More needs to be done to ensure remote hearings are fair and work smoothly, say family professionals – Local Government Lawyer

‘Nearly two thirds of professionals responding to the latest Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO) rapid consultation feel that more needs to be done to ensure that remote hearings are fair and work smoothly.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th July 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Man found guilty of murdering daughter, 17, missing since last July – The Guardian

‘A man has been found guilty of murdering his 17-year-old daughter, who went missing last July and whose body has never been found.’

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The Guardian, 26th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Technology and innovation “step-change” in last year but barriers persist – Legal Futures

‘The past year has seen a “step change” in the adoption of legal technology and innovation, in part as a result of Covid-19, a major piece of new research has found.’

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Legal Futures, 27th July 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Stockwell Six: Fourth member of group to appeal against conviction – BBC News

‘A fourth member of the so-called Stockwell Six, who were “fitted up” by a corrupt police officer, is mounting an appeal against his conviction.’

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BBC News, 26th July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Fifty-two prisoners in close supervision units ‘that may amount to torture’ – The Guardian

‘Fifty-two people are being held in prison units in England and Wales in conditions that a UN human rights expert has said may amount to torture, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 26th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Two teenage boys guilty of murder of Oliver Stephens, 13 – The Guardian

‘Two 14-year-old boys who “ambushed” a 13-year-old and stabbed him to death after a dispute on social media have been found guilty of his murder.’

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The Guardian, 26th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

When complaints must be referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct – UK Police Law Blog

Posted July 27th, 2021 in bias, chambers articles, complaints, news, ombudsmen, police, professional conduct by sally

‘In R (Rose) v Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police [2021] EWHC 875 (Admin), a businessman successfully challenged a decision not to refer his complaint to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) under the mandatory referral criteria. The High Court concluded that the chief constable had failed to review the conduct alleged and consider whether, if substantiated, it would constitute serious corruption as defined in the (then) Independent Complaints Commission (IPCC) Statutory Guidance on the handling of complaints. Instead, he had performed an assessment of the merits which had rendered the decision not to refer the complaint unlawful. The case makes clear that complaints engaging the mandatory criteria, especially that of “serious corruption”, must be referred to the IOPC.’

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UK Police Law Blog, 26th July 2021

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

Court of Protection Newsletter – Spire Barristers

Posted July 27th, 2021 in chambers articles, Court of Protection, news by sally

‘Welcome to the latest issue of Spire Barristers’ Public Law Newsletter covering news from around the web, practice updates and case reviews in Court of Protection and Public Law matters.’

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Spire Barristers, 13th July 2021

Source: spirebarristers.co.uk

Should We Have The Right To Housing? – Each Other

Posted July 27th, 2021 in coronavirus, housing, human rights, landlord & tenant, news, statistics by sally

‘In our new Visions of Human Rights series – we look at issues and social concerns that we currently don’t have the right to – but ones that charities and activists are asking to be reconsidered. During the pandemic, the spaces we have been confined to or unable to move from were under the spotlight like never before. Today Hannah Shewan Stevens looks at whether we should have the right to housing.’

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Each Other, 26th July 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

Defensive Advising Strategies 2: Know Your Client – Wilberforce Chambers

‘With a history in the world of financial services regulation, “know your customer/client” or “KYC” is a cornerstone of professional practice. What does it mean for legal professionals? In this instalment of my series on defensive advising strategies, I consider three aspects of KYC which are particularly relevant to lawyers, with an emphasis on the interface between solicitors and other professionals and the barristers they instruct. This perspective is based on my own experience as a practitioner and raises issues which crop up relatively frequently.’

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Wilberforce Chambers, 22nd July 2021

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk

‘Complete removal of hope’: an inmate on life in a close supervision centre – The Guardian

‘Case study: Kevan Thakrar says the high suicide and self-harm rates in CSCs are no surprise.’

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The Guardian, 26th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Maintained school wins High Court challenge over refusal by Education Secretary to revoke academy order – Local Government Lawyer

‘The governing body of a primary school in Walsall has won a High Court challenge over the Secretary of State for Education’s refusal to revoke an academy order.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th July 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Tara Hanlon jailed for over £5m money laundering offences – BBC News

Posted July 27th, 2021 in imprisonment, money laundering, national crime agency, news, sentencing by sally

‘A woman has been jailed for 34 months after being found at Heathrow Airport with five suitcases stuffed with nearly £2m in cash.’

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BBC News, 26th July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Activists lose legal bid to stop £27bn roads plan for England – The Guardian

‘Campaigners have lost a legal challenge to the government’s £27bn roadbuilding programme after the high court dismissed their application for a judicial review.’

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The Guardian, 26th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Breathing space’ on contractual disputes – Law Society’s Gazette

‘At the start of the first lockdown in March 2020, both the government and the courts made efforts to provide ‘breathing space’ for companies and stem the tide of legal action flowing out of Covid-19’s disruption to business.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 26th July 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘The law is cold. It doesn’t reflect the life lost’: mothers of murdered women tell their stories – The Guardian

‘A new campaign film keeps the pressure on the Ministry of Justice to change the minimum sentence for domestic murder. The Changes That We Can Make features Carole Gould and Julie Devey, two mothers who have been campaigning since February 2020 on behalf of their daughters, Ellie and Poppy.’

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The Guardian, 23rd July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Judgment: Harcus Sinclair LLP and Anor v Your Lawyers Ltd [2021] UKSC 32 – UKSC Blog

‘The Supreme Court has unanimously allowed this appeal concerning whether a non-compete clause, by which one law firm agreed with another law firm not to take part in the emissions litigation without the latter’s permission, is enforceable or not.’

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UKSC Blog, 23rd July 2021

Source: ukscblog.com

Discrimination the “sole cause” of paucity of Black QCs – Legal Futures

‘Discrimination is the “sole identifiable cause” for the paucity of Black barristers, particularly at QC level, a co-chair of the Bar Council’s race working group has argued.’

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Legal Futures, 26th July 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Time spent in the UK as a visitor counts as ‘residence’ for ILR – EIN Blog

‘On the important subject of indefinite leave to remain (ILR) on the grounds of 10 years’ continuous residence, the Court of Appeal has held that the SSHD had erred in refusing an ILR application made by Mr Chandra Mungur – a citizen of Mauritius – because it could not be said that he had “left the United Kingdom in circumstances in which he had no reasonable expectation at the time of leaving that he would lawfully be able to return” during the period relied upon as 10 years’ continuous residence. While Mr Mungur had left the UK in 2001 following expiry of his visit visa, he had done so with the intention and expectation of lawfully returning as soon as possible under a student visa. Mr Mungur had obtained a visitor visa valid from 22 March 2001 to 22 September 2001. He entered the UK as a visitor on 16 April 2001 and left on 1 September 2001 “to return to Mauritius to apply for Entry Clearance as a student”. That application was granted on 25 September 2001 and was valid until 25 September 2003. On 5 October 2001, he entered the UK again and by a succession of applications he applied for and was granted further leave to remain successively first as a student and then as a work permit holder. He remained lawfully in the UK from 25 September 2003 until 13 July 2011. He overstayed for 1,947 days when his leave to remain expired on 13 July 2011 until 10 February 2016.’

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EIN Blog, 23rd July 2021

Source: www.ein.org.uk

More than 50 died in Home Office asylum seeker accommodation in past five years – The Guardian

‘More than 50 people have died in Home Office asylum seeker accommodation in the last five years, with the number increasing steeply over the past 18 months, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 25th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com