Lack of transparency undermining Westminster standards system, parliament’s sleaze watchdog warns – The Independent

Posted July 16th, 2020 in complaints, inquiries, news, parliament, standards by sally

‘Parliament’s sleaze watchdog has warned that a lack of openness is undermining the Westminster standards system, as she appealed for a new right to name MPs who are under investigation.’

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The Independent, 15th July 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘Sex attack ‘predator’ broke into Radcliffe homes at night’ – BBC News

Posted July 16th, 2020 in news, rape, sentencing, sexual offences, trespass by sally

‘A “sexual predator” who targeted women and girls in their own homes at night has been jailed for 15 years.’

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BBC News, 15th July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Asylum seeker at centre of landmark case over UK’s ‘unfair’ fast-track system – The Guardian

Posted July 16th, 2020 in asylum, deportation, news, rape by sally

‘An asylum seeker who was deported under a “procedurally unfair” fast-track system is at the centre of a new battle with the Home Office to stay in the UK, in a case which could have repercussions for thousands of people whose applications to stay in Britain were rejected.’

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The Guardian, 15th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police officer had sex with domestic violence victims while on duty, watchdog finds – The Independent

Posted July 16th, 2020 in complaints, domestic violence, news, police, victims by sally

‘A police officer had sex with two domestic violence victims while on duty and used the force’s computer systems to track down two other women and send them texts of a sexual nature, the police watchdog has found.’

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The Independent, 15th July 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

IOPC to probe Suffolk Police after black couple quizzed – BBC News

Posted July 16th, 2020 in complaints, minorities, news, police, stop and search by sally

‘A complaint against police officers who accused a black woman of “jumping on the bandwagon” is to be probed by a watchdog.’

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BBC News, 16th July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police and CPS scrap digital data extraction forms for rape cases – The Guardian

Posted July 16th, 2020 in consent, Crown Prosecution Service, disclosure, news, police, privacy, rape by sally

‘The CPS and police have been forced to scrap controversial “digital strip searches” of rape complainants, following a legal threat from two survivors of sexual abuse and sustained campaigning from privacy and human rights groups.’

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The Guardian, 16th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Claimant with Down Syndrome secures permission for judicial review of charging policy of county council – Local Government Lawyer

‘A 24-year-old woman with Down Syndrome has been granted permission for a judicial review challenge of Norfolk County Council’s policy of charging people for essential care and support.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th July 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Inability to find a QC “not good reason” for arbitration no-show – Litigation Futures

Posted July 15th, 2020 in arbitration, barristers, legal representation, news, queen's counsel by sally

‘A High Court judge has said there was no reason “at all” why a defendant in a €20m arbitration had to use the Bar and being unable to find counsel at short notice was not a good reason not to participate in the hearing.’

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Litigation Futures, 15th July 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Top GC defends in-house lawyers’ approach to ethics – Legal Futures

Posted July 15th, 2020 in coronavirus, legal aid, legal profession, legal services, news, regulations by sally

‘A leading general counsel has attacked the assumption that in-house lawyers “leave their morals at the door” when they join their companies.’

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Legal Futures, 15th July 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Detention of a minor for his own protection – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The High Court recently dismissed a claim of incompatibility with Article 5 ECHR arising from a detention of a minor for his own protection in the case of Archer v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2020] EWHC 1567 (QB).’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 14th July 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Discrimination and ‘No DSS’ – Nearly Legal

‘As we have seen before, Shelter have been supporting discrimination claims under the Equality Act 2010 against letting agents who operate a ‘No DSS’ policy (meaning a refusal to even consider people claiming housing related benefits – who are often employed – as applicants for tenancies. The DSS ceased to exist in 2001, which suggests how longstanding this issue is). These claims all settled out of court. Now a claim has gone to judgment.’

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Nearly Legal, 14th July 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

‘Paedophile hunters’ do not violate right to privacy, Supreme Court rules as convict’s appeal dismissed – The Independent

Posted July 15th, 2020 in appeals, child abuse, deceit, internet, news, privacy, sexual offences, Supreme Court by sally

‘”Paedophile hunters” do not violate the right to privacy, the Supreme Court has ruled while dismissing a convict’s appeal.
Mark Sutherland was convicted after communicating with a member of an activist group, who he believed to be a 13-year-old boy. He appealed his conviction, arguing that his right to a private life and correspondence, enshrined in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Delivering the Supreme Court’s ruling on Wednesday, Lord Sales said the appeal had been “unanimously dismissed”.’

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The Independent, 15th July 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

EU citizens will be deported for minor offences under Priti Patel’s post-Brexit immigration crackdown, lawyer warns – The Independent

‘EU citizens will be deported for minor offences under Priti Patel’s post-Brexit immigration crackdown, despite having permission to stay, a leading lawyer has warned.’

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The Independent, 14th July 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK accounting firms criticised by watchdog for ‘unacceptable’ work – The Guardian

Posted July 15th, 2020 in accountants, auditors, news, ombudsmen, standards by sally

‘The accounting watchdog has hit out at the UK’s largest auditors, after its annual inspection uncovered an “unacceptable” number of poorly executed company audits.’

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The Guardian, 14th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Novichok victim Dawn Sturgess’ daughter challenges coroner – BBC News

Posted July 15th, 2020 in bereavement, coroners, families, inquests, news, Russia, unlawful killing by sally

‘The daughter of a woman killed by a nerve agent wants her mother’s inquest to consider whether senior members of the Russian state were responsible.’

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BBC News, 14th July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Self-ID for transgender people ‘unlikely’ to get ministers’ support – BBC News

‘Ministers are unlikely to back a major reform to the Gender Recognition Act, it is understood, amid fresh uncertainty over when the government will actually announce its plans.’

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BBC News, 14th July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK undercover officer accused of encouraging activist to buy shotgun – The Guardian

Posted July 15th, 2020 in firearms, inquiries, news, police, professional conduct by sally

‘Scotland Yard is investigating one of its former undercover officers over allegations he incited an animal rights activist to commit illegal acts that resulted in him being jailed for four years.’

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The Guardian, 15th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

FGM protection order in child’s best interests – Court of Appeal – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted July 14th, 2020 in children, family courts, female genital mutilation, jurisdiction, news by sally

‘A (A Child) (Rev 1) [2020] EWCA 731 (15 June 2020). This was an appeal by the secretary of state against a decision of the President of the Family Division concerning the exercise of the family court’s jurisdiction to make a female genital mutilation protection order (FGMPO) under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 Sch.2 Pt 1 para.1.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 13th July 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Angry Bar Council mocks Buckland over profession’s support – Legal Futures

‘The Bar Council has come out fighting after the Lord Chancellor told the Today programme that there was “a lot of support” from the legal profession for extending court sitting hours to help recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.’

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Legal Futures, 14th July 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Court rules client must pay firm after terminating DBA early – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 14th, 2020 in damages, enforcement, news, solicitors by sally

‘Lawyers working on a damages-based agreement are entitled to be paid when the client has terminated early, the High Court has ruled.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 13th July 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk