Category: news

Forced Marriage Protection Orders – the approach to take – UK Police Law Blog

Posted March 5th, 2020 in family courts, forced marriages, human rights, jurisdiction, news, passports by sally

‘Applications for forced marriage protection orders (“FMPO”s) made pursuant to s.63A of the Family Law Act 1996 are on the rise: in 2018, the government’s Forced Marriage Unit provided advice or support in 1,764 possible forced marriage cases; a significant increase from the following 1200-1400 cases in 2017. Also in 2018, Family Court statistics indicate that 322 applications were made and 324 orders granted. Despite applications being made by police, who must seek leave to make such an application under s.63C(3) of the Family Law Act 1996, and local authorities, the legislation itself does not provide clear guidance as to how the court should deal with such applications. The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has now done so in Re K (Forced Marriage: Passport Order) [2020] EWCA Civ 190.’

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UK Police Law Blog, 5th March 2020

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

Law firm “under no duty” to disclose counsel’s advice to funder – Litigation Futures

Posted March 5th, 2020 in champerty, contracts, disclosure, law firms, legal representation, news by sally

‘The High Court has struck out claims brought against a City law firm that a litigation funder said did not pass on the “pessimistic views” expressed by counsel about a case it was backing.’

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Litigation Futures, 5th March 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Court of Appeal clarifies the law on marriage formalities (Akhter v Khan) – Family Law

Posted March 5th, 2020 in divorce, financial provision, Islam, marriage, news by sally

‘Family analysis: Siddique Patel, solicitor at Shoosmiths, discusses the decision of the Court of Appeal overturning that of Williams J when he ruled that an Islamic Nikah ceremony could be classed as a void marriage giving rise to financial remedies.’

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Family Law, 5th March 2020

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

The traps in the Divorce etc Bill that could cause as much harm as finding fault – Family Law

Posted March 5th, 2020 in bills, divorce, news, notification, time limits by sally

‘Traditional marriage etiquette recommends sending out wedding invitations 6-8 weeks before the big day. Under the proposed new divorce reform, a spouse might have the same amount of notice of the ending of their marriage.’

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Family Law, 5th March 2020

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Everton football fan convicted of hate crime – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted March 5th, 2020 in hate crime, news, racism, sport by sally

‘A football supporter who shouted racial abuse at a player during a game between Crystal Palace and Everton in August 2019 has been convicted of a hate crime.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 4th March 2020

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

‘Astonishing breakthrough’: Munby hails access to family justice data – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 5th, 2020 in anonymity, data protection, family courts, news by sally

‘A national support service representing children in family court cases has opened up its data to researchers as part of wider efforts to understand how well the family justice system is working. Cafcass has transferred its file data to the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank, which is based at the University of Swansea. Cafcass said the move was part of a strategy to exchange knowledge and learning with key partners such as the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, set up by the Nuffield Foundation to improve the use of data and research in the family justice system.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 3rd March 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Supreme Court president refuses to rule out stepping down if Boris Johnson tries to politicise judiciary – The Independent

Posted March 5th, 2020 in judiciary, ministers' powers and duties, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘The president of the Supreme Court has declined to rule out resigning if Boris Johnson attempts to politicise the judiciary.’

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The Independent, 4th March 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Oxford dean accused of failing to report child sexual assault claim – The Guardian

Posted March 5th, 2020 in child abuse, news, sexual offences, universities by sally

‘The head of a prestigious Oxford college has been accused of failing to disclose an allegation of sexual assault of a minor to police or safeguarding officials.’

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The Guardian, 4th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Commons spends more than £800,000 on paying off former staff – BBC News

Posted March 5th, 2020 in confidentiality, news, non-disclosure agreements, parliament by sally

‘The House of Commons has paid out hundreds of thousands of pounds in non-disclosure and settlement agreements with former employees, according to official figures.’

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BBC News, 5th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Victims given right to challenge attackers’ release from prison in new code – The Independent

Posted March 5th, 2020 in codes of practice, news, parole, release on licence, sexual offences, victims, violence by sally

‘Victims of violent and sexual offences are being given the automatic right to challenge their attackers’ release and apply for restrictions to protect themselves.’

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The Independent, 5th March 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police watchdog drop investigation into Scotland Yard’s contact with Caroline Flack before her death – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 5th, 2020 in media, mental health, news, police, suicide by sally

‘The police watchdog has dropped its investigation into the Metropolitan Police’s contact with Caroline Flack before her death.’

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Daily Telegraph, 4th March 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Save The Children misled public while failing to deal with sexual harassment allegations against top bosses, report reveals – The Independent

Posted March 5th, 2020 in charities, complaints, harassment, news by sally

‘Save the Children UK let down women who complained and the public through serious failures including a cover-up in how it handled sexual harassment claims against senior staff, according to a watchdog’s damning report.’

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The Independent, 5th March 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Aston Villa and Leicester City settle sexual-abuse claims – BBC News

Posted March 5th, 2020 in child abuse, compensation, news, sexual offences, sport by sally

‘Aston Villa and Leicester City have paid damages to five victims of a football scout convicted of child sex abuse, the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme has learned.’

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BBC News, 5th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Michael Phillips death: Three guilty of burglary revenge killing – BBC News

Posted March 5th, 2020 in burglary, homicide, murder, news by sally

‘Three men including a company director have been found guilty of killing a man in revenge for a burglary.’

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BBC News, 3rd March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Over £3m in fines and £1m for NHS in CMA pharma probe – gov.uk

Posted March 5th, 2020 in competition, fines, medicines, news by sally

‘Following an investigation, the CMA has found that 4 pharmaceutical companies broke competition law in relation to the supply of an antidepressant.’

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gov,uk, 4th March 2020

Source: www.gov.uk

Parties praised after first trial in capped costs pilot – Litigation Futures

Posted March 4th, 2020 in costs, leases, local government, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘The first case under the capped costs pilot reached trial last week, with the judge commending the parties for their “significant degree of collaboration” to make it work.’

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Litigation Futures, 2nd March 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

When the end is not the end…. Until clean break us do part – 5 SAH

Posted March 4th, 2020 in chambers articles, children, divorce, families, financial provision, news by sally

‘There are commonly two forms of maintenance obligations in a financial order – maintenance for the Wife (so called “periodical payments” or “pps”) and payments for the benefit of a child/ children. The order will prescribe the date for the first payment, the rates of pps and the date for termination of those pps. Termination of pps are commonly the first to occur of:

– the death of either party
– the receiving party’s remarriage
– the youngest child completing secondary education or attaining 18 years of age, whichever is the later or
– Further order of the court.’

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5 SAH, 26th February 2020

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

CA declares Heathrow expansion decision unlawful on climate change grounds – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 4th, 2020 in airports, appeals, climate change, environmental protection, news, planning by sally

‘Airport expansion has taken a long and winding road, not least at Heathrow. But the proponents of the 3rd runway at Heathrow would have been heartened by the Secretary of State’s decision in June 2018 to set out a policy which preferred Heathrow over Gatwick and which was designed to steer planning processes thereafter in support of the new runway.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 27th February 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Early advice enthusiast takes on legal aid brief at MoJ – Legal Futures

Posted March 4th, 2020 in barristers, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news, select committees by sally

‘A criminal law barrister who has called for the restoration of legal aid for early advice has become the new minister at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) responsible for legal aid.’

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Legal Futures, 4th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

HS2: Chris Packham launches legal challenge to rail link – BBC News

Posted March 4th, 2020 in budgets, climate change, delay, environmental protection, news, railways by sally

‘TV naturalist Chris Packham has launched a legal challenge to HS2 high-speed rail link.’

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BBC News, 3rd March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk