NDAs: Millionaire given secrecy order over sex assault claims – BBC News

‘A senior British establishment figure was given anonymity after accusations of sexual harassment and assault in an employment case, it has been reported.’

Full Story

BBC News, 6th July 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

CPS cancels meeting on rape victims’ phone data due to legal action – The Guardian

‘Police chiefs and prosecutors have been accused of treating a coalition of women’s groups with contempt after cancelling a meeting to discuss concerns over requests to hand over mobile phone records in rape investigations.’

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The Guardian, 6th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Green bicycle mystery: Case ‘worthy of Sherlock Holmes’ – BBC News

Posted July 8th, 2019 in barristers, bicycles, evidence, legal history, murder, news, victims, women by sally

‘It was a murder trial that captivated a nation: a well-spoken former Army officer represented by the most famous barrister of the day stands accused of killing a vivacious, independent young woman.’

Full Story

BBC News, 8th July 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police face calls to end use of facial recognition software – The Guardian

‘Police are facing calls to halt the use of facial recognition software to search for suspected criminals in public after independent analysis found matches were only correct in a fifth of cases and the system was likely to break human rights laws.’

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The Guardian, 3rd July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Office to rewrite controversial advice on trafficked Nigerian women – The Guardian

Posted July 3rd, 2019 in asylum, news, prostitution, trafficking in human beings, women by sally

‘The Home Office is to rewrite guidance on handling asylum claims for women trafficked into the UK from Nigeria after it emerged the advice claimed victims could return to the African country “wealthy from prostitution” and “held in high regard”.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 2nd July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Watchdog criticises ‘chaotic’ police use of facial recognition – The Guardian

‘Police forces are pushing ahead with the use of facial recognition systems in the absence of clear laws on whether, when or how the technology should be employed, a watchdog has said.’

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The Guardian, 27th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bias still hindering women targeting partnership at big firms – Legal Futures

Posted June 25th, 2019 in bias, bullying, diversity, harassment, law firms, news, partnerships, women by sally

‘Only 33% of new partners at Europe’s biggest law firms are women with bias from both male colleagues and male clients the main reason for gender imbalance, a report has found.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 25th June 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Women lawyers face uphill struggle on fees and salaries – Legal Futures

Posted June 19th, 2019 in bias, equality, fees, legal profession, news, remuneration, reports, women by sally

‘Some clients expect discounts on fees for using a female lawyer while women who push for higher salaries are likely to be labelled “aggressive”, a global survey by the Law Society has found. The report concluded that quotas could help to tackle inequality as there was “no real equality or meritocracy in the legal profession”.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 19th June 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Review finds family ties ‘utterly indispensable’ to rehabilitation of female offenders – Ministry of Justice

‘A new report by Lord Michael Farmer on the value of prisoners’ family ties has found that healthy relationships are a “must have” when it comes to preventing women from reoffending. Prisoners who receive family visits are 39% less likely to reoffend, and research suggests that these relationships are even more important for women than they are for men.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 18th June 2019

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

Justice system smeared our mother, say Sally Challen’s sons – The Guardian

‘Sally Challen was subjected to a false narrative by a criminal justice system that painted her as “a controlling and jealous lover who planned to kill her husband”, her son has said.’

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The Guardian, 8th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

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.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 10th June 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The CPS is failing rape victims. That’s why we’re taking legal action – The Guardian

‘Reported rapes have soared, but cases reaching court have plummeted. Our coalition of women’s groups won’t stand for it.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 10th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Women pension age case goes to High Court – BBC News

Posted June 5th, 2019 in judicial review, news, pensions, retirement, sex discrimination, women by sally

‘Campaigners will head to the High Court on Wednesday for a judicial review into how the government raised the retirement age for women.’

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BBC News, 5th June 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Report calls for end to “macho culture” of chambers – Legal Futures

Posted May 30th, 2019 in barristers, diversity, equality, gender, news, statistics, women by sally

‘The “macho culture that can pervade chambers” must go if the Bar is to improve its gender balance, a report by a specialist discrimination law firm run by a QC has concluded.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 30th May 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Trans women given formal access to Hampstead Heath pond – The Guardian

Posted May 24th, 2019 in equality, gender, news, sex discrimination, transgender persons, women by sally

‘Transgender women have had their right to use Hampstead Heath ponds formalised in a new policy. The City of London Corporation (CoLC), which manages Hampstead Heath and its ponds, announced that it had adopted a new gender identity policy to make sure services in the area “are fully compliant with the Equality Act 2010, and do not discriminate against trans people”.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 23rd May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Maternity rights bill could make things worse, campaigner says – BBC News

‘A bill which aims to protect women’s jobs when they return to work after giving birth will have little impact, a pregnancy rights campaigner says.’

Full Story

BBC News, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police facial recognition surveillance court case starts – BBC News

‘The first major legal challenge to police use of automated facial recognition surveillance begins in Cardiff later.’

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BBC News, 21st May 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Councils to have statutory duty to deliver support in secure accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse – Local Government Lawyer

‘Councils are to be legally required for the first time to deliver support in secure accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse, the Government has announced.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th May 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

PM vows to end postcode lottery for domestic abuse victims

‘The prime minister has vowed to end the postcode lottery for those escaping domestic abuse.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 13th May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

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.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 9th May 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk