How “private” are Private FDRs? – Kingsley Napley Family Law Blog

Posted August 15th, 2025 in news by sally

‘On 30 July 2025, Mr Justice Peel handed down a judgment in the case of BC v BC [2025] EWHC 2016 (Fam), confirming the “sanctity of confidentiality” in relation to Financial Dispute Resolution (‘FDR’) and private FDR (‘pFDR’) hearings.’

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Kingsley Napley Family Law Blog, 13th August 2025

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

“There are more things in heaven and earth that are dreamt of in the philosophy of NHS treatment” – a Court of Protection story – Mental Capacity Law and Policy

Posted August 15th, 2025 in news by sally

‘The flipside of the intense focus on the wishes, feelings, beliefs and values of the person required by s.4 MCA 2005, as clarified by the Supreme Court in Aintree v James, is that there may be situations in which, objectively, a person’s medical situation might appear hopeless, but nonetheless continued treatment is in their best interests. Such a case is that of The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust v YD & Ors (Refusal of Withdrawal of Treatment) [2025] EWCOP 31.[1] On the face of it, YD, who had been in a prolonged disorder of consciousness since October 2024 and had no prospect of emerging from the permanent vegetative state in which he now found himself, was a clear candidate for withdrawal of clinically assisted nutrition and hydration.’

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Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 14th August 2025

Source: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk

Girl’s death after hospital failings ruled unlawful – BBC News

Posted August 15th, 2025 in news by sally

‘A 14-year-old girl left alone to self-harm at a mental health hospital when she should have been under constant supervision was unlawfully killed, an inquest jury has concluded.’

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BBC News, 14th August 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police office turned barrister disbarred for rape convictions – Legal Futures

Posted August 15th, 2025 in news by sally

‘A barrister has been disbarred for raping a woman, when she was a teenager under 16 and when she was older, while he was a policeman in the 1980s.’

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Legal Futures, 15th August 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Court of Appeal upholds injunction and clarifies its scope in Skyr passing off case – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 14th, 2025 in news by sally

‘A recent decision provides insight into the approach of the Irish courts in comparing brands in passing off disputes, highlighting the subjective approach needed when questions of similarity and risk of confusion arise, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th August 2025

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Patient in permanent vegetative state to be kept alive – Court of Protection – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted August 14th, 2025 in news by sally

‘The Court of Protection has refused to let a hospital trust in north-west London withdraw life support from a 60-year-old man described as being in a permanent vegetative state after his two partners spoke about his strong belief in the power of spiritual healing.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 13th August 2025

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Centre for Governance and Scrutiny warns Devolution Bill needs stronger accountability measures – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 14th, 2025 in news by sally

‘The Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) has said that plans in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill to expand mayoral powers and duties “must go hand in hand” with stronger expectations on accountability.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th August 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Tales from the Housing Conditions wars. Part 1 – Nearly Legal

Posted August 14th, 2025 in news by sally

‘This is a judgment on application in two joined cases, Lancastle v Curo Group and Bailey & Bennet v Curo Places. In each, the defendant landlord had applied variously for the claims to be struck out (although this was not really pursued), or debarring the claimants from relying on the expert evidence they had already obtained, directing the appointment of a future single joint expert and requiring the claimants to amend their Particulars of Claim.’

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Nearly Legal, 12th August 2025

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

No sentence increase for dog walker’s teenage killer – BBC News

Posted August 14th, 2025 in news by sally

‘A 15-year-old boy sentenced for the manslaughter of an 80-year-old man he racially abused and fatally attacked will not have his sentence extended.’

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BBC News, 13th August 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Spiritual conviction, medical ethics and the Court of Protection: YD – Law & Religion UK

Posted August 14th, 2025 in news by sally

‘The issue in The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust v YD & Ors [2025] EWCOP 31 (T3) was the potential withdrawal of treatment from a 60-year-old man, YD, in a “permanent vegetative state”.’

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Law & Religion UK, 14th August 2025

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Police told they can reveal suspects’ ethnicity in high-profile cases – BBC News

Posted August 14th, 2025 in news by sally

‘Police have been encouraged to consider disclosing the ethnicity and nationality of suspects charged in high-profile cases, after facing mounting pressure over the details they make public.’

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BBC News, 13th August 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Endless litigation in family court as a method of post-separation coercive control – Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law

Posted August 13th, 2025 in news by sally

This article examines how abusive fathers may exploit family court systems post-separation to maintain coercive control over former partners and children. Drawing on evidence from common law jurisdictions including the UK, Ireland, Australia and the United States it shows how repeated litigation, economic abuse and false parental alienation claims are used to continue dominance under the guise of parental involvement. Despite increased recognition of domestic abuse, family courts often prioritise shared parenting and contact, misinterpreting protective actions by mothers as ‘implacable hostility’. These assumptions can obscure patterns of post-separation abuse and place survivors and children at further risk. The article proposes the integration of the Duluth Post-Separation Power and Control Wheel as a tool to help recognise coercive legal strategies, frequently minimised as routine conflict. It argues for a shift towards contextual, pattern-based risk assessments in private family law, backed by statutory training and legal reform. By equipping practitioners to recognise how legal and institutional processes may be weaponised, family courts can better distinguish coercive control from mutual conflict and respond accordingly. This approach aligns with the principles of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, promoting safer outcomes and ensuring that child welfare and survivor protection are prioritised in post-separation proceedings.

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Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 11th August 2025

Source: www.tandfonline.com

Upper Tribunal judge rejects challenge over alleged off-rolling following tribunal decision – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 13th, 2025 in news by sally

‘The Upper Tribunal has refused permission for a boy’s parents to appeal that the First-tier Tribunal had failed sufficiently to safeguard their son’s rights to prevent him being ‘off-rolled’ from his current school without their consent.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 12th August 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Council seeks High Court ban on asylum seekers being housed at protest-hit Epping hotel – The Independent

Posted August 13th, 2025 in news by sally

‘Epping Forest District Council has applied for an interim High Court injunction in a bid to stop asylum seekers being housed at the Bell Hotel in the town.’

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The Independent, 13th August 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Woman disguised in niqab guilty of conspiracy to murder in Birmingham – The Guardian

Posted August 13th, 2025 in news by sally

‘A would-be killer who tried to shoot a rival at point-blank range while disguised in a niqab has been found guilty of conspiracy to murder.’

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The Guardian, 12th August 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government expands police use of facial recognition vans – BBC News

Posted August 13th, 2025 in news by sally

‘More live facial recognition (LFR) vans will be rolled out across seven police forces in England to locate suspects for crimes including sexual offences, violent assaults and homicides, the Home Office has announced.’

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BBC News, 13th August 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Witness to 2009 murder ‘told he would be charged’ unless he gave Met a name – The Guardian

Posted August 12th, 2025 in news by Simon

‘Fresh doubts have been cast over a 2009 gang murder conviction after the mother of the prosecution’s star witness said he was threatened with being charged with the crime himself if he did not give police a name.’

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The Guardian, 11th August 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

When mere defamation Isn’t enough: “serious reputational harm” in Hegab – Law & Religion UK

Posted August 12th, 2025 in news by sally

‘In Hegab v The Spectator (1828) Ltd & Anor [2025] EWHC 2043 (KB), Mr Hegab sought damages in libel and under the Data Protection Act 2018 in respect of an article written by the second defendant, Mr Murray, and published in The Spectator. The article said that Mr Hegab was a street agitator who had whipped up his followers and made disparaging comments about Hindus in the context of disturbances between local Muslims and Hindus.’

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Law & Religion UK, 12th August 2025

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Ten competition class actions for every person in the UK – Legal Futures

Posted August 12th, 2025 in news by sally

‘There were more than 655m class members of actions in the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) at the end of 2024 – equivalent to 10.4 class actions for every person in the country – according to new research.’

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Legal Futures, 12th August 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Preparing for changes to non-disclosure agreements from 1 October 2025 – Kingsley Napley Criminal Law Blog

Posted August 12th, 2025 in news by sally

‘In June the Ministry of Justice announced new legislation under the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 which affects NDAs and confidentiality clauses.* Related guidance, published at the beginning of June, sets out the impact of this legislation on the enforceability of such agreements.’

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Kingsley Napley Criminal Law Blog, 12th August 2025

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk