Fall in decisions for adoption orders halted but local variation remains: report – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 25th, 2017 in adoption, guardianship, local government, news, placement orders, reports by sally

‘The fall in decisions for adoption and placement orders seems to have halted but this masks a high degree of variation in decision-making at a local and regional level, data collected by the Adoption Leadership Board has suggested.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 24th April 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Child sex offender worked at schools cricket association with ECB permission – The Guardian

Posted April 25th, 2017 in charities, child abuse, news, sexual offences, sport, teachers, vetting by sally

‘The England and Wales Cricket Board’s child protection policies are likely to come under close scrutiny after it emerged a convicted child sex offender worked at a schools cricket association with written permission from the ECB – and also attended junior cricket festivals in the company of an ECB executive.’

Full story

The Guardian, 24th April 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Anthony McSweeney case: Abuse priest failings found – BBC News

Posted April 25th, 2017 in child abuse, clergy, news, reports, sexual offences by sally

‘Concerns raised about a Catholic priest later jailed for sexual assault were not acted upon or taken seriously by the Church, a review has found.’

Full story

BBC News, 23rd April 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Northern Waters – Nearly Legal

Posted April 25th, 2017 in contracts, housing, local government, news, rent, service charges, water, water companies by sally

‘Rochdale BH is a social housing provider (of what was the council’s housing stock). The issue in this case – heard as a preliminary issue – was whether Rochdale BH was a water reseller under the terms of The Water Resale Order 2006 in that charges for water it made as a part of the rent.’

Full story

Nearly Legal, 23rd April 2017

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Debating the right to die – OUP Blog

Posted April 25th, 2017 in assisted suicide, euthanasia, human rights, news, suicide by sally

‘There are so many reasons why we value and promote choice and autonomy. The country and news media quite rightly protests with outrage when bad things happen to good people as their lives and civil liberties are destroyed by acts of terrorism and grievous crimes.’

Full story

OUP Blog, 21st April 2017

Source: www.blog.oup.com

Woman jailed over Facebook birthday message death crash – BBC News

‘A woman who was trying to send a message on Facebook when she crashed into a pensioner’s car, killing him, has been jailed for 27 months.’

Full story

BBC News, 24th April 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court rules woman can keep her red and white striped townhouse – The Guardian

Posted April 25th, 2017 in appeals, freedom of expression, housing, London, news, planning by sally

‘A woman who angered her neighbours by decorating her multimillion-pound townhouse with red and white stripes can ignore a planning order to repaint the property, the high court has ruled.’

Full story

The Guardian, 24th April 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted April 24th, 2017 in legislation by sally

The Police (Complaints and Misconduct) (Amendment) Regulations 2017

The Childcare Payments Act 2014 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2017

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent decisions

Posted April 24th, 2017 in law reports by sally

High Court (Administrative Court)

Jayes, R (On the Application Of) v Hamilton [2017] EWHC 874 (Admin) (13 April 2017)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Pinfold v Ansell & Ors [2017] EWHC 889 (Ch) (21 April 2017)

Ashcroft & Anor v Webster [2017] EWHC 887 (Ch) (21 April 2017)

Abdulla v Whelan & Ors [2017] EWHC 605 (Ch) (20 April 2017)

Source: www.bailii.org

Devolution in England: a review – UCL Constitution Unit

Posted April 24th, 2017 in devolution, legal history, London, news by sally

‘On Monday 10 April Professor Tony Travers of the London School of Economics (LSE) spoke at a Constitution Unit seminar on devolution in England. The talk covered the history of English devolution, international comparisons, and some thoughts for the future amidst the current Brexit-dominated political landscape. Kasim Khorasanee reports.’

Full story

UCL Constitution Unit, 24th April 2017

Source: www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit

Baroness Shields’ speech at the National Security Agency – Home Offcie

Posted April 24th, 2017 in intelligence services, internet, news, parliament, sex discrimination, women by sally

‘Delivered to the fifth Annual Intelligence Community (IC) Women’s Summit.’

Full speech

Home Office, 21st April 2017

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Council hails £222k confiscation order – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 24th, 2017 in confiscation, local government, London, news, planning, proceeds of crime by sally

‘Less than a month after local authority lawyers were told to consider the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) as a way to generate income, an East London council has announced its biggest court payout to date. The London Borough of Barking & Dagenham said that an east London landlord has been given a £222,000 confiscation order following a POCA application brought by the council before Snaresbrook Crown Court.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 24th April 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Lawyers must be able to bring cases against government ‘without fear of reprisals’ – The Guardian

‘Lawyers must be able to bring cases against the government “without fear of recrimination or reprisals”, the high-profile solicitors’ firm Leigh Day has declared on the eve of its trial for alleged professional misconduct.’

Full story

The Guardian, 24th April 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Anti-racist group Hope Not Hate sues Nigel Farage for libel – The Independent

Posted April 24th, 2017 in charities, damages, defamation, news by sally

‘Anti-racist group Hope Not Hate is suing Nigel Farage for libel after he alleged that it makes use of “violence” in its campaigning.’

Full story

The Independent, 23rd April 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Stalking behaviour identified in 94% of murders, study shows – The Guardian

Posted April 24th, 2017 in charities, murder, news, stalking, statistics by sally

‘Stalking behaviour has been identified in nine in 10 murders studied by criminologists as part of research examining a link between the two crimes.’

Full story

The Guardian, 24th April 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

London-born children of EU couple win residency a week after refusal – The Guardian

Posted April 24th, 2017 in children, EC law, immigration, news by sally

‘Two children who were born in London to an EU couple have been told they can stay in the country after all. The news comes a week after they were told by the Home Office that their application for permanent residency cards was refused.’

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd April 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Tougher speeding penalties for UK drivers welcomed by motoring groups – The Independent

Posted April 24th, 2017 in fines, magistrates, news, penalties, road traffic offences, sentencing by sally

‘The introduction of tougher punishments for the most serious speeding offences has been welcomed by motoring groups.
Drivers caught at speeds excessively above legal limits face higher penalties in England and Wales from Monday.’

Full story

The Independent, 24th April 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The Round-Up: Legal Aid for prisoners in the Court of Appeal – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted April 21st, 2017 in appeals, judicial review, legal aid, news, prisons by sally

‘The Court of Appeal last week partially granted an application for judicial review of the cuts to Legal Aid in certain categories of prison law. The judgment may change the face of legal representation for prisoners across the UK.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 18th April 2017

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Council fined £1m after disabled man hit by vehicle for collecting branches – Local Government Lawyer

‘Nottinghamshire County Council has been fined £1m after a disabled member of the public was struck by a vehicle used for collecting branches.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 21st April 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Changes to fine levels for speeding – Sentencing Council

Posted April 21st, 2017 in fines, press releases, road traffic offences, sentencing by sally

‘New sentencing guidelines for magistrates come into force on 24 April 2017 following their publication earlier this year.’

Full press release

Sentencing Council, 20th April 2017

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