Dad guilty of 14-year-old daughter’s murder – BBC News
‘A man who claimed his daughter died in a “freak accident” during a play-fight with a knife has been found guilty of her murder.’
BBC News, 27th January 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Sam Guy: The Government’s Plan to Reform Infrastructure Judicial Review – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘On 23 January, Sir Keir Starmer announced plans to “stop blockers getting in the way” of infrastructure development, by introducing restrictions on judicial review of infrastructure projects. Notwithstanding this government’s consistent commitment to reforming the planning system, so as to galvanise infrastructure and housing delivery, and its forthcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill, the announcement of these particular proposals may have come as something of a surprise to public lawyers. The proposals are, though, largely reflective of an Independent review into legal challenges against Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects led by Lord Banner KC (“the Banner Review”), which was commissioned by the previous Conservative government, and they follow on from the Ministry of Justice’s call for evidence on implementing some of Lord Banner’s proposals, which ran from 28 October 2024 to 30 December 2024.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 28th January 2025
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
SRA can keep disciplinary decisions online for longer – Legal Futures
‘The Legal Services Board (LSB) has approved plans by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to change its publication policy and keep details of misconduct on its website for longer.’
Legal Futures, 28th January 2025
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Journalists win appeal over naming of judges who decided historic care proceedings relating to Sara Sharif – Local Government Lawyer
‘The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal brought by two journalists against a judge’s decision to order the anonymisation of the names of the circuit judges that had decided historic care proceedings relating to Sara Sharif, who was murdered by her father and step-mother in 2023.’
Local Government Lawyer, 17th January 2025
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
New practice guidance on intermediaries in family courts – Transparency Project
‘New practice guidance ‘The use of Intermediaries, Lay Advocates and Cognitive Assessments in the Family Court’, was issued by the President of the Family Division on 23 January.’
Transparency Project, 27th January 2025
Source: transparencyproject.org.uk
XL bully owner jailed for man’s attack death – BBC News
‘The owner of an XL bully dog which chased and killed a man has been jailed for three years.’
BBC News, 27th January 2025
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Lessons from R (Andrews) v SSHD [2025]: The Risks of Relying Solely on Home Office Guidance – EIN Blog
‘The High Court’s recent judgment in R (Andrews) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWHC 64 (Admin), handed down on 17 January 2025, underscores the critical importance of adhering strictly to the Immigration Rules when navigating the UK immigration system. The judgment highlights that you cannot rely solely on Home Office guidance, which does not carry the same legal authority as statutory provisions or the Immigration Rules.’
EIN Blog, 27th January 2025
Source: www.ein.org.uk
UK tribunal decides individual was agency worker despite use of PSC – OUT-LAW.com
‘A recent employment tribunal decision has shown that a contractor engaged via a personal service company (PSC) can be held under UK employment law to be an agency worker, and therefore entitled to the protection of worker rights.’
OUT-LAW.com, 24th January 2025
Source: www.pinsentmasons.com
Ruling clarifies court expectations on challenges raised to bill of costs – OUT-LAW.com
‘Businesses commencing court proceedings in England and Wales have obtained fresh guidance on what they need to do when seeking to challenge costs claims put forward by opponents they are in litigation against, experts have said.’
OUT-LAW.com, 24th January 2025
Source: www.pinsentmasons.com
Obtaining imaging orders from the English courts – OUT-LAW.com
‘Imaging orders offer another useful tool to civil fraud litigators needing to urgently prevent the concealment and destruction of relevant digital evidence.’
OUT-LAW.com, 24th January 2025
Source: www.pinsentmasons.com
Renewed homeless applications and new facts – Nearly Legal
‘Ivory, R (On the Application Of) v Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (2025) EWCA Civ 21. A second appeal to the Court of Appeal from a judicial review of Welwyn Hatfield’s rejection of a homelessness application by Ms Ivory, on the basis that it was based on the same facts as a previous application by Ms Ivory on which Welwyn had decided no full housing duty was owed as Ms Ivory was intentionally homeless.’
Nearly Legal, 26th January 2025
Source: nearlylegal.co.uk
Access injunctions: not as straightforward as they may seem… – Local Government Lawyer
‘Jane Talbot discusses how some of the issues faced by social landlords when it comes to obtaining access injunctions can be overcome.’
Local Government Lawyer, 24th January 2025
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Successive applications for homelessness assistance and new facts – Local Government Lawyer
‘Toby Vanhegan and Stephanie Lovegrove analyse a Court of Appeal ruling on whether a council was justified in declining to accept an application under section 183 of the Housing Act 1996 on the ground that it was based on the same facts as a previous application.’
Local Government Lawyer, 24th January 2025
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Saudi prince sees off $1.2bn bankruptcy bid over jurisdiction argument – Law Society’s Gazette
‘A prominent member of the Saudi royal family has beaten off a High Court bankruptcy order because the petitioner could not show he was resident in the UK.’
Law Society's Gazette, 27th January 2025
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Couple defend first-cousin marriages amid ban call – BBC News
‘Family life is busy for Israr Hussain and his wife, Tasleem Akhtar, who have four daughters between the ages of five and 15. They chose to have their wedding back home in Pakistan in 2007 and live in Birmingham. The 47-year-olds are not only husband and wife, but also first cousins, as both of their fathers are brothers. Marrying a first cousin is commonplace among Muslim families. It is about protecting wealth, land and property and helps keep the family together. While marriage between first cousins is not illegal in the UK, medical experts say it can cause genetic diseases in the children they may bear.’
BBC News, 27th January 2025
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Stalking protection orders very rarely used – BBC News
‘Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs) were introduced five years ago to prevent victims being harassed further. But figures show they have hardly been used.’
BBC News, 27th January 2025
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Southport murders: No 10 rejects calls to change law on whole-life sentences – The Guardian
‘Downing Street has rejected calls for sentencing changes, saying it does not have the power to extend whole-life sentences to killers aged under 18 because of international law.’
The Guardian, 24th February 2025
Source: www.theguardian.com
Gig economy firms warned by UK government they may be operating illegally – The Guardian
‘Gig economy companies supplying “freelance” workers to shops, restaurants and warehouses may be operating illegally, the government has warned, after a series of Observer reports highlighting their use.’
The Guardian, 25th January 2025
Source: www.theguardian.com
Just Stop Oil protester has prison sentence extended – BBC News
‘A 78-year-old climate protester has had her prison sentence extended by 20 days for being “unlawfully at large”, after the authorities failed to find a tracking bracelet that fitted her.’
BBC News, 26th January 2025
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Press now allowed to report from family courts – BBC News
‘Journalists can now report from family courts in England and Wales in what the UK’s most senior family judge has called a “watershed” change.’
BBC News, 27th January 2025
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
