog is investigating claims that an organisation formerly led by the man enlisted to put the “house in order” following the Oxfam abuse scandal had allegedly covered up another sex scandal.’

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd June 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

HMP Birmingham: Scanner funding failure ‘inexplicable’ – BBC News

‘A troubled jail’s failure to secure funding for a body scanner to help stop drugs being smuggled in is “inexplicable”, the chief inspector of prisons has said.’

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BBC News, 18th June 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lawyers “confused by boundaries in wake of #MeToo” – Legal Futures

‘Lawyers and regulators are uncertain where the boundaries lie on misconduct in the wake of the #MeToo revelations, experts have warned.’

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Legal Futures, 10th June 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Grenfell survivors and relatives open US legal battle – BBC News

Posted June 10th, 2019 in accidents, damages, fire, health & safety, inquiries, news, standards by sally

‘More than 100 Grenfell survivors and relatives are taking legal action in the US against three firms they blame for the fire, the BBC has been told.’

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BBC News, 10th June 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Inhumane’: damning report on English and Welsh prisons – The Guardian

Posted June 6th, 2019 in health & safety, news, prisons, reports, standards by tracey

‘Prisoners are living in squalid and inhumane conditions in buildings that are unfit for purpose, according to a report that paints a damning picture of prisons in England and Wales.’

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The Guardian, 5th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Inquiry into Liverpool Community Health failures expected – BBC News

‘An independent inquiry into a failed NHS trust is expected to be announced later – amid concerns that 150 deaths were not properly investigated.’

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BBC News, 6th June 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Medical watchdog GMC needs to regain trust of doctors, finds review – The Guardian

‘The General Medical Council must fundamentally reform to regain the trust of the doctors it regulates and end their “toxic fear” of reprisals if they make mistakes, says a hard-hitting report.’

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The Guardian, 6th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Mental health hospital where patients were secluded in unfurnished, unsafe rooms, rated inadequate by watchdog – The Independent

‘Vulnerable patients at one of England’s largest charity-run mental health hospitals were kept in unsafe seclusion rooms for excessive amounts of time and without beds, blankets or pillows, a damning report has found. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated adolescent mental health services at St Andrew’s Healthcare hospital in Northampton ”inadequate”.’

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The Independent, 6th June 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK’s First Human Rights Ambassador Could Become A ‘Laughing Stock’, Barrister Warns – Rights Info

Posted May 22nd, 2019 in barristers, diplomats, human rights, news, standards by sally

‘The UK’s first ever international human rights ambassador will become a “laughing stock” if the government does not practice what it preaches, a former chairwoman of the Bar human rights committee has warned.’

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Rights Info, 20th May 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

Green light for new regime on when to report rule breaches – Legal Futures

‘New requirements for reporting rule breaches to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have been approved by the Legal Services Board (LSB).’

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Legal Futues, 21st May 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘Broken’ care system for most vulnerable – BBC News

‘Patients with mental health problems, autism and learning disabilities are being let down by a “broken” care system, a report warns.’

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BBC News, 21st May 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Build UK’s recommendation on contract terms: a step in the right direction – Practical Law: Construction Blog

Posted May 20th, 2019 in codes of practice, construction industry, contracts, news, standards by tracey

‘Build UK, a leading representative organisation for the construction industry, has published a non-binding recommendation on which contract terms its members should (as a minimum) refrain from using. The recommendation “seeks to form a new common ground between clients and the supply chain on contractual practice in the construction sector” with the key objectives being “to promote collaboration, encourage a fairer allocation of risk through the supply chain, and deliver better project outcomes”. In this blog I look at each of Build UK’s recommendations and consider whether they represent a departure from current market practice, or a consolidation of the examples of best practice that we are already seeing clients and contractors adopting in the current market.’

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Practical Law: Construction Blog, 15th May 2019

Source: constructionblog.practicallaw.com

The socio-economic duty: A powerful idea hidden in plain sight in the Equality Act – Oxford Human Rights Hub

‘Section 1 of the Equality Act 2010 asks public authorities to actively consider the way in which their policies and their most strategic decisions can increase or decrease inequalities. I am talking about the socio-economic duty. However, successive governments since 2010 have failed to commence it, to bring it to life in technical terms, which means that public authorities are not technically bound by Section 1.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 15th May 2019

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Lucy’s Law: Puppy farm ban set to be confirmed – BBC News

Posted May 13th, 2019 in animal cruelty, animals, news, sale of goods, standards by sally

‘A new law aimed at cracking down on so-called puppy farms in England is being presented to Parliament on Monday.’

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BBC News, 13th May 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Written pupillage agreements to reduce “inappropriate behaviour” – Legal Futures

‘Making written pupillage agreements compulsory could reduce the risk of pupil barristers being subjected to “inappropriate behaviour”, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has said.
It signalled the move in an informal consultation that also proposes to make it compulsory for chambers and other training providers to bring their pupillage recruitment timetables into line with the Pupillage Gateway.’

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Legal Futures, 9th May 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk