UK businesses see record number of European patents granted by EPO – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 9th, 2017 in EC law, intellectual property, news, patents, reports, statistics by sally

‘A record number of European patents were granted to UK businesses in 2016 by the European Patent Office (EPO), according to new figures.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 9th March 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Legal problem and resolution survey 2014 to 2015 – Ministry of Justice

‘These reports present the findings from the Legal Problem and Resolution Survey 2014 to 2015, a telephone survey of 10,058 adults in England and Wales.’

Full reports

Ministry of Justice, 3rd march 2017

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Met Police still don’t know where FGM is happening after 32 years without a conviction – The Independent

Posted March 8th, 2017 in children, female genital mutilation, London, news, police, statistics by sally

‘The police inspector in charge of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) investigations in London said the Metropolitan Police still does not know where young women and girls are being cut and disfigured. Inspector Allen Davis’s comments came as the NHS revealed there were nearly 5,500 new FGM cases reported to hospitals, clinics and GPs in 2016.’

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The Independent, 8th March 2017

Source: www.indpendent.co.uk

What do immigration officers look for when assessing visit visa applications? – Free Movement

‘In the year to September 2016, UK immigration authorities received almost 2 million applications for visit visas. Just over 15% of these applications were rejected.’

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Free Movement, 6th March 2017

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

Drugs seized 30 times a day in prisons, according to new data – The Guardian

Posted March 6th, 2017 in drug offences, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, statistics by sally

‘Drugs were seized almost 30 times a day in prisons in England and Wales last year with the weight of the illegal substances confiscated reaching 225kg. The figures come from new government analysis documenting the epidemic of drugs being smuggled into the penal network.’

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The Guardian, 5th March 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Men ‘bullied’ out of generous divorce settlements by breadwinning wives – Daily Telegraph

‘Men are being awarded more generous divorce payouts with some also receiving ongoing payments from their ex-wives, lawyers say.’

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Daily Telegraph, 4th February 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Just 10% of people with legal problems turn to a solicitor, major research finds – Legal Futures

‘Only 10% of people with legal problems use a solicitor, and often only after approaching other sources of advice first, major government research has revealed.’

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Legal Futures, 6th March 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Sexual harassment ‘at epidemic levels’ in UK universities – The Guardian

‘Almost 300 claims against staff have been made in six years, but victims and lawyers say those are just tip of iceberg.’

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The Guardian, 5th March 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Payday loans complaints rise 22% despite FCA clampdown – The Guardian

Posted February 28th, 2017 in banking, complaints, consumer credit, financial regulation, insurance, news, statistics by sally

‘Complaints to the financial ombudsman about payday loans have risen to almost 200 a week – and not all of those experiencing problems necessarily fit the image of low-income borrowers relying on short-term loans to get by.’

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The Guardian, 28th February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Thousands spent on judges’ security amid growing hostility – The Guardian

‘Ministry of Justice says security was upgraded at judges’ homes, with figures showing many in judiciary fear for safety.’

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The Guardian, 27th February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

How is the PLO working? What is its impact on court process and outcome? – Family Law Week

‘The last five years have brought important reforms to care proceedings. The Judiciary made proposals for modernising family justice with a focus on strong judicial leadership, judicial continuity and better case management.2 The Family Justice Review3 recommended that the duration of care proceedings should be limited to 26 weeks, that fewer experts should be instructed in proceedings and there should be more limited scrutiny of the care plan, with the court considering only the plan for permanency (care by the parents(s), placement in the extended family, long-term fostering, or adoption) and not matters such as services for the child and contact arrangements. The Review’s recommendations were enacted in the Children and Families Act 2014, supplemented by new procedural rules (the PLO 2014) and implemented on April 22, 2014. This date also marked the opening of the Family Court, replacing the triple jurisdiction of the Family Proceedings Court, the County Court and the High Court. ‘

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Family Law Week, 17th February 2017

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Domestic abuse victims wait nearly two years for compensation – The Guardian

Posted February 17th, 2017 in compensation, domestic violence, news, statistics, victims by sally

‘Domestic violence victims are waiting almost two years on average to receive compensation for abuse they have suffered, government statistics have revealed.’

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The Guardian, 17th February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Record hate crimes’ after EU referendum – BBC News

Posted February 15th, 2017 in EC law, hate crime, news, referendums, statistics by sally

‘A majority of police forces in England and Wales saw record levels of hate crimes in the first full three months following the EU referendum, according to new analysis.’

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BBC News, 15th February 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

NHS hasn’t improved enough since Mid Staffs, says inquiry lawyer – The Guardian

Posted February 13th, 2017 in health, news, statistics by sally

‘Current conditions in the NHS ”sound familiar” to those that existed during the Mid Staffordshire scandal, according to the lawyer who chaired the inquiry into the hospital trust.’

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The Guardian, 12th February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Prisons need ‘profound culture change’, charities say – BBC News

Posted February 13th, 2017 in charities, mental health, news, prisons, reports, statistics, suicide by sally

‘Prisons in England and Wales need a “profound culture change” which focuses on inmate safety, a new report says.’

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BBC News, 13th February 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judges ready to jump ship over declining pay and conditions – Litigation Futures

Posted February 10th, 2017 in judiciary, news, pensions, remuneration, retirement, statistics by sally

‘Research has shown widespread disaffection among the judiciary with working conditions, including findings that almost half of High Court judges would quit the bench early if possible.’

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Litigation Futures, 10th February 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Number of child murders falls to lowest figure since records began – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 10th, 2017 in children, murder, news, sexual offences, statistics by sally

‘The number of child murders fell to the lowest level on record last year despite an 11 per cent rise in adult homicides across Britain.’

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Daily Telegraph, 9th February 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police pay out at least £22m to informants in five years – BBC News

Posted February 8th, 2017 in freedom of information, informers, news, police, remuneration, statistics by sally

‘Police forces across the UK paid out at least £22m to informants over the last five years, according to figures obtained by BBC Radio 5 live.’

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BBC News, 8th February 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Claims of child-on-child sexual offences soar in England and Wales – The Guardian

‘Allegations of children committing sexual offences against other children have risen 78% in England and Wales in four years, prompting renewed calls for compulsory education on sexual consent and healthy relationships.’

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The Guardian, 3rd February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

One female genital mutilation case reported every hour in the UK – The Independent

Posted February 6th, 2017 in children, female genital mutilation, health, news, statistics, women by sally

‘A case of female genital mutilation (FGM) is either discovered or treated at a medical appointment in England every hour, according to analysis of NHS statistics by a charity.’

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The Independent, 6th February 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk