Landlords behaving badly corner – racial discrimination and harassment – Nearly Legal

‘Hickmet and Cheerz Express Limited v Dragos (Luton County Court, 19 January 2024). Ms Dragos was the assured shorthold tenant of Cheerz Express, with the tenancy beginning 1 June 2017. A depot of £1,100 was paid. The tenancy became a statutory periodic on 1 June 2018. A further fixed term tenancy began on 1 August 2018, then another statutory periodic on 1 August 2019. A notice seeking possession on grounds 8, 10 and 11 was served in November 2021, and a possession claim was issued in March 2022. Oddly, this was in the name of Mr Hickmet, who was the sole director of Cheerz Express Ltd, with Cheerz being added to the claim at a later stage. Mr Hickmet maintained up to trial that he had a “tenancy by estoppel”. This might be considered an early indicator that things weren’t going to go well for the landlord…’

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Nearly Legal, 3rd March 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Police force reprimanded after incorrectly merging records of people with same name and date of birth – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 4th, 2024 in data protection, local government, news, ombudsmen, police, victims by sally

‘The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued a reprimand to West Midlands Police (WMP) after the force “repeatedly” mixed up two people’s personal information.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st March 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 – Local Government Lawyer

‘Jo Pickering, Aidan Dickinson, James Mallery-Nelson, Victoria Okafor and Christopher Watkins explore some of the main legislative changes brought in by the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 which are set to impact the local government and property sector(s).’

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Local Government Lawyer, 29th March 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Launch of the Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol – Courts & Tribunals Judiciary

‘The Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol comes into effect on 1 March 2024. It replaces the 2013 Protocol and Good Practice Model: disclosure of information in cases of alleged child abuse and care directions hearings.’

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Courts & Tribunals Judiciary, 1st March 2024

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Attorney General’s Guidelines on Disclosure updated – Attorney General’s Office

Posted March 4th, 2024 in attorney general, codes of practice, criminal justice, disclosure, news by sally

‘The Attorney General’s Guidelines on Disclosure have been updated with guidance on digital materials, the Solicitor General has confirmed.’

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Attorney General's Office, 29th February 2024

Source: www.gov.uk

Three-partner firm slapped with £23k fine for AML oversights – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A firm operating from two small offices in the south west has been hit with a £23,000 fine for failing to comply with money laundering regulations.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 4th March 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

£70m arbitration award set aside after High Court judge finds agreement is a ‘fabrication’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A High Court judge has set aside a multi-million pound arbitration award and judgment after finding they were “fabrications”. The Honourable Mr Justice Butcher said the result of his decision meant ‘unanswered but serious questions’ were left and would require investigation.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 4th March 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

New law to make justice more accessible for innocent people wronged by powerful companies – Ministry of Justice

‘The Lord Chancellor, Alex Chalk, will introduce a new law to make it easier for members of the public to secure the financial backing of third parties when launching complex claims against moneyed corporations with sizeable legal teams which they could otherwise ill-afford.’

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Ministry of Justice, 4th March 2024

Source: www.gov.uk

Dozens of ‘major’ compliance breaches at Bank of England, NAO reports – The Guardian

Posted March 4th, 2024 in auditors, banking, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘Dozens of “major” compliance breaches have been unearthed at the Bank of England, despite progress to fix shortcomings after misuse of the central bank’s audio feed by hedge funds four years ago.’

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The Guardian, 4th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Calls for inquiry after refugee children made to guess who got foster care in ‘game’ – The Guardian

‘Foster families and social workers are demanding an independent inquiry after it emerged that Home Office-employed staff forced refugee children to play a game to guess who would be the next one to be placed in foster care.’

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The Guardian, 4th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Pair jailed over county lines drugs operation – BBC News

Posted March 4th, 2024 in drug offences, drug trafficking, imprisonment, news, sentencing by sally

‘Two men have been jailed for their part in county lines drug dealing.’

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BBC News. 1st March 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Woodbridge soldier’s heatstroke death was avoidable – report – BBC News

Posted March 4th, 2024 in armed forces, health & safety, medical treatment, news, reports by sally

‘A soldier who died from exertional heatstroke may have survived if he had been treated earlier, a report found.’

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BBC News, 2nd March 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted March 1st, 2024 in law reports by michael

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Miah [2024] EWCA Civ 186 (01 March 2024)

Parker-Grennan v Camelot UK Lotteries Ltd [2024] EWCA Civ 185 (01 March 2024)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Chilton v Payne [2024] EWHC 451 (Admin) (01 March 2024)

Marks and Spencer PLC v Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities & Ors [2024] EWHC 452 (Admin) (01 March 2024)

High Court (Chancery Division)

EFG Private Bank Ltd v Babaee (Re Insolvency Act 1986) [2024] EWHC 444 (Ch) (01 March 2024)

Reeve v McDonagh & Anor [2024] EWHC 439 (Ch) (01 March 2024)

Financial Conduct Authority v WealthTek LLP & Anor (Re Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) [2024] EWHC 424 (Ch) (01 March 2024)

Chu v Je & Anor (Re Costs) [2024] EWHC 455 (Ch) (01 March 2024)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Tactus Holdings Ltd v Jordan & Ors [2024] EWHC 399 (Comm) (01 March 2024)

High Court (King’s Bench Division)

Anyon & Ors v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2024] EWHC 326 (KB) (01 March 2024)

High Court (Technology & Construction Court)

IBM United Kingdom Ltd v LzLabs GmbH & Ors [2024] EWHC 423 (TCC) (28 February 2024)

Source: www.bailii.org

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted March 1st, 2024 in legislation by michael

SI 2024/271 – The National Health Service (Primary Dental Services and Dental Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

SI 2024/270 – The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (Commencement No. 8) Regulations 2024

SI 2024/269 – The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2024

SI 2024/262 – The Human Tissue Act 2004 (Supply of Information about Transplants) Regulations 2024

SI 2024/260 – The Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (England) Order 2024

SI 2024/252 – The Bank of England Levy (Amount of Levy Payable) Regulations 2024

SI 2024/250 – The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Commencement No. 5) Regulations 2024

SI 2024/249 – The Social Security (Contributions) (Limits and Thresholds, National Insurance Funds Payments and Extension of Veterans Relief) Regulations 2024

SI 2024/248 – The Misuse of Drugs and Misuse of Drugs (Designation) (England and Wales and Scotland) (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2024

SI 2024/247 – The Tax Credits, Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Regulations 2024

SI 2024/245 – The Code of Practice (Picketing) Order 2024

SI 2024/239 – The Misuse of Drugs and Misuse of Drugs (Designation) (England and Wales and Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

SI 2024/218 – The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

SI 2024/212 – The Prison and Young Offender Institution (Adjudication) (Amendment) Rules 2024

SI 2024/210 – The Education (Penalty Notices) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

SI 2024/209 – The Education (Information About Individual Pupils) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

SI 2024/208 – The School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

High Court authorises deprivation of liberty of seven-year-old child in registered children’s home – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has granted a local authority’s application to deprive a seven-year-old boy of his liberty, with directions to use the “minimum degree of force or restraint required”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st March 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

A heckler’s veto on Christian street preaching in the UK – Law & Religion UK

‘In Britain, there have been a number of incidents in which Christians have been prevented from preaching in public spaces by the police. For example, the recent incident of Pastor Dwayne Lopez in Uxbridge garnered much media attention. Pastor Lopez was asked to stop preaching by several Metropolitan Police officers because it had been reported by an individual that they found him to be offensive.’

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Law & Religion UK, 29th February 2024

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Judge says he was misled by “fabricated” £74m arbitration ruling – Legal Futures

Posted March 1st, 2024 in arbitration, fraud, news, setting aside by sally

‘A High Court judge has set aside an order he made to enforce a £74m arbitration award after discovering that both the arbitration agreement and ruling were fabricated.’

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Legal Futures, 1st March 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Devastating report lays bare police failings over Sarah Everard’s killer – The Guardian

‘The full extent of Wayne Couzens’ alleged offending was laid bare in a devastating official report that revealed accusations of serial sexual abuse including rapes, before he used his status as a police officer to kidnap and murder Sarah Everard.’

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The Guardian, 29th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

When Treaties are Forbidden – EIN Blog

‘Safe Third Country (STC) agreements involve the transfer of protection-seekers from one State to another. They take different forms, including bilateral treaties (the UK-Rwanda Treaty), political agreements (the Italy-Albania MoU) and regional mechanisms (Dublin III). They are usually justified as a means of sharing responsibility for protecting refugees and ‘managing’ access to asylum determination processes, as is the case for the Canada-US Safe Third Country Agreement. In other contexts their explicit purpose is to deter and to punish.

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EIN Blog, 29th February 2024

Source: www.ein.org.uk

‘We need more compassion’: UK families call for assisted dying reform – The Guardian

‘As MPs report on the issue, a son and daughter on how their parents’ deaths led them to campaign for a change in law.’

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The Guardian, 29th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com