Alexia Walenkaki swing death: Tower Hamlets Council fined £330,000 – BBC News
‘A council has been fined £330,000 after a five-year-old girl died when a swing set collapsed on her in east London.’
BBC News, 22nd January 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Ronan Cormacain: Protecting Veterans or Protecting the Ministry of Defence? Clarity in the Overseas Operations Bill – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘Legislation needs to be clear so that citizens can understand it and parliamentarians know what they are voting for. The need for clarity in legislation is set out as the first principle of Bingham’s definition of the Rule of Law, and the need for intelligibility in legislation is a requirement of the Venice Commission Checklist on the Rule of Law. This is one of the rationales for a parliamentary democracy. The Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill is designed to offer legal protections to UK armed forces, and the Ministry of Defence, in relation to overseas military operations. The Bill’s Second Reading took place this week in the House of Lords. But the Bill is disingenuous: in form it is about protecting veterans, whilst in substance it is about protecting the Ministry of Defence.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 22nd January 2021
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
TV licence fee decriminalisation decision shelved – BBC News
‘The government has decided not to move ahead with plans to decriminalise non-payment of the TV licence fee, but said it would “remain under active consideration”.’
BBC News, 21st January 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Official Solicitor wins appeal over ability of mother and step-father of autistic man to leave homes to provide care during first lockdown – Local Government Lawyer
‘The Official Solicitor has won an appeal on behalf of a 30-year-old with autism and communication difficulties over whether his mother and step-father had a reasonable excuse during the first national lockdown to leave their homes to provide him with care.’
Local Government Lawyer, 19th January 2021
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Oxfordshire boy groomed by gangs ‘failed’ by authorities – BBC News
‘A boy found dead in his bedroom was groomed into a world of drug trafficking and “failed” by the authorities, a serious case review said.’
BBC News, 20th January 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Email attachments are not privileged just because message is – Legal Futures
‘The Supreme Court has refused to interfere in a ruling that legal professional privilege (LPP) which covers an email does not extend to any attachments.’
Legal Futures, 21st January 2021
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Judge rules against woman who re-entered property after locks were changed – Local Government Lawyer
‘A woman who managed, after the locks were changed, to re-enter temporary accommodation being provided by a property firm for a council was a trespasser and had no right to stay, Chelmsford County Court has ruled.’
Local Government Lawyer, 21st January 2021
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Joy Morgan: Murdered student ‘may have been given drugs without knowing’ – BBC News
‘A student murdered by a fellow church member may have been given drugs without her knowing, an inquest heard.’
BBC News, 20th January 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Another SRA prosecution fails but regulator avoids costs order – Legal Futures
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) was justified in prosecuting two law firm partners even though all of the allegations were dismissed, a tribunal has ruled.
Legal Futures, 21st January 2021
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Covid: Close courts in England and Wales or face strikes, union warns – BBC News
‘A union has warned of industrial action unless courts in England and Wales close while improvements are made to staff coronavirus safety.’
BBC News, 20th January 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
New watchdog will be able to ban dangerous materials used at Grenfell Tower – The Guardian
‘Companies that make dangerous building materials such as those used at Grenfell Tower could be prosecuted and their products banned by a new watchdog announced by the government.’
The Guardian, 19th January 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
Senior judges issue guidance on wearing masks and face coverings in courts – Local Government Lawyer
‘The Senior Presiding Judge, Lady Justice Thirlwall, and the Deputy Senior Presiding Judge, Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, have issued new guidance on the wearing of masks and face coverings in courts.’
Local Government Lawyer, 18th January 2021
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
“Troubling inequality” persists for BAME consumers of legal services – Legal Futures
‘A “troubling inequality” between BAME and White British consumers in the way they access legal services has changed little in the five years since it raised the issue, the Legal Services Consumer Panel (LSCP) has found.’
Legal Futures, 19th January 2021
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Keelan Wilson: Four guilty of Wolverhampton boy murder – BBC News
‘Four men have been found guilty of murdering a boy stabbed more than 40 times in a “well-planned execution”.’
BBC News, 19th January 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Female child sex abuse ‘remains taboo’ while victims struggle – BBC News
‘Victims of female child sexual abusers face “enormous stigma and shame”, according to police and charities.’
BBC News, 19th January 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Shed parties and illegal races: UK police crack down on Covid-19 rulebreakers – The Guardian
‘Police have issued fines to coronavirus rule breakers including those who held a party in a garden shed and a group of more than 40 people who gathered for illegal car racing.’
The Guardian, 18th January 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
Court and tribunal buildings are safe, insists acting chief executive of HMCTS – Local Government Lawyer
‘Buildings operated by HM Courts and Tribunals Service are safe for those that need to use them, the organisation’s acting chief executive has insisted.’
Local Government Lawyer, 19th January 2021
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
