Upcoming Data Reform Bill “to give Parliament and Government greater oversight” of Information Commissioner’s Office – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 22nd, 2022 in bills, data protection, government departments, news, ombudsmen, parliament by sally

‘The Government has set out plans to reform the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) that will give Parliament and the Secretary of State greater oversight of the data regulator and broaden the legal responsibility underpinning its work.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st June 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Ex-soldier jailed for murdering couple in Somerset after parking dispute – The Guardian

Posted June 22nd, 2022 in armed forces, imprisonment, mental health, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A former soldier who murdered his nextdoor neighbours with a commando dagger after a dispute over parking has been told he will serve at least 38 years in prison before being considered for parole.’

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The Guardian, 21st June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Domestic abuse and defamation – Transparency Project

Posted June 22nd, 2022 in defamation, domestic violence, families, news by sally

‘This is a post about a defamation trial where one party (the claimant – C) is claiming the other party (the defendant – D) has caused his reputation serious harm by making statements that allege domestic abuse by C against D. Far removed from the recent Depp-Heard trial in the US, this case is being heard in London and the parties are not celebrities: C is described as a businessman and D is a school teacher.’

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Transparency Project, 22nd June 2022

Source: transparencyproject.org.uk

First openly gay judge to lead LGBT veterans probe – BBC News

‘Britain’s first openly gay senior judge will lead a review into the impact of a historical ban on LGBT people serving in the armed forces.’

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BBC News, 19th June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High Court quashes planning permission over flawed report from planning officer – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 22nd, 2022 in housing, judicial review, local government, news, planning by sally

The High Court has quashed Bristol City Council’s grant of planning permission for a 62-home development on a former zoo car park, following a judicial review claim that argued the local authority based its decision on a flawed planning officer’s report.

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st June 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Post Office IT scandal victims may be disqualified from compensation scheme – The Guardian

‘Scores of post office operators wrongly accused of embezzlement by the Post Office due to faulty accounting software, may be disqualified from a dedicated compensation scheme.’

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The Guardian, 21st June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

15th Anniversary Survey

Posted June 21st, 2022 in news by sally

This year we are celebrating our 15th Anniversary. We started the Current Awareness blog back in 2007! We would be grateful if you could take a couple of minutes to complete a very short user survey.

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15th anniversary bunting

Family Justice Council makes recommendations on avoiding conflicts of interest using psychologist expert witnesses in cases of alleged alienation – Local Government Lawyer

‘Interim guidance from the Family Justice Council (FJC), published last month, has highlighted how to avoid conflicts of interest when using psychologist expert witnesses in family court cases involving allegations of alienating behaviours.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th June 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Sudanese trafficking victims must stay in detention, judge rules – The Guardian

‘Three Sudanese victims of torture and trafficking who were threatened with being deported to Rwanda on a controversial charter flight last week have had their pleas to be released from detention rejected by a high court judge.’

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The Guardian, 20th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Long Covid is a disability, tribunal rules in landmark case – Daily Telegraph

‘Long Covid is a disability, a tribunal has ruled in what employment experts say could result in a “significant increase” in the number of claims brought by people suffering with the syndrome.’

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Daily Telegraph, 20th June 2022

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Serious failings’ left children exposed to abuse in Oldham, finds damning review – The Guardian

Posted June 21st, 2022 in child abuse, local government, news, police, rape, reports, taxis by sally

‘Vulnerable children were left exposed to sexual exploitation in Oldham because of “serious failings” by the police and council, a damning independent review has found.’

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The Guardian, June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Vulnerable clients struggle in face of “cold, clinical and chaotic” lawyers – Legal Futures

Posted June 21st, 2022 in complaints, disabled persons, legal profession, legal services, news by sally

‘Vulnerable clients are being disadvantaged by the “cold, clinical and chaotic manner” in which they are treated by some lawyers, a report for the Legal Services Board (LSB) has found.’

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Legal Futures, 21st June 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

James Bulger public inquiry to be debated by MPs – BBC News

‘A parliamentary debate on whether a public inquiry should be held into the 1993 murder of toddler James Bulger is due to take place later this year.’

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BBC News, 20th June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK lawyers gather evidence for action against countries over Yazidi genocide – The Guardian

Posted June 21st, 2022 in evidence, genocide, Iraq, news, pro bono work, treaties by sally

‘A group of high-level British lawyers have been working privately on compiling evidence to show that one or more countries failed in their international obligations to prevent genocide against the Yazidis in northern Iraq.’

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The Guardian, 21st June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Criminal barristers vote to strike over pay rates – BBC News

‘Criminal barristers have voted to strike in an escalating dispute with the government over funding for trials.’

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BBC News, 20th June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High Court judge quashes determination of coroner not to hold Article 2 investigation – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 21st, 2022 in children, coroners, inquests, local government, mental health, news by sally

‘A High Court judge has quashed a coroner’s ruling that the inquest into the death of a 16-year-old girl will not investigate in what circumstances she came by her death.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th June 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Archie Battersbee’s family can appeal life-support ruling – BBC News

Posted June 21st, 2022 in appeals, children, consent, families, hospitals, medical treatment, news by sally

‘The parents of a 12-year-old boy have been given the right to appeal against the decision to allow his life-support treatment to end.’

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BBC News, 20th June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Channel 4 subtitles outage breached licence, Ofcom rules – The Guardian

Posted June 21st, 2022 in disabled persons, licensing, media, news by sally

‘Channel 4 breached the conditions of its broadcast licence by failing to provide enough subtitled programming to some viewers in autumn 2021 after a sonic boom destroyed equipment used to broadcast its programmes, the media watchdog has found.’

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The Guardian, 20th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Unlawful eviction – but landlord not liable – Nearly Legal

‘Brem v Murray & Marchant (2022) EWHC 1479 (QB). An appeal judgment from a first instance judgment on a claim for unlawful eviction, which deals with the landlord’s liability for the unlawful eviction that had taken place.’

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Nearly Legal, 19th June 2022

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Management transfers and public functions: R(TRX) v Network Homes – Nearly Legal

‘This judicial review of R(TRX) v Network Homes (2022) EWHC 456 (Admin) CO/3538/2021 is a useful restatement of the principles which apply in determining when decisions of Private Registered Providers of social housing (Housing Associations) can be judicially reviewed. The case concerned an application for a management transfer following threats of domestic abuse made to the Claimant, TRX, by X, her former partner. The Claimant brought 6 grounds of review after her request for a management transfer was refused by the Defendant. ‘

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Nearly Legal, 19th June 2022

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk