Jeremy Letwin: The Bill of Rights Bill and the Modern Mirror Principle – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted March 15th, 2023 in bills, brexit, constitutional law, government departments, human rights, news by sally

‘The Bill of Rights Bill which is currently before Parliament aims, at least in some respects, to weaken the link between domestic courts and the ECtHR. Many predicted the Bill might seek to do this, and it has provoked considerable controversy. Though clauses 3(1) and 3(2) of the Bill are not without their critics, the controversy has mainly focused on clause 3(3)(b), which provides that the domestic courts “may adopt an interpretation of the right that diverges from Strasbourg jurisprudence”, and on clause 3(3)(a), which provides that domestic courts “may not adopt an interpretation of the right that expands the protection conferred by the right unless the court has no reasonable doubt that the European Court of Human Rights would adopt that interpretation if the case were before it”.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 14th March 2023

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Eleanor Williams jailed for eight and a half years after rape and trafficking lies – The Guardian

‘A woman has been jailed for eight and a half years after being found guilty of lying about being raped and trafficked by an Asian grooming gang, and making false rape claims against a series of other men.’

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The Guardian, 14th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Somaiya Begum: Uncle guilty of killing niece who refused marriage – BBC News

Posted March 15th, 2023 in families, forced marriages, murder, news by sally

‘A man has been found guilty of murdering his 20-year-old niece after she refused a forced marriage.’

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BBC News, 14th March 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Appeal judges reject bid to increase jail term of man who murdered colleague – The Independent

Posted March 15th, 2023 in appeals, imprisonment, murder, news, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has rejected a bid to increase the sentence of a violent porn-obsessed lab technician jailed for the brutal killing of his female colleague.’

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The Independent, 4th March 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Asylum seekers win permission to challenge UK’s Rwanda policy – The Guardian

‘A court of appeal judge has ruled that a group of asylum seekers can bring a legal challenge against the Home Office for what they claim has been a failure to consider the dangers and risks of deporting them to Rwanda.’

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The Guardian, 14th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Insulate Britain protester jailed for stopping traffic on M4 – BBC News

Posted March 14th, 2023 in climate change, demonstrations, news, nuisance, roads, sentencing by sally

‘An Insulate Britain protester has been jailed for five weeks for obstructing the motorway, causing huge disruption.’

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BBC News, 13th March 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jed Meers, Joe Tomlinson, Alice Welsh and Charlotte O’Brien: Rights on Paper? The Discriminatory Effects of Digital Immigration Status on Private Landlord Decisions – Constitutional Law Association

‘Under the EU settlement scheme, millions of EU, EEA and Swiss nationals have been granted “digital-only” immigration status. Instead of having physical documentation to prove their immigration status, these individuals must rely on an online proof-of-status service through the GOV.UK website. We wanted to examine whether individuals with this form of “digital only” status are disadvantaged in the private rented sector by exploring the decision-making behaviour of English landlords when choosing between prospective tenants. The so-called “Right to Rent” policy requires English private landlords to check the immigration status of a tenant or lodger, to ensure they can legally rent their property. In practice, this happens by inspecting their proof of ID. We therefore had two questions. First, are the tenant preferences of English private rented sector landlords influenced by ID status? Second, to what extent is ID status a significant factor in English private rented sector landlord preferences, relative to factors already known to influence landlord decision-making (such as age, gender, ethnicity, and occupation)?’

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Constitutional Law Association, 14th March 2023

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Eco-anxiety “a wellbeing issue” for barristers – Legal Futures

Posted March 14th, 2023 in barristers, climate change, environmental protection, mental health, news by sally

‘Eco-anxiety, a form of anxiety linked to the climate crisis, is a wellbeing issue for barristers which “should be taken seriously” by chambers, a KC and environmental law specialist has said.’

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Legal Futures, 14th March 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted March 14th, 2023 in legislation by sally

SI 2023/320 – The Gas Safety (Management) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/319 – The Amendments of the Law (Resolution of Silicon Valley Bank UK Limited) Order 2023

SI 2023/312 – The Alcoholic Beverages (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Eleanor Williams sentencing: Men tried to take own lives over rape lies – BBC News

Posted March 14th, 2023 in news, perverting the course of justice, rape, suicide by sally

‘Three men tried to take their own lives after being falsely accused of rape and trafficking, a court has heard.’

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BBC News, 13th March 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted March 14th, 2023 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

C7 v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2023] EWCA Civ 265 (13 March 2023)

Fanning v Revenue & Customs [2023] EWCA Civ 263 (13 March 2023)

Mitchell & Anor v Revenue and Customs [2023] EWCA Civ 261 (10 March 2023)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Fire Brigades Union & Ors, R (On the Application Of) v His Majesty’s Treasury & Anor [2023] EWHC 527 (Admin) (10 March 2023)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Bonney & Anor v Barker & Anor (Re Fastfit Station Ltd) [2023] EWHC 496 (Ch) (10 March 2023)

Selvarajah v Selvarajah & Ors (Re Estate of Selvarajah Sellathurai) [2023] EWHC 474 (Ch) (10 March 2023)

Kulkarni v Gwent Holding Ltd & Anor [2023] EWHC 484 (Ch) (10 March 2023)

Grant & Anor v Hussain & Anor [2023] EWHC 493 (Ch) (10 March 2023)

High Court (Family Division)

OC v CD [2023] EWHC 530 (Fam) (13 March 2023)

High Court (King’s Bench Division)

O’Sullivan v Holmes and Hills LLP [2023] EWHC 508 (KB) (10 March 2023)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Boxxe Ltd v The Secretary of State for Justice [2023] EWHC 533 (TCC) (13 March 2023)

Source: www.bailii.org.uk

High Court lifts automatic suspension in procurement dispute over provision of audio-visual equipment to courts and tribunals – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 14th, 2023 in competition, contracts, courts, limitations, news, public procurement, tenders by sally

‘The Secretary of State for Justice (SoSJ) has successfully applied to the High Court for the lifting of the automatic suspension in a procurement challenge to the outcome of a mini-competition for a call-off contract relating to the provision of digital and audiovisual (‘AV’) equipment for use by HM Courts and Tribunals Service.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th March 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

What Does the Illegal Migration Bill Mean for Modern Slavery? – Each Other

‘Following the publication of the Illegal Migration Bill, EachOther summarises developments in the Bill and what it could mean for victims of modern slavery in the UK.’

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Each Other, 14th March 2023

Source: eachother.org.uk

New rules makes microchipping for cats in England compulsory – The Independent

Posted March 14th, 2023 in animals, electronic monitoring, fines, news, regulations by sally

‘All pet cats in England must be microchipped under a new law which could see their owners face a £500 fine if they do not get it done.’

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The Independent, 13th March 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Law Society calls in leading figures to support “21st century justice” project – Legal Futures

Posted March 14th, 2023 in civil justice, costs, electronic filing, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

‘The Law Society has pulled together figures from law firms, technology and business – as well as the former Senior President of Tribunals – to support a project looking at how the justice system can be made “fit for the future”.’

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Legal Futures, 14th March 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

More than 1,500 UK police officers accused of violence against women in six months – The Guardian

‘More than 1,500 police officers have been accused of violent offences against women and girls over a period of six months, and less than 1% have been sacked, according to new figures.’

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The Guardian, 14th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted March 13th, 2023 in legislation by sally

SI 2023/314 – The Medicines (Products for Human Use) (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/313 – The Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (Alteration of Coroner Areas) Order 2023

SI 2023/310 – The Recovery of Costs (Remand to Youth Detention Accommodation) (Amendment) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/306 – The Health and Care Act 2022 (Consequential and Related Amendments) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/305 – The Immigration (Electronic Travel Authorisations) (Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/302 – The Export Control (Military and Dual-Use Lists) (Amendment) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/301 – The National Health Service Pension Schemes (Amendment) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/297 – The Merchant Shipping (Light Dues) (Amendment) Regulations 2023

SI 2023/293 – The Research and Development (Prescribed Activities) Regulations 2023

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Ombudsman issues special report on Catalyst Housing over ‘repeated failures’ indicative of wider service failure – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 13th, 2023 in complaints, housing, landlord & tenant, maladministration, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The Housing Ombudsman has called for significant improvements at Catalyst Housing ahead of its merger with another major social landlord, Peabody, following an investigation that found it “routinely failed to recognise formal complaints” and that aspects of its service were “arbitrary, disjointed and concerning”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th March 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Council told to pay nearly £10k after woman forced to live in unsuitable accommodation for three years – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found that Croydon Council placed a woman fleeing domestic violence in “unsuitable accommodation” for three years, as well as finding poor complaint handling.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th March 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

EU and UK action shows role for sanctions in tackling gender inequality – OUT-LAW.com

‘Action announced by the EU and UK highlights the role that sanctions can play in tackling gender inequality globally, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 10th March 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com