John Leslie trial: Ex-Blue Peter presenter cleared of sex assault – BBC News
‘Former TV presenter John Leslie has been found not guilty of sexual assault.’
BBC News, 19th October 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Prisoners locked up for 23 hours due to Covid rules is ‘dangerous’ – BBC News
‘Prisoners being locked in their cells for 23 hours a day under Covid restrictions is dangerous, the chief inspector of prisons has warned.’
BBC News, 20th October 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Leaked review of Met police body-worn video footage reveals officer errors – The Guardian
‘Scotland Yard has decided not to routinely release its own video footage of controversial incidents after internal reviews showed errors by officers, a leaked document reveals.’
The Guardian, 19th October 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Assessing the Home Office’s pandemic response – Law Society’s Gazette
‘Earlier this year, Covid-19 threw the UK’s immigration landscape into disarray. Travel restrictions, reduced working capacity at the Home Office and temporary shutdown of third-party providers caused much uncertainty for those trapped overseas and those in the UK. Added to this were the loss of jobs, salary reductions and individuals no longer being able to meet the requirements of their stay. Below we consider some of the key measures the Home Office introduced over this period for overseas nationals with time-limited restrictions in the UK.’
Law Society's Gazette, 19th October 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Parole Board chief calls for high-profile hearings to be held in public – The Guardian
‘The head of the Parole Board has backed proposals to hold hearings to decide whether dangerous prisoners should be released in public, a significant shift from the current closed system.’
The Guardian, 20th October 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Jeff King and Stephen Tierney: The House of Lords Constitution Committee reports on the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘The United Kingdom Internal Market Bill is something of an imperfect storm, provoking the ire both of the devolved authorities who consider it an unacceptable circumscription of devolved competence and those aghast that the Bill empowers ministers to act contrary to the UK’s international obligations. Today the Constitution Committee reports on the measure and doesn’t pull its punches. Its highly critical analysis is informed by several evidence sessions involving academics, legal experts and prominent parliamentarians including the Lord Chancellor.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 16th October 2020
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
Equality gains in the UK risk being reversed by coronavirus, says EHRC – The Guardian
‘Hard-won gains in equality and human rights in the UK are at risk of being reversed by the coronavirus pandemic, and society, the economy and living standards are facing long-lasting damage, the UK human rights watchdog has said.’
The Guardian, 20th October 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
New Judgment: R (on the application of Highbury Poultry Farm Produce Ltd) v Crown Prosecution Service [2020] UKSC 39 – UKSC Blog
‘The Supreme Court unanimously dismissed this appeal addressing whether proof of an offence contrary to Regulation 30(1)(g) of the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015, brought against a business operator as defined in Regulation (EC) No. 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing, requires proof of mens rea and/or some culpable act or omission on the part of the business operator.’
UKSC Blog, 16th October 2020
Source: ukscblog.com
Supreme Court rejects appeal over allocation of housing to members of religious group – Local Government Lawyer
‘The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed an appeal over the lawfulness and proportionality of a housing charity’s policy of allocating social housing primarily to members of the Orthodox Jewish community in Hackney and in particular the Haredi community.’
Local Government Lawyer, 16th October 2020
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Court reforms data collection progress “disappointing” – Legal Futures
‘The government’s £1bn court reforms have had a “disappointingly slow” start in collecting the information required to ensure the justice system is fair, according to researchers.’
Legal Futures, 20th October 2020
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Just one in seven rape survivors expect justice in England and Wales – The Guardian
‘Just one in seven rape survivors believe they will receive justice by reporting a rape, according to a survey by the victims’ commissioner.’
The Guardian, 20th October 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Falling over backwards, if at all: The “slip” rule and its application – Becket Chambers
‘Every now and then, a court may make an “error” when giving judgment and making an order. There are circumstances where the judgment or order can be amended without giving notice to the other side and without the need for another hearing, but parties must be careful to ensure any amendments reflect the original intention of the court at the time the judgment and the order were given.’
Becket Chambers, 13th October 2020
Source: becket-chambers.co.uk
Chu v Lau [2020] UKPC 24: The Privy Council’s review of the law on just and equitable winding-up – Exchange Chambers
‘In its Judgment handed down on 12 October 2020, [[2020] UKPC 24], the Privy Council, comprised of Lord Hodge, Lord Briggs, Lady Arden, Lord Leggatt and Lord Burrows, provided a welcomed clarification of the law applicable to the just and equitable winding-up of a company; with a particular emphasis on the alternative rules which apply to those companies having the status of a quasi-partnership.’
Exchange Chambers, 16th October 2020
Source: www.exchangechambers.co.uk
Relief from the forfeiture rule: Amos v Mancini [2020] EWHC 1063 (Ch) and Challen v Challen [2020] EWHC 1330 (Ch) – Radcliffe Chambers
‘Two cases this year demonstrate the court’s approach to claims for relief from the forfeiture rule. The first case concerns Sandra Amos’ claim following her conviction of causing the death of her husband by careless driving. The second follows the case of Sally Challen, initially convicted of the murder of her husband. Mrs Challen’s conviction was subsequently quashed by the Court of Appeal and her guilty plea to manslaughter was later accepted by the Crown.’
Radcliffe Chambers, 7th October 2020
Source: radcliffechambers.com
Amendments to Costs Budgeting Rules Coming into Force on 1st October 2020 – St John’s Chambers
‘As of 1st October 2020 several amendments to the costs budgeting rules and the related Practice Direction came into force.’
St John's Chambers, 2nd October 2020
Source: www.stjohnschambers.co.uk
New Judgment: R (on the application of Z and Anor) (AP) v Hackney London Borough Council and Anor [2020] UKSC 40 – UKSC Blog
‘The Supreme Court unanimously dismissed this appeal about the application of anti-discrimination law to charities, where they are established to provide benefits (in this case, social housing) for particular groups which are the subject of their charitable objectives. The relevant anti-discrimination laws are contained in the Equality Act 2010 and Council Directive 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 (the “Race Directive”).’
UKSC Blog, 16th October 2020
Source: ukscblog.com
Police 999 callouts to people suffering mental health crises soar – The Guardian
‘The police are being called to deal with soaring numbers of incidents involving people suffering from mental health crises, sparking fresh concern about lack of NHS help for the mentally ill.’
The Guardian, 18th October 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
What Has Judicial Review Ever Done For Us? – Each Other
‘It helped thousands of students across the country to have “discriminatory” computer-calculated exam grades scrapped this summer. It enabled health workers on the Covid frontlines to challenge the government over personal protective equipment shortages. It helped Gurkha veterans, who have been part of the British Army for centuries, challenge a policy which denied them settlement in the UK. And it kept a “dangerous” rapist behind bars.’
Each Other, 16th October 2020
Source: eachother.org.uk
UK needs judges to limit government power, says Lord Kerr – The Guardian
‘The last thing the country needs is a government in which ministers exercise “unbridled power”, the UK’s longest serving supreme court justice has said.’
The Guardian, 19th October 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
