Randox forensics inquiry: Police suspend drug-test contracts – BBC News
‘Police have suspended all contracts with a drug-testing company amid allegations of data manipulation.’
BBC News, 27th November 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk
The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products (Amendment) Regulations 2017
The Policing and Crime Act 2017 (Commencement No. 5 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2017
The Police (Conduct, Complaints and Misconduct and Appeal Tribunal) (Amendment) Regulations 2017
The Police Barred List and Police Advisory List Regulations 2017
The Town and Country Planning (Operation Stack) Special Development (Amendment) Order 2017
The Credit Unions Act 1979 (Locality Common Bond Conditions) Order 2017
Source: www.legislation.gov.uk
Court rejects call by council for pensions set-off from officer convicted of fraud – Local Government Lawyer
‘The High Court has rejected a London borough’s bid to set off the pension benefits of a former senior finance officer who defrauded the council.’
Local Government Lawyer, 24th November 2017
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Dodgy drug test results – what should I do? – Transparency Project
‘On 21 November the Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal’s Service issued advice for those concerned about potentially unreliable forensic toxicology (drug) tests in some family cases. The advice also relates to criminal trials, but this post looks at the issue for people who have been involved with a family court case and who are worried that the test results may have been dodgy.’
Transparency Project, 23rd November 2017
Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk
English courts committed to high-quality commercial litigation throughout the country, says expert – OUT-LAW.com
‘Comments around the launch of the Business and Property Courts (BPC) underline the judicial service’s commitment to high-quality commercial litigation regardless of where a case is filed in England and Wales, an expert has said.’
OUT-LAW.com, 23rd November 2017
Source: www.out-law.com
’Irrelevant’ criminal record checks harm ex-offenders’ job hopes – The Guardian
‘The criminal records system is hampering the rehabilitation of ex-offenders, according to new figures. Nearly three quarters of the million or so convictions revealed to employers each year in criminal records checks are more than a decade old. Only around 5,000 – one in 197 – are considered relevant to a person’s job application.’
The Guardian, 25th November 2017
Source: www.theguardian.com
Drone users will be forced to sit safety tests as number of near misses with planes increases by 60 per cent – Daily Telegraph
‘Drone users will be forced to sit safety tests under a government clampdown after near misses with planes have increased by 60 per cent in a year.’
Daily Telegraph, 26th November 2017
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
District wins first ever judicial review challenge to decision of planning inspector – Local Government Lawyer
‘Tendring District Council has won its first ever judicial review challenge over a decision of a planning inspector.’
Local Government Lawyer, November 2017
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Gig economy reform – how to balance innovation and the protection of workers – Technology Law Update
‘The position of workers in the gig economy, those on zero hours contracts and agency workers has been the focus of political attention recently. While these models provide valuable flexibility to businesses, especially those using innovative technology like using an app or a website to hire someone for a particular task, they can leave individuals with insecure incomes and future prospects, and unprotected from exploitative companies. They can also leave the most responsible businesses at a disadvantage.’
Technology Law Update, 23rd November 2017
Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk
No overcrowding link to prison suicide, study suggests – BBC News
‘There is no clear link between prison suicides and overcrowding behind bars, an international study has suggested.’
BBC News, 25th November 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Electronic tag misuse inquiry leads to 29 people charged – BBC News
‘Two former staff at the Electronic Monitoring Service (EMS) are among 29 people charged after an inquiry into the misuse of tags fitted on offenders.’
BBC News, 27th November 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Number of young people acting as ‘money mules’ doubles – BBC News
‘The number of young people caught acting as “money mules” has doubled in the past four years, according to the UK’s fraud prevention service, Cifas.’
BBC News, 27th November 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Proposed law would add mothers’ names to marriage certificates in England and Wales – The Guardian
‘Mothers’ names could be added to marriage certificates for the first time if a cross-party group of MPs succeed in changing the wording on the documents, which campaigners say are no longer fit for modern times.’
The Guardian, 26th November 2017
Source: www.theguardian.com
Exploring applications for declarations of parentage (Akyuz v Akyuz) – Family Law
‘Private Client analysis: Michael Wells-Greco, partner at Charles Russell Speechlys, examines the issues in Akyuz v Akyuz and examines whether an application for a declaration of parentage should be dismissed or stayed on the basis of forum non conveniens.’
Family Law, 24th November 2017
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
Home Office review over harassment at abortion clinics – BBC News
‘New laws could be introduced to protect women from harassment outside abortion clinics, the Home Office has said.’
BBC News, 26th November 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
UK watchdog launches inquiry into teacher who admitted molesting boys – The Guardian
‘The UK teachers’ watchdog has launched an investigation into alleged misconduct by an American teacher who the Guardian revealed was hired by two British schools despite previously admitting molesting boys.’
The Guardian, 26th November 2017
Source: www.theguardian.com
NHS pays out record compensation to cancer patients – Daily Telegraph
‘The number of cancer patients successfully suing the NHS for missed diagnoses has doubled in the past five years, new figures show.’
Daily Telegraph, 26th November 2017
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Guidance on unreliable or manipulated forensic toxicology tests – Family Law
‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has released guidance for those concerned about potentially unreliable forensic toxicology tests. This follows police investigations into the potential manipulation of forensic toxicology test results at two private companies, Trimega Laboratories Limited and Randox Testing Services. The test results were used as expert evidence in England and Wales. The guidance includes examples which aim to help people understand where toxicology tests may have been used as part of decision making in court cases, and provides advice for those who believe their case may have been adversely affected by manipulated test results.’
Family Law, 24th November 2017
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
Cohabiting couples warned of ‘common law marriage’ myths – BBC News
‘Millions of unmarried couples who live together could be unaware of their rights if the relationship breaks down, a family law group has warned.’
BBC News, 27th November 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
