Top City watchdogs drop new diversity and inclusion rules for firms – The Guardian

‘The City’s top two regulators have said they will not bring in new diversity and inclusion rules for financial firms because they want to avoid imposing extra “regulatory burdens” and costs, in the latest sign of a retreat from efforts to help underrepresented groups.’

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The Guardian, 12th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ioannis Kouvakas: You Can’t Have Your Apple and Eat It Too: Decryption Orders and the Perilous Future of U.K. Data Adequacy – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘Earlier last month, The Washington Post reported that Apple, a technology company known for emphasizing privacy as one of its key selling points, had been ordered by the U.K. government to create a back door that would enable the retrieval of all content uploaded by any Apple user worldwide to iCloud. iCloud is a cloud storage service that is encrypted by default, and its users may also opt in to the use of end-to-end encryption, an additional layer of security ensuring that only the user (and not even Apple) can access the stored data.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 13th March 2025

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

MP calls for inquiry into labelling of black pupils as ‘educationally subnormal’ – The Guardian

‘The historic injustice of a scandal in which black children were incorrectly labelled “educationally subnormal” and sent to schools for physically and mentally disabled pupils must be addressed with a public inquiry, an MP has said.’

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The Guardian, 13th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

No misconduct case for Hillsborough police – IOPC – BBC News

‘While police officers tried to “deflect blame” after the Hillsborough disaster, they do not have a misconduct case to answer, a watchdog has told families.’

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BBC News, 12th March 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Decision not to classify Southport killer as a terrorist was right, says UK watchdog – The Guardian

‘The decision not to classify Axel Rudakubana as a terrorist following the Southport murders was right because it would be unhelpful to stretch the definition of terrorism to cover all extreme violence, the UK’s terror watchdog has concluded.’

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The Guardian, 13th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

The faculty jurisdiction and trees in closed churchyards: Re All Saints, Featherstone – Law & Religion UK

Posted March 12th, 2025 in Church of England, faculties, local government, news, trees by sally

‘In Re All Saints, Featherstone [2025] ECC Lee 1, Wakefield Metropolitan District Council sought a confirmatory faculty for felling and removing an ash tree without lawful authority. The burial ground had been closed by Order in Council under the Burial Act 1853 and the maintenance obligation transferred to Wakefield MDC pursuant to s.215 Local Government Act 1972. Under the transfer of the duty of maintenance, Wakefield MDC was obliged to conduct routine inspections of the churchyard and to undertake “such works as are necessary to eliminate or reduce the risk of harm”. However, closed burial grounds remain subject to the faculty jurisdiction.’

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Law & Religion UK, 11th March 2025

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Magistrate’s employment tribunal claim over ‘minor incident’ dismissed – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A magistrate who “escalated out of all proportion” a minor incident has had her employment tribunal claims of discrimination, harassment and victimisation dismissed.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 12th March 2025

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Peers to probe state of rule of law – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The state of the rule of law in the UK is to come under scrutiny by a high-powered committee of peers with members including a former lord chief justice. The House of Lords Constitution Committee today invited written contributions into an inquiry “seeking to understand the rule of law as a constitutional principle and what the state of the rule of law is in the UK.”‘

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th March 2025

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Supreme Court rules Appellants were British all along – UK Human Rights Blog

‘N3 & ZA v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] UKSC 6 concerned orders depriving two British people of their citizenship on national security grounds. The Defendant (initially) contended that to do so would not render them stateless, because they were dual British Bangladeshi nationals.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 12th March 2025

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduced to support UK growth agenda – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 12th, 2025 in bills, news, planning by sally

‘The Planning and Infrastructure Bill was introduced into the UK parliament on Tuesday and has been heralded by the government as providing for “transformative reforms to get Britain building, tackle blockers and unleash billions in economic growth”. The Bill is wide-ranging. Most of the provisions apply in England and Wales only, though some would have effect in Scotland.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 11th March 2025

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Universities face ‘fair treatment’ requirement beyond consumer law under new OfS proposal – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 12th, 2025 in consumer protection, news, universities by sally

‘A new Office for Students (OfS) proposal means that consumer law requirements for new higher education providers in England go above and beyond what is required by consumer law, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 11th March 2025

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Mass competition claims against water companies fall – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 12th, 2025 in class actions, competition, news, pollution, water, water companies by sally

‘Mass claims brought against six water and wastewater companies, alleging that the companies had breached competition law by misleadingly under-reporting the number of pollution incidents (PIs) they had incurred, will not be heard by the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), it has confirmed.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th March 2025

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

IWD series part 3: community and belonging at the Bar – Law Pod UK

Posted March 12th, 2025 in barristers, gender, news, podcasts, women by sally

‘LawPod UK is marking International Women’s Day by bringing you the final episode of its three-part series exploring gender at the Bar. In this series, Lucy McCann and Rajkiran Arhestey speak to Lady Justice Whipple, Sally Smith KC, Clodagh Bradley KC, Cara Guthrie, Judith Rogerson, Isabel McArdle, Emma-Louise Fenelon and Chloe Turvill about their experiences, in the hope of drawing out some key reflections and continuing the conversation about gender and the profession.’

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Law Pod UK, 8th March 2025

Source: audioboom.com

Family of self-employed carpenter secure asbestos cancer settlement against council – Local Government Lawyer

‘The family of a Kent carpenter who died from mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos, have agreed a six-figure settlement in a claim against Medway Council, after arguing the local authority owed him a duty of care as the occupier of the site he was working on’

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Local Government Lawyer, 10th March 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Court: Solicitors’ breaches of AML rules “strict liability offences” – Legal Futures

Posted March 12th, 2025 in money laundering, news, solicitors, strict liability by sally

‘Breaches of anti-money laundering (AML) rules are effectively strict liability offences and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) does not need to show severity to prove misconduct, the High Court ruled yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 12th March 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘Irrational’ decision to release man convicted of ‘Essex Boys’ murders blocked by justice secretary – The Independent

Posted March 12th, 2025 in conspiracy, drug trafficking, gangs, murder, news, parole by sally

‘The release of a killer convicted of carrying out the Essex Boys gangland murders is being blocked by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.’

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The Independent, 12th March 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Former bishop jailed for sex attacks on boy – BBC News

Posted March 12th, 2025 in assault, child abuse, clergy, guilty pleas, news, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘Anthony Pierce, 84, who was bishop of Swansea and Brecon between 1999 and 2008, pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault on a child under the age of 16.’

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BBC News, 12th March 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Worrying’ number of teens lose disability benefits – BBC News

Posted March 12th, 2025 in benefits, disabled persons, news, young persons by sally

‘Nearly a third of those who received Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in childhood had claims for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) rejected when trying to move to the adult benefit, BBC analysis has found.’

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BBC News, 12th March 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Biased laws and poverty driving huge rise in female prisoners – report – The Guardian

Posted March 12th, 2025 in bias, criminal justice, news, prisons, reports, women by sally

‘Poverty, abuse and discriminatory laws are driving a huge rise in the number of women in prison globally, according to a new report.’

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The Guardian, 12th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Man whose house was ‘stolen’ gets possession back – BBC News

Posted March 12th, 2025 in identity fraud, news, repossession, sale of land by sally

‘A reverend whose house was sold without him knowing has had the property returned to him nearly four years on, after a family was ordered to leave.’

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BBC News, 12th March 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk