Watchdog exposes ‘unacceptable’ treatment of children in English court cells – The Guardian

‘Children with Down’s syndrome and autism were among those left for hours in court cells while they waited for legal representation or transport, a custody watchdog has revealed in a damning report.’

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The Guardian, 7th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Model Code of Conduct consultation – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Most councillors work with tireless dedication to provide, promote and lead best-quality and responsive local services in their areas. But for their pains they can often be subject to rude abuse. Even Samuel Pepys, writing on 17 March 1662, recorded his Lord Mayor as “a talking, bragging Bufflehead” (blockhead) and was “confident there is no man almost in the City cares a turd for him”. On the other hand, the dark ghost of “Donnygate” haunts public perceptions of council members’ conduct. On 13 March 2002, the Guardian reported that: “The worst local government corruption case since the Poulson scandal of the 1970s ended yesterday” when former Doncaster planning chairman, Peter Birks, was imprisoned for four years and two former council leaders and two former mayors were among 21 councillors convicted of fraud.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 3rd August 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

“Our goodwill has run dry” – hundreds to refuse out-of-hours hearings – Legal Futures

‘Hundreds of crime lawyers have issued public refusals to attend hearings in evenings or at weekends as new figures show that backlogs in courts and tribunals were growing even before the coronavirus.’

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Legal Futures, 24th July 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Call for impartial websites on quality of lawyers’ services – Legal Futures

Posted July 20th, 2020 in internet, legal profession, legal services, news, standards by sally

‘Independent websites providing impartial information on the quality of legal services providers are needed to guide people looking for a lawyer, the Legal Services Consumer Panel has argued.’

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Legal Futures, 20th July 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lack of transparency undermining Westminster standards system, parliament’s sleaze watchdog warns – The Independent

Posted July 16th, 2020 in complaints, inquiries, news, parliament, standards by tracey

‘Parliament’s sleaze watchdog has warned that a lack of openness is undermining the Westminster standards system, as she appealed for a new right to name MPs who are under investigation.’

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The Independent, 15th July 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK accounting firms criticised by watchdog for ‘unacceptable’ work – The Guardian

Posted July 15th, 2020 in accountants, auditors, news, ombudsmen, standards by tracey

‘The accounting watchdog has hit out at the UK’s largest auditors, after its annual inspection uncovered an “unacceptable” number of poorly executed company audits.’

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The Guardian, 14th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Shropshire maternity scandal: Hundreds more cases under review – BBC News

Posted July 13th, 2020 in birth, hospitals, inquiries, news, pregnancy, quality assurance, standards by sally

‘Hundreds more cases are to be reviewed by an independent inquiry into maternity care at an NHS trust, BBC News has learned.’

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BBC News, 10th July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Hastings Borough Council v Turner [2020] UKUT 184 (LC) – Tanfield Chambers

‘A property which was converted into flats before the Building Regulations 1991 came into force, which otherwise falls within the meaning of an HMO set out in Section 254(1)(e) of the Housing Act 2004, will be an HMO unless those regulations are now complied with. When appealing the issue of an HMO license in the FTT, the burden of proof is on the applicant to establish that the property is now compliant with the Buildings Regulations 1991.’

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Tanfield Chambers, 30th June 2020

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk

Grenfell Tower inquiry: Fire ‘inextricably linked with race’ – BBC News

‘The Grenfell Tower fire inquiry “must not ignore” the impact of race and poverty on the disaster, a lawyer representing survivors has said.’

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BBC News, 7th July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Grenfell Tower inquiry resumes but distancing rules anger families – The Guardian

‘Builders behind the disastrous Grenfell Tower refurbishment are finally set to face public questioning over the June 2017 fire that killed 72 people, as the delayed public inquiry resumes on Monday with strict social distancing rules that have angered the bereaved.’

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The Guardian, 6th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prisons watchdog finds children ‘routinely handcuffed’ – BBC News

‘Detainees, including children, are still being routinely handcuffed in custody in a practice described as “inappropriate and very concerning”.’

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BBC News, 1st July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Major failures led to accidental release of serial rapist, report finds – The Guardian

‘Significant failings by prison and probation staff, and a policy of not recalling high risk prisoners to alleviate pressure on a growing prison population, saw serial rapist Joseph McCann mistakenly freed from jail to attack 11 women and children, a review has found.’

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The Guardian, 30th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Unfurnished temporary accommodation – is it suitable? – Nearly Legal

Posted June 29th, 2020 in homelessness, housing, judicial review, local government, news, standards by sally

‘A judicial review where the relevant parts played out in the early stages of the pandemic lockdown, and where the central question was whether self contained accommodation provided without a fridge, cooker and bed, was suitable within the meaning of section 206 Housing Act 1996, such that interim relief could be ordered.’

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Nearly Legal, 28th June 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

UK could be breaking international law over cladding, says UN – The Guardian

‘The UN has warned Britain that its failure to strip combustible cladding from high-rise buildings containing tens of thousands homes may be a breach of international law.’

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The Guardian, 28th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Property owners found guilty over illegal sub-division of building after ten year battle with council – Local Government Lawyer

‘Two joint property owners have been found guilty of illegally sub-dividing a building into seven substandard flats in a prosecution brought by the London Borough of Camden.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 25th June 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

The Frontline Doctors Challenging The Government’s Handling Of Covid-19 – Each Other

‘On Thursday (23 April), the couple launched a legal challenge against the government’s guidance on personal protective equipment (PPE), which they argue exposes them to coronavirus infections.’

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Each Other, 28th April 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

What Standard of Care Should Hospitals be Held to in the COVID-19 Outbreak? – 39 Essex Chambers

‘It is no secret that Covid-19 is placing huge strain on the NHS, with ramifications across all parts of an already stretched organisation. Hospitals nationwide have been told to prepare for a tsunami of patients demanding very high levels of care. They are having to do so while facing staff shortages and worries over the supply of essential equipment. In an effort to cope, retired doctors and not-yet-fully qualified doctors have been drafted in. In such circumstances, it is inevitable that accidents will happen and errors will be made. Once all of this is over, it is a regrettable fact that litigation will ensue. Will the law step up to protect the professionals who have done so much to save lives and ready the nation for the post-corona world? This short article argues that it can and should, most obviously by recognising that desperate circumstances should be reflected in the standard of care applied to hospitals and medical professionals working in response to Covid-19.’

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39 Essex Chambers, 22nd April 2020

Source: www.39essex.com

The UK Government’s guidance on combating coronavirus in care homes is inconsistent with WHO standards – Doughty Street Chambers

‘This paper contributes a combined human rights perspective and an infection prevention and control perspective to the COVID-19 situation in long-term care homes in the UK.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 21st April 2020

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

DVSA told to act after Attleborough man killed by lorry – BBC News

Posted April 20th, 2020 in accidents, coroners, dangerous driving, news, road safety, standards by tracey

‘A coroner has called for changes to HGV training after an 82-year-old pedestrian was hit and killed while standing in a driver’s blind spot.’

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BBC News, 19th April 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judges warn over parties’ conduct in remote hearings – Litigation Futures

‘Courts and tribunals have made “remarkable” progress in dealing with remote hearings during the coronavirus crisis, but there are concerns about the behaviour of parties, the senior judiciary has said.’

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Litigation Futures, 15th April 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com