All Windrush victims to get at least £10,000 – BBC News
‘The government is to give more money to victims of the Windrush scandal, which saw hundreds of people wrongly threatened with deportation.’
BBC News, 14th December 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Police drop rape investigation into Tory ex-minister – The Independent
‘Police have dropped their investigation into a Conservative MP and ex-minister who was arrested after a woman accused him of rape.’
The Independent, 13th December 2020
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Serial rapists receive longer minimum jail terms after appeal – BBC News
‘Two serial rapists with life sentences will have the minimum time they must spend in prison extended from 30 to 40 years, the High Court has ruled.’
BBC News, 11th December 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
BAILII: Recent Decisions
Supreme Court
Mastercard Incorporated & Ors v Merricks [2020] UKSC 51 (11 December 2020)
Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
X, T, A, E and S (Children), Re [2020] EWCA Civ 1680 (11 December 2020)
B (A Child)(Designated Local Authority) [2020] EWCA Civ 1673 (10 December 2020)
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
McCann & Ors, R v [2020] EWCA Crim 1676 (11 December 2020)
High Court (Administrative Court)
AB, (A Barrister) v Bar Standards Board [2020] EWHC 3285 (Admin) (10 December 2020)
Krzyanowski v Regional Court of Krakow [2020] EWHC 3401 (Admin) (10 December 2020)
High Court (Commercial Court)
Spire Healthcare Ltd v Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Plc [2020] EWHC 3299 (Comm) (10 December 2020)
High Court (Patents Court)
High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)
Azam v University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust [2020] EWHC 3384 (QB) (10 December 2020)
High Court (Technology and Construction Court)
Optimus Build Ltd v Southall & Anor [2020] EWHC 3389 (TCC) (11 December 2020)
Source: www.bailii.org
Be good, for goodness’ sake: fraud and adjudication enforcement – Practical Law: Construction Blog
‘Christmas is on the horizon. It’s necessary, therefore, to ask who’s been naughty and who’s been nice – and how better to do that than by reflecting on the courts’ approach to fraud in adjudications?’
Practical Law: Construction Blog, 9th December 2020
Deportation and family rights – UK Human Rights Blog
‘The European Court of Human Rights has found that the deportation of a Nigerian man from the United Kingdom violated his right to respect for private and family life guaranteed by article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The applicant in Unuane v United Kingdom successfully argued that his removal from the UK was a disproportionate interference with family life because it separated him from his children. Though finding for the applicant, the Court rejected his attack on the compatibility of the Immigration Rules – an issue that as recently as 2016 the Supreme Court had authoritatively settled. The decision is of interest for the Court’s approach to the necessary balancing exercise to be carried out in the sensitive area of human rights challenges to the deportation of foreign criminals.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 10th December 2020
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
New surrender scheme starts to keep dangerous weapons off the streets – Home Office
‘Measures to keep dangerous weapons off the streets are a step closer today with the opening of a surrender scheme, under prohibitions introduced in the Offensive Weapons Act.’
Home Office, 10th December 2020
Source: www.gov.uk/home-office
Family Justice Board statement: Priorities for the family justice system – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
‘The Family Justice Board has produced a statement, that summarises the priority actions it intends to pursue in response both to immediate pressures within the family justice system, and to bring about longer-term reform.’
Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 10th December 2020
Source: www.judiciary.uk
Shrewsbury maternity scandal: Ministers told to ‘stamp out’ normal birth ideology in NHS – The Independent
‘Ministers have been told they must “stamp out” a “normal” birth ideology in NHS maternity services that puts babies and mothers lives at risk. The call came after an inquiry report into poor care at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust found many women were medicated and forced to endure traumatic births with some being denied caesarean sections in order to keep rates low.’
The Independent, 10th December 2020
Source: www.independent.co.uk
London man who killed his children detained in hospital indefinitely – The Guardian
‘A man who slit the throats of his two young children during lockdown has been detained in hospital indefinitely.’
The Guardian, 10th December 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
UK to deny asylum to refugees passing through ‘safe’ third country – The Guardian
‘Ministers have quietly changed immigration rules to prevent people fleeing war or persecution from claiming asylum in the UK if they have passed through a “safe” third country, prompting accusations of a breach of international law. From 1 January, claims of asylum from a person who has travelled through or has a connection to a safe third country, including people coming from EU member states, will be treated as inadmissible.’
The Guardian, 10th December 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Home Office sued by family of Windrush man refused UK citizenship – The Guardian
‘The family of a Windrush man denied British citizenship on the grounds that he failed a good character requirement are suing the Home Office to try to change legislation, arguing the rules are racially discriminatory.’
The Guardian, 10th December 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Charity which helped Grenfell victims ‘institutionally racist’, review finds – The Independent
‘A charity which helped the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire has been and remains to be institutionally racist, a review has found.The Westway Trust has a “legacy of institutional racism” and has failed to “understand, identify and address radical disparity over the years”, the Tutu Foundation concluded.’
The Independent, 11th December 2020
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk
BAILII: Recent Decisions
Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
Gray v Global Energy Horizons Corporation [2020] EWCA Civ 1668 (09 December 2020)
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
Attorney General’s Reference (No 1 of 2020) [2020] EWCA Crim 1665 (10 December 2020)
Dickens v R. [2020] EWCA Crim 1661 (09 December 2020)
Bermingham & Anor v R. [2020] EWCA Crim 1662 (09 December 2020)
High Court (Administrative Court)
High Court (Chancery Division)
Strategic Advantage SPC v ARL O09 Ltd & Ors [2020] EWHC 3350 (Ch) (09 December 2020)
High Court (Commercial Court)
IS Prime Ltd v TF Global Markets (UK) Ltd & Ors [2020] EWHC 3375 (Comm) (09 December 2020)
High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)
Basildon District Council v Anderson & Ors [2020] EWHC 3382 (QB) (09 December 2020)
Source: www.bailii.org
Hate targeted at Gypsy, Traveller and Roma linked to rise in suicides – report – The Guardian
‘Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities are experiencing hate incidents on an almost daily basis, while mental health issues and suicide are leading to an “epidemic of needless deaths”, a government-funded report has found.’
The Guardian, 10th December 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Fifth femicide census shows “a serious failing and indicates a lack of will to tackle root causes” of killings of women by men in the UK – Family Law
‘The Femicide Census has produced its fifth, and most comprehensive, report to date of women killed by men in the UK.’
Family Law, 9th December 2020
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
Stalking analysis reveals domestic abuse link – Crown Prosecution Service
‘Stalking is increasingly being recognised as a form of domestic abuse within the criminal justice system, with CPS analysis finding the majority of offences are committed by ex-partners.’
Crown Prosecution Service, 4th December 2020
Source: www.cps.gov.uk
Timetable set out for judicial review and Human Rights Act reform – Law Society’s Gazette
‘The Lord Chancellor has revealed the potential timetable for unveiling anticipated judicial review and human rights reforms.’
Law Society's Gazette, 9th December 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
