New police powers to tackle slow-walking protests – BBC News
‘Police in England and Wales are to be given new powers to tackle “disruptive” slow walking used by protesters to block roads.’
BBC News, 28th April 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
More rigorous checks for fire and rescue employees – Home Office
‘Fire and rescue authorities will be able to carry out stringent new record checks, helping fire and rescue services protect the public and their staff.’
Home Office, 25th April 2023
Source: www.gov.uk
Met Police may be failing to spot serial killers like Stephen Port – watchdog – BBC News
‘The Metropolitan Police may be failing to identify serial killers because it is not properly investigating unexpected deaths, a watchdog says.’
BBC News, 28th April 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
New Judgment: Trustees of the Barry Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses v BXB [2023] UKSC 15 – UKSC Blog
‘In this appeal, the Supreme Court is asked to decide whether the Jehovah’s Witness organisation is vicariously liable for a rape committed by Mark Sewell, a former elder.’
UKSC Blog, 26th April 2023
Source: ukscblog.com
Timothy Schofield dismissed from police after sexual abuse conviction – BBC News
‘Timothy Schofield has been sacked from the police after being convicted of 11 sexual offences against a child.’
BBC News, 26th April 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Man jailed for helping Thomas Cashman after Olivia Pratt-Korbel shooting – The Guardian
‘A man has been jailed for 22 months for helping the convicted murderer Thomas Cashman after he fatally shot nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel.’
The Guardian, 26th April 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
John Stanton: Law, Localism, and the Constitution: A Comparative Perspective – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘Local government is an aspect of UK constitutional law that is often neglected or overlooked. Councils, though, are a vital part of our governmental order, providing the services and opportunities, and making the decisions and policies, that shape a large part of our day-to-day lives. They are also the institutions of government with which the population interact most frequently. Local government across the UK, however, is hampered by the constitutional system of which it is part. The predominance of the sovereign Parliament and the lack of any codified constitutional provision means that councils in the UK are at the mercy of the centre and that they do not enjoy any protection from easy change, manipulation or prescription. This has a profound effect on the way in which councils operate, as my new book, “Law, Localism, and the Constitution: A Comparative Perspective”, explores.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 27th April 2023
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
Sexual assault victim who named her attacker in blog defeats his libel action – The Guardian
‘A woman who wrote about being sexually assaulted, naming her attacker, has defeated a libel action he brought against her after a judge ruled that her account was true on the balance of probabilities.’
The Guardian, 27th April 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
Gambling white paper: Gamblers losing £1,000 a day to face checks – BBC News
‘Gamblers who are losing £1,000 a day are expected to face checks as part of new, tougher gambling regulations.’
BBC News, 27th April 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Vicarious liability: Trustees of the Barry Congregation in the Supreme Court – Law & Religion UK
‘Mr and Mrs B began attending the religious services of the Barry Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1984. They made lots of friends in the congregation, among whom were Mark Sewell, his wife Mary and their children. Mark Sewell was an elder; however, he began drinking heavily and behaving inappropriately towards female members of the congregation, for example by kissing them on the lips when he greeted them. In 1990, he raped Mrs B after they had been out evangelising together and in 2014 he was convicted of her rape and of indecently assaulting two other people.’
Law & Religion UK, 26th April 2023
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
One in ten private family law applications involve non-parents, research finds – Local Government Lawyer
‘Research published by Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (Nuffield FJO) has found that private family law applications involving non-parents are diverse, and “circumstances may overlap with public law cases”.’
Local Government Lawyer, 26th April 2023
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Registration and approval issues – Pensions Barrister
‘Everyone will be familiar with the requirement to provide the prescribed information to be recorded on the register of qualifying occupational and personal pension schemes maintained by tPR,1 and with the obligation to register a pension scheme with HMRC in order to qualify for the tax reliefs available to pensions.2 This article discusses three issues relating to registration and the associated issue of approval of amendments that may not be so common but which may arise occasionally in practice.’
Pensions Barrister, 27th April 2023
Source: www.pensionsbarrister.com
Tougher licensing rules for taxi drivers come into force – BBC News
‘Tougher rules for taxi and private hire drivers will be introduced in England in a bid to make passengers safer.’
BBC News, 27th April 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
MPs back illegal migration bill by 289 votes to 230 – The Guardian
‘The government’s flagship asylum bill passed its third reading in the Commons on Wednesday night and will now go to the Lords despite criticism from several leading Conservatives including Theresa May.’
The Guardian, 26th April 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
Coffin sliding – urban myths vs the law – Law & Religion UK
‘The procedure of “coffin sliding” is one of the devices employed in the funeral trade for moving coffins to adjacent plots to remedy errors and other changes following their initial interment. Whilst its use is only infrequently reported, to date it has featured in four consistory court determinations. The associated law is discussed below with reference to the most recent reference to “coffin sliding”, Re Chevington Cemetery [2023] ECC New 3.’
Law & Religion UK, 25th April 2023
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
UK government publishes Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill – OUT-LAW.com
‘The UK government has published its long-awaited Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Bill, designed to boost competition and crack down on unfair business practices.’
OUT-LAW.com, 25th April 2023
Source: www.pinsentmasons.com
Use of non-jury trial system to continue in NI – BBC News
‘Non-jury trials will continue to be used in Northern Ireland, with the secretary of state saying the move is “regrettable” but necessary due to the security situation.’
BBC News, 25th April 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Paralegal wins claims for disability discrimination and harassment – Legal Futures
‘A paralegal at a London law firm was unfairly dismissed over unpaid wages, subjected to disability discrimination and harassed on the basis of her sex, an employment tribunal has ruled.’
Legal Futures, 26th April 2023
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Prisoner is suicide risk after more than two years in solitary, high court hears – The Guardian
‘A prisoner’s detention in solitary confinement in England for more than two years has been “wholly unnecessary” and has made him suicidal, the high court has heard.’
The Guardian, 25th April 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
