High Court Finds Long Waiting Times for Trans Healthcare are Lawful – QMLR

‘The demand for young people receiving gender identity development services (“GIDS”) and for adults receiving gender identity disorder services (also, helpfully, “GIDS”) has increased substantially from 2012 to 2017, and the NHS is struggling to meet this demand. In May 2022, young people seen for the first time following a children’s GIDS referral waited on average for 1066 days (i.e. nearly three years), see [32]. The reality is that many trans patients feel forced to have treatment privately, often resorting to “crowdfunding” to cover their private medical expenses. For many young trans people, such long waiting times for treatment have a significant detrimental impact on their mental health and in the process, many undergo irreversible physiological changes.’

Full Story

QMLR, 18th July 2023

Source: 1corqmlr.com

Emphasis on sanctions compliance legal advice record-keeping under new licence – OUT-LAW.com

‘The UK government has granted a general licence to enable UK lawyers to provide legal advice to non-UK individuals and businesses in relation to their compliance with international sanctions on Russia, without breaching UK sanctions regulations themselves.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 22nd August 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

OnlyFans billboards ‘not overtly sexual’, regulator rules – BBC News

Posted August 23rd, 2023 in advertising, children, complaints, internet, news, ombudsmen, women by sally

‘Billboards showing a scantily clad model advertising her explicit social media accounts have been cleared by the regulator despite complaints.’

Full Story

BBC News, 23rd August 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK cannot ignore calls for slavery reparations, says leading UN judge – The Guardian

‘A leading judge at the international court of justice has said the UK will no longer be able to ignore the growing calls for reparation for transatlantic slavery.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 22nd August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Newport: Drugs gang jailed for exploiting vulnerable child – BBC News

‘The leader of drugs gang who recruited a vulnerable 15-year-old boy in a phone call from prison has been sentenced to nine years in jail.’

Full Story

BBC News, 21st August 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Fail to Plead, Fail to Succeed – Parklane Plowden Chambers

‘The case of Sindra Bilal & Anor v St George’s University NHS Foundation [2023] EWCA Civ 605 provides a useful reminder to ensure issues are pleaded if they are to be advanced at trial.’

Full Story

Parklane Plowden Chambers, 16th July 2023

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Lucy Letby sentenced to whole-life jail term after murdering seven babies – The Guardian

Posted August 22nd, 2023 in birth, children, murder, news, nurses, sentencing by sally

‘The serial killer nurse, Lucy Letby, will never be released from prison after she was sentenced to a rare whole-life term for the “sadistic” murders of seven babies.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 21st August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sexual assault trial in Sheffield collapses after juror falls asleep – The Guardian

Posted August 22nd, 2023 in assault, evidence, juries, news, sexual offences by sally

‘A sexual assault trial in Sheffield has collapsed after a member of the jury fell asleep and missed “important evidence”, it has been reported.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 21st August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Is it time to re-assess the cab rank rule? – Doughty Street Chambers

‘In March, 2023, many lawyers, including 18 barristers, signed a “declaration” that they will not prosecute climate-change activists or act for those promoting new fossil fuel projects. Is the ‘cab rank rule’ [Code rC28 -29] under threat?’

Full Story

Doughty Street Chambers, 20th July 2023

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Maids Moreton murderer made to sell flat to pay £124k to victims’ families – BBC News

Posted August 22nd, 2023 in news by sally

‘A murderer who duped two elderly people into changing their wills has paid more than £124,000 to their families after selling his flat, police said.’

Full Story

BBC News, 22nd August 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Smith v Backhouse – Blackstone Chambers

Posted August 22nd, 2023 in news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has given guidance on the circumstances in which the court can refuse to accept undertakings which a defendant has agreed to provide to the court as part of accepting a Part 36 offer made by the claimant. The issue arose in the context of a claim for relief pursuant to inter alia sections 1 and 3, Protection from Harassment Act 1997.’

Full Story

Blackstone Chambers, 24th July 2023

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

Recall rules to be eased on indefinite jail sentences in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted August 22nd, 2023 in dangerous offenders, imprisonment, news, release on licence, sentencing by sally

‘Prisoners released on licence after serving time under an abolished and much-maligned indefinite sentencing scheme in England and Wales could have the period in which they can be recalled to prison halved under new rules.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 21st August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted August 21st, 2023 in legislation by sally

SI 2023/912 – The Public Service Pension Schemes (Rectification of Unlawful Discrimination) (Tax) (No. 2) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/911 – The Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/909 – The Building (Higher-Risk Buildings Procedures) (England) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/908 – The Building Safety Act 2022 (Consequential Amendments etc.) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/907 – The Higher-Risk Buildings (Management of Safety Risks etc) (England) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/906 – The Building (Approved Inspectors etc. and Review of Decisions) (England) Regulations 2023

Source: www.legislaion.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted August 21st, 2023 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Granville Technology Group Ltd & Ors v LG Display Co. Ltd & Anor [2023] EWCA Civ 980 (16 August 2023)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Otero v Rex [2023] EWCA Crim 981 (16 August 2023)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Shvidler v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs [2023] EWHC 2121 (Admin) (18 August 2023)

Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care v Social Work England & Anor [2023] EWHC 2125 (Admin) (18 August 2023)

Alba Iulia Court of Law, Romania v Szabo (Re Section 28 Extradiction Act 2003) [2023] EWHC 2123 (Admin) (18 August 2023)

Victor, R (On the Application Of) v Chief Constable of West Mercia Police [2023] EWHC 2119 (Admin) (18 August 2023)

Suleman v General Optical Council [2023] EWHC 2110 (Admin) (16 August 2023)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Hanspaul & Ors v Wearing & Ors [2023] EWHC 2062 (Ch) (16 August 2023)

CPF One Ltd & Anor v OSF (UK) II Ltd & Anor [2023] EWHC 2102 (Ch) (16 August 2023)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Diamond Bus Ltd v Transport for West Midlands [2023] EWHC 2099 (Comm) (18 August 2023)

High Court (King’s Bench Division)

Del Curto v Del Curto & Anor [2023] EWHC 2106 (KB) (18 August 2023)

Source: www.bailii.org

Administrative Justice Council makes recommendations on improving local authority SEND decisions – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Administrative Justice Council (AJC) has set out recommendations to improve the quality of local authority decision-making for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 21st August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Georgia Bilham: Woman who posed as man sentenced for kissing girl – BBC News

Posted August 21st, 2023 in community service, deceit, news, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘A woman accused of posing as a man to prey on a short-sighted teenager has been given a community order for sexually assaulting her female victim by kissing.’

Full Story

BBC News, 20th August 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lucy Letby: How could the NHS stop a future killer within? – BBC News

‘Nearly a quarter of a century before Lucy Letby began attacking babies on a neonatal unit, another hospital experienced similarly sudden and unexpected losses.’

Full Story

BBC News, 21st August 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High Court rejects challenge over SEND, transgender needs and Public Sector Equality Duty – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has rejected a claim brought by a transgender young person that the defendant council failed to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty regarding his needs as a transgender person with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 21st August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Council fails in Upper Tribunal appeal over mentoring support during non-term time periods – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Upper Tribunal has found that a decision made by the First-tier Tribunal regarding autism mentoring support during non-term time periods did not involve an error on a point of law.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 21st August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

The UK Bribery Act 2010: principles, offences and penalties – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 21st, 2023 in bribery, company law, news by sally

‘The Bribery Act 2010 (the Act) came into force in April 2011, overhauling UK anti-bribery legislation.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 18th August 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com