School abuse claims could be the ‘next national scandal’ – BBC News

‘Sexual harassment and assault claims made by school pupils on a website may be the “next child abuse scandal that engulfs the nation”, police have said.’

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BBC News, 29th March 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Newcastle e-scooter students banned for drink-riding – The Independent

Posted March 29th, 2021 in dangerous driving, drunk in charge, fines, news, road safety, sentencing by sally

‘Five students have been banned from the roads after being caught riding e-scooters while over the drink-drive limit.
The men, aged between 19 and 22, were all stopped by police while misusing the hire vehicles in Newcastle. Their actions have resulted in the city’s scooters – which were only launched in February – being shut down over night to prevent similar incidents.’

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The Independent, 28th March 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Wide LPC attainment gap based on provider and ethnicity – Legal Futures

‘The disparity between the best and worst legal practice course (LPC) providers has continued to grow, with only 23% of students passing at one institution.’

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Legal Futures, 26th March 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Children: Public Law Update (March 2021) – Family Law Week

‘John Tughan QC of 4PB considers the latest judgments that Public law child lawyers need to know about.’

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Family Law Week, 24th March 2021

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Home Office still has no agreements with other countries for deportations central to new immigration plan – The Independent

Posted March 26th, 2021 in asylum, brexit, deportation, EC law, government departments, immigration, news, refugees by sally

‘Britain still has no way of deporting refugees from the UK to other countries, the Home Office has confirmed – despite this being a key component of its asylum overhaul announced on Wednesday. Priti Patel has unveiled new measures that will see refugees who arrive in Britain via unauthorised routes denied an automatic right to asylum and instead regularly reassessed for removal to safe countries they passed through, which are usually in the EU.’

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The Independent, 25th March 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Domestic abuse: Women ‘could die in unregulated refuges’ – BBC News

Posted March 26th, 2021 in bills, domestic violence, housing, landlord & tenant, local government, news, women by sally

‘Domestic abuse support groups have warned that women will be unsafe if unregulated refuges are allowed to continue offering accommodation. One organisation said “women could die” if the practice does not stop. They fear the government’s Domestic Abuse Bill could see private landlords offering rooms for vulnerable women fleeing violence.’

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BBC News, 26th March 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Johnny Depp loses bid to overturn High Court libel ruling that he assaulted Amber Heard – The Independent

Posted March 26th, 2021 in appeals, deceit, defamation, divorce, domestic violence, evidence, media, news by sally

‘Johnny Depp has lost a bid to overturn a damning High Court ruling which concluded he assaulted his ex-wife Amber Heard and left her in “fear for her life”.’

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The Independent, 25th March 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prophet Muhammad cartoon sparks Batley Grammar School protest – BBC News

Posted March 26th, 2021 in complaints, demonstrations, Islam, news, school children, teachers by sally

‘A teacher who showed pupils an “inappropriate” cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad – sparking protests outside a school – has been suspended.’

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BBC News, 25th March 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Two members of Freshwater Five lose appeal against drugs convictions – The Guardian

‘Two members of the Freshwater Five convicted more than a decade ago of attempting to smuggle £53m of cocaine into the UK have lost an appeal against their convictions.’

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The Guardian, 25th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Extreme lockdown laws extended for a further six months despite major Tory revolt – The Independent

‘Draconian lockdown laws imposed one year ago have been extended for a further six months, despite a major Tory revolt.
The Coronavirus Act – granting powers over everything from school closures and public gatherings to the detention of infected people – was renewed by MPs, by 484 votes to 76.’

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The Independent, 25th March 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Senior army officer convicted of £48,000 Dorset boarding school fee fraud – The Guardian

Posted March 26th, 2021 in armed forces, courts martial, families, fraud, news, school children by sally

‘A senior army officer has been found guilty of dishonestly claiming almost £50,000 in allowances to pay for his children’s boarding school fees. Maj Gen Nick Welch, who is believed to be the most senior officer to face court martial since 1815, was convicted of fraud following a four-week trial at Bulford military court in Wiltshire. He is due to be sentenced on Friday.’

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The Guardian, 25th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Brexit: UK lost ‘significant’ access to EU policing data under deal, report warns – BBC News

Posted March 26th, 2021 in brexit, data protection, news, police by sally

‘Britain has lost “significant” access to EU policing data under the Brexit deal negotiated at the end of last year, a House of Lords report has said. It also concluded that post-Brexit law enforcement arrangements are “complex” and “untested”.’

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BBC News, 26th March 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law Society victimisation claim struck out over volunteer status – Legal Futures

Posted March 25th, 2021 in news, solicitors, striking out, victimisation, volunteers by sally

‘A solicitor has had her claim for victimisation by the Law Society struck out by an employment tribunal on the basis that, as the chair of a committee, she was not an employee or office-holder.’

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Legal Futures, 25th March 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Public Accounts Committee warns of “huge backlogs” in courts, justice system under “unprecedented pressure” – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Ministry of Justice “faces significant risks across the full range of its services, without a clear sense of prioritisation” and huge backlogs that have built up are causing “unacceptably long waiting times for people to access justice”, the Public Accounts Committee has said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th March 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Fiona de Londras: Six-Monthly Votes on the Coronavirus Act 2020: A Meaningful Mode of Review? – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted March 25th, 2021 in coronavirus, emergency powers, news, parliament, regulations, reports, time limits by sally

‘A year since the Coronavirus Act 2020 received Royal Assent, Parliament will today (25 March 2021) once more debate the Coronavirus Act 2020 and its effects, effectiveness, and continuation. The Coronavirus Act 2020 is a touchpoint in the legal and regulatory response to the pandemic.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 25th March 2021

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

MPs launch inquiry into Government approach to permitted development rights – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 25th, 2021 in housing, inquiries, local government, news, planning, select committees by sally

‘The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has launched a new inquiry to examine the Government’s approach to permitted development rights (PDR).’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th March 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation vicariously liable – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 25th, 2021 in causation, news, psychiatric damage, rape, vicarious liability by sally

‘In The Trustees of the Barry Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses v BXB [2021] EWCA Civ 356, the Court of Appeal has offered further guidance on vicarious liability following Supreme Court decisions last year in VM Morrison Supermarkets PLC v Various Claimants [2020] UKSC 12 and Barclays Bank v Various Claimants [2020] UKSC 13.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 25th March 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Stalking victims ‘sitting ducks’ in lockdown, say Suzy Lamplugh Trust – BBC News

Posted March 25th, 2021 in charities, coronavirus, news, stalking, victims by sally

‘Stalking victims say they feel like “sitting ducks” in lockdown, according to a charity which has seen a surge in calls for help.’

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BBC News, 25th March 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Patient safety watchdog launches investigation into NHS 111 advice to Covid patients – The Guardian

Posted March 25th, 2021 in bereavement, coronavirus, health, news, reports, telecommunications by sally

‘The NHS patient safety watchdog has launched an investigation into failings by the NHS 111 telephone advice service which may have cost the lives of people with Covid-19.’

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The Guardian, 25th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Florence Powell and Stephanie Needleman: How radical an instrument is Section 3 of the Human Rights Act 1998? – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘The operation of the Human Rights Act 1998 (the “HRA”) is currently being reviewed by the Government’s Independent Human Rights Act Review (the “Review”). One of the Review’s key themes is “the impact of the HRA on the relationship between the judiciary, the executive and the legislature”. In respect of this theme, the Terms of Reference ask how s.3 has operated and whether it should be amended or repealed.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 24th March 2021

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org