Current Awareness

‘The day before MPs begin hearing evidence on challenges around the disclosure of evidence in criminal cases, the Attorney General’s Office has announced it will not be issuing a call for evidence to inform its wider review.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 26th March 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Arson and criminal damage – consultation launched on sentencing guideline – Sentencing Council

Posted March 27th, 2018 in arson, consultations, criminal damage, press releases, sentencing by sally

‘The Sentencing Council has published proposed new guidelines covering arson and criminal damage offences. The guidelines, for courts in England and Wales, will help ensure consistent and proportionate sentencing for these offences.’

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Sentencing Council, 27th march 2018

Source: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk

MPs demand action over Jehovah’s Witness abuse allegations – The Guardian

Posted March 27th, 2018 in child abuse, complaints, news, parliament, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘MPs are demanding government action after more than 100 people contacted the Guardian with allegations of child sexual abuse and other mistreatment in Jehovah’s Witness communities in the UK.’

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The Guardian, 26th March 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Steven Gane jailed after ‘driving his partner to suicide’ – BBC News

Posted March 27th, 2018 in coercive & controlling behaviour, harassment, news, sentencing, suicide by sally

‘A man who physically and mentally abused his girlfriend before she took her own life has been jailed for controlling and coercive behaviour.’

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BBC News, 26th March 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

FCA crackdown on dodgy pensions advice after thousands of people hit by scandal – The Independent

Posted March 27th, 2018 in financial advice, financial regulation, news, pensions by sally

‘The City watchdog has announced measures to deal with an “erupting pensions mis-selling scandal”, but MPs say the plans do not go far enough to protect people’s savings.’

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The Independent, 26th March 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Regulator Ofgem temporarily bans energy company Iresa from taking on new customers – The Independent

Posted March 27th, 2018 in complaints, energy, licensing, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘Energy company Iresa has been temporarily banned by the industry regulator from taking on new customers or increasing existing customers’ direct debits for up to three months until it resolves a series of service issues.’

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The Independent, 27th March 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Richard Frost: 117mph double death crash driver jailed – BBC News

Posted March 27th, 2018 in assault, dangerous driving, drug abuse, homicide, money laundering, news, sentencing by sally

‘A motorist who hit speeds of 117mph before killing two pedestrians when he drove along the verge on the wrong side of the road has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 26th March 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Scale of child abuse survey ‘needed every 10 years’ – BBC News

Posted March 27th, 2018 in child abuse, children, news, sexual grooming, sexual offences by sally

‘Thousands of children should be surveyed to build a true picture of sexual exploitation, experts have said. The government says it does not know how many girls have been groomed in the wake of questions about sexual exploitation in Telford. But the Centre of Expertise for Child Sexual Abuse is designing a survey of children to run every 10 years to assess the scale of the problem.’

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BBC News, 27th March 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ban non-disclosure agreements on workplace sexual harassment, says EHRC – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 27th, 2018 in agreements, disclosure, employment, Equality and Human Rights Commission, harassment, news, non-disclosure agreements, sexual offences by sally

‘Non-disclosure agreements about sexual harassment in the workplace should be banned, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has said.’

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Daily Telegraph, 27th March 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Hospital locksmith defrauded NHS out of £600k by hiring his own firm to supply goods at marked-up prices – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 27th, 2018 in fraud, hospitals, London, news, sentencing by sally

‘The chief locksmith at a major hospital trust defrauded it out of nearly £600,000 by hiring his own supply firm and charging a 1,200 per cent mark-up on goods, a court heard.
Andrew Taylor, who was the main locksmith for Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London, was found guilty of fraud by abuse of position at Inner London Crown Court and jailed for six years.’

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Daily Telegraph, 27th March 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Prisons watchdog demands action after 500 self-harm incidents in six months at young offenders’ institution – The Independent

Posted March 27th, 2018 in mental health, news, prisons, self-harm, violence, young offenders by sally

‘Prison inspectors have demanded urgent action at a young offenders’ institution that saw more than 500 incidents of self-harm in just six months.’

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The Independent, 27th March 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Tara Newbold death: Duane Ballin jailed for GBH but not murder – BBC News

Posted March 27th, 2018 in domestic violence, grievous bodily harm, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man who told police “I think I’ve killed my girlfriend” after beating her hours before she died has been jailed for the attack but not murder.’

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BBC news, 26th March 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

NHS trust fined £2m for Connor Sparrowhawk and Teresa Colvin deaths – The Guardian

Posted March 27th, 2018 in fines, health, health & safety, mental health, news by sally

‘An NHS trust has been fined a record £2m after admitting “systemic failures” following the deaths of two vulnerable patients. Southern Health pleaded guilty last year to breaching health and safety laws following the deaths of Teresa Colvin and Connor Sparrowhawk, an epileptic teenager with autism who drowned in a bath at an NHS care unit.’

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The Guardian, 26th March 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com