HMP Woodhill branded unsafe amid rising violence – BBC News
‘A high security prison has been branded “not safe” after inspectors found some of the highest levels of violence, drug use and self-harm.’
BBC News, 19th March 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Beyond Thing 1 and Thing 2: Cryptoassets and the New Property Landscape – Financial Remedies Journal
‘For almost 140 years, bright-eyed law students have been taught that the world of personal property contains only two species of thing: those which can be physically held, and those which can be enforced. Cryptoassets forced the issue.’
Financial Remedies Journal, 17th March 2026
Source: financialremediesjournal.com
The powers of exclusion panels – Local Government Lawyer
‘On 5 March 2026, the High Court gave judgment in a case concerning two permanent exclusions. The judgment provides detailed consideration of several areas relating to the procedure and discretionary powers of exclusion panels, writes Ben Amunwa.’
Local Government Lawyer, 18th March 2026
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Removal from kinship care – Local Government Lawyer
‘A Family Court judge recently decided that a local authority’s removal of a six-year-old boy from his aunt’s care was wrongful. Eleanor Howard explains why and looks at the judge’s decision on naming the council and the professionals involved.’
Local Government Lawyer, 18th March 2026
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Dog owners to face unlimited fines if their pets attack livestock under new law – BBC News
‘The changes to existing “livestock worrying” laws, which date back more than 70 years, come into force on Wednesday [18th March], giving police powers to take DNA samples from dogs suspected of attacking, chasing or causing distress to farm animals.
BBC News, 18th March 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Comedian Sean Hughes’ £4 million estate given to charity after decade-long will saga – The Independent
‘Nearly a decade after his passing, the £4 million estate of beloved comedian Sean Hughes has finally been awarded to homelessness charity Shelter, following a protracted legal saga over his hand-written will.’
The Independent, 18th March 2026
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Government to lift paywall from large parts of the Land Registry – The Guardian
‘Finding out who owns land in England is to become much simpler because a paywall will be lifted from large parts of the Land Registry, the government is to announce.’
The Guardian, 18th March 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
Greyhound racing to be banned in Wales after Senedd vote – BBC News
‘The move was backed by animal welfare groups, who said that thousands of dogs in the UK have died in recent years due to racing in the “inherently dangerous” sport.’
BBC News, 17th March 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Graves in England and Wales could be reused after 100 years – The Guardian
‘Graves more than 100 years old could be reused across England and Wales under Law Commission proposals that also include the reopening of some burial grounds closed under Victorian-era legislation.’
The Guardian, 18th March 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
Grieving widow prosecuted over unpaid £35 bill on dead husband’s car – The Independent
‘The case was brought through the controversial fast-track Single Justice Procedure (SJP) courts, leading to the ruling against her.’
The Independent, 18th March 2026
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Union fined £265,000 for blocking lorries in Birmingham bin workers’ strike – The Guardian
‘The union representing striking bin workers in Birmingham has been fined £265,000 for breaching an injunction which prohibited the blocking of waste lorries at depots.’
The Guardian, 17th March 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
MI5 apologises and pays compensation to woman allegedly abused by agent – The Guardian
‘MI5 has apologised and paid compensation to a woman who alleged the Security Service was to blame for her being attacked with a machete and abused by one of its agents.’
The Guardian, 17th March 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
Former rock band manager wins three-way court fight to claim £14m more in divorce from SAS major ex – The Independent
‘A former rock band manager has won a £14m three-way Appeal Court fight with her SAS major ex-husband and the estranged multimillionaire mum who “hates” her.’
The Independent, 17th March 2026
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Hampstead ponds trans access legal appeal allowed – BBC News
‘A charity has won a Court of Appeal bid to continue a legal challenge over rules allowing trans people to use the single-sex facilities at Hampstead Heath’s swimming ponds.’
BBC News, 17th March 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Juries want fairness in court and don’t just obey the government. That’s why ministers are attacking them – Michael Mansfield – The Guardian
‘The English criminal jury system was developed and honed over the course of eight centuries. It has become the envy of the world as one of the fairest ways to determine guilt or innocence. A jury of 12 randomly chosen individuals has long been regarded as a vital bulwark against the excesses of government, the threats posed to basic human rights by oppressive legislation and, of course, arbitrary governance. It provides a constitutional and democratic safeguard unlike any other.’
The Guardian, 17th March 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
Lammy’s jury reforms could increase security threat to judges, head of judiciary warns – The Independent
‘Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, said on Tuesday that she had “grave security concerns” about the controversial reforms, which would see juries in England and Wales replaced with a single judge in cases where a convicted defendant would be jailed for up to three years.’
The Independent, 17th March 2026
Source: www.independent.co.uk
BAILII: Recent Decisions
Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
BHP Group (UK) Ltd & Anor v Municipio de Mariana & Ors [2026] EWCA Civ 294 (16 March 2026)
Pringle v Nervo [2026] EWCA Civ 266 (13 March 2026)
Epping Forest District Council v Somani Hotels Ltd [2026] EWCA Civ 264 (13 March 2026)
K1 v B (No. 2) [2026] EWCA Civ 261 (13 March 2026)
SGL 1 Ltd v FSV Freeholders Ltd [2026] EWCA Civ 267 (13 March 2026)
A & E Baines v The North Yorkshire Council [2026] EWCA Civ 257 (12 March 2026)
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
Kelly, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 268 (20 February 2026)
Latham, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 269 (20 February 2026)
Kakaie, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 258 (20 February 2026)
Boyce, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 256 (19 February 2026)
Fletcher, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 252 (19 February 2026)
WFU, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 286 (20 February 2026)
XFV, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 287 (19 February 2026)
Walker, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 226 (13 February 2026)
Lukaszewicz, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 225 (13 February 2026)
Patel, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 246 (12 February 2026)
High Court (Administrative Court)
National Crime Agency v GKC (No.1) [2026] EWHC 573 (Admin) (13 March 2026)
High Court (Chancery Division)
McGowan v Potter [2026] EWHC 595 (Ch) (16 March 2026)
Sculfor & Ors v MGN Ltd [2026] EWHC 597 (Ch) (16 March 2026)
Falloon v Khan & Anor [2026] EWHC 515 (Ch) (13 March 2026)
Stein v Jaffe [2026] EWHC 559 (Ch) (13 March 2026)
Garden House Software Ltd v Timothy John Marsh & Ors [2026] EWHC 568 (Ch) (11 March 2026)
High Court (Commercial Court)
VTB Bank PJSC v Kuanyshev & Anor [2026] EWHC 591 (Comm (16 March 2026)
Eagle Bulk PTE Ltd v Traxys North America LLC [2026] EWHC 518 (Comm) (09 March 2026)
STLC Europe Thirteen Leasing Ltd v Qatar Airways Group QCSC [2026] EWHC 519 (Comm) (09 March 2026)
Hawkes v Cook [2026] EWHC 506 (Comm) (06 March 2026)
High Court (Family Division)
AM v AF (Return Order: Dubai) [2026] EWHC 511 (Fam) (06 March 2026)
F v M & Anor [2026] EWHC 239 (Fam) (09 February 2026)
High Court (King’s Bench Division)
LXLP v St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2026] EWHC 560 (KB) (13 March 2026)
Banfield v Stanmore College [2026] EWHC 617 (KB) (13 March 2026)
Source: www.bailii.org
Terrorism and free speech: the criminal law and the Convention – UK Human Rights Blog
‘Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (“ECHR” or “the Convention”) provides qualified protection for speech. Section 12(1A) of the Terrorism Act 2000 (“the 2000 Act”) criminalises certain speech acts relating to proscribed organisations. In the case of R v ABJ; R v BDN [2026] UKSC 8the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether these two things could be reconciled: is s 12(1A) of the 2000 Act compatible with the Convention?’
UK Human Rights Blog, 17th March 2026
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
I watched my dad stab my mum to death – but then had to move back in with him – BBC News
‘Gemma Ahern witnessed her dad kill her mum by stabbing her 36 times – but then had to move back in with him after he was released from prison.’
BBC News, 16th March 2026
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Upper Tribunal: imposition of No Recourse to Public Funds condition unlawful on public law and human rights grounds – Administrative Court Blog
‘The Upper Tribunal has found that the Home Office’s decision to impose a “No Recourse to Public Funds” condition on a number of refugees and asylum seekers relocated to the UK from the Chagos Islands was unlawful on both public law and human rights grounds. The case is R (RG, BAA and CAC) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (3 March 2026).’
Administrative Court Blog, 16th March 2026
