Basfar v Wong – Diplomatic Immunity, Human Trafficking and “Commercial Activities” Revisited – Littleton Chambers

Posted February 5th, 2020 in appeals, chambers articles, diplomats, employment, employment tribunals, immunity, news, Supreme Court, trafficking in human beings by sally

‘The EAT has handed down its judgment in Basfar v Wong UKEAT/0223/19/BA, holding that the defence of diplomatic immunity applied in circumstances where the Claimant alleged she had been trafficked by her diplomat employer. However, it also granted the Claimant the first ever ‘leapfrog’ certificate direct from the EAT to the Supreme Court, and the matter looks set to continue.’

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Littleton Chambers, 4th February 2020

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

Appeal court confirms ‘dominant purpose’ test for legal advice privilege – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 5th, 2020 in airlines, appeals, disclosure, dispute resolution, electronic mail, legal profession, legal services, news, privilege by sally

‘The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) could not claim legal advice privilege over email correspondence which was predominantly conducted for the purposes of seeking commercial views, rather than legal advice, the Court of Appeal has confirmed.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 4th February 2020

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Government launches public consultation on pre-charge bail – Home Office

Posted February 5th, 2020 in bail, consultations, government departments, police, press releases, time limits, victims by sally

‘New consultation aims to put the needs of victims first and ensure police are supported to investigate crimes.’

Full press release

Home Office, 5th February 2020

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Civil partnerships for heterosexual couples: what you need to know – Family Law

Posted February 5th, 2020 in civil partnerships, equality, families, inheritance tax, marriage, news, prenuptial agreements, taxation, wills by sally

‘As of 31st December 2019, it is now possible for both same-sex and heterosexual couples to enter into a civil partnership. The institution was initially devised solely for same-sex couples through the Civil Partnership Act 2004; it was meant to be a distinct separate relationship status for same-sex couples akin, but different to, a marriage. This has now changed and moving into 2020, heterosexual couples may opt for a civil partnership instead of a marriage.’

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Family Law, 5th February 2020

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Crown court sitting days increase ‘nowhere near enough’ – criminal bar – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 5th, 2020 in barristers, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, news, statistics by sally

‘The criminal bar has welcomed the thousands of extra Crown court sitting days announced by the government this week but says it is not even close to what is needed.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 5th February 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

CPS knew rape ‘ambition’ could have perverse consequences – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 5th, 2020 in Crown Prosecution Service, domestic violence, judicial review, news, prosecutions, rape, sexual offences, statistics, women by sally

‘The Crown Prosecution Service was aware in 2015 that its conviction rate “levels of ambition” could have unintended consequences, the Gazette can reveal.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 5th February 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The Separate Representation of Children: Part 1 – Family Law Week

Posted February 5th, 2020 in care orders, children, codes of practice, families, family courts, guardianship, legal representation, news by sally

‘Shiva Ancliffe reviews the law relating to the determination of whether a child should be separately represented in proceedings.’

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Family Law Week, 2nd February 2020

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

The Separate Representation of Children: Part 2 – Family Law Week

Posted February 5th, 2020 in care orders, children, codes of practice, families, family courts, guardianship, legal representation, news by sally

‘Shiva Ancliffe reviews the law relating to the determination of whether a child should be separately represented in proceedings.’

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Family Law Week, 3rd February 2020

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

MP launches new legal bid to allow asylum seekers to work after six months – The Independent

Posted February 5th, 2020 in asylum, bills, delay, immigration, news, time limits by sally

‘Asylum seekers who have waited more than six months for a decision on their claim would be given the right to work under a new bill brought forward in parliament.’

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The Independent, 5th February 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Helen McCourt murderer Ian Simms to be released imminently – BBC News

Posted February 5th, 2020 in bereavement, bills, disclosure, families, murder, news, parole by sally

‘A man jailed over the murder of a 22-year-old woman is due to be freed from prison imminently despite never revealing where he hid her remains.’

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BBC News, 4th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rogue surgeon report does not pretend there are easy answers – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2020 in codes of practice, doctors, hospitals, inquiries, negligence, news, professional conduct, standards by sally

‘Report makes some sensible recommendations but critics say it could have gone further.’

Full report

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The Guardian, 4th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Twitter will label and may remove media designed to mislead – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2020 in communicating false information, enforcement, freedom of expression, internet, labelling, news by sally

‘Twitter will begin to label and in some cases remove doctored or manipulated photos, audio and videos that are designed to mislead people.’

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The Guardian, 5th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Couple who lost almost £1m among 3,000 victims of courier fraud as police launch nationwide crackdown – The Independent

Posted February 5th, 2020 in elderly, fraud, news, statistics by sally

‘Police have launched the first ever nationwide crackdown on courier fraud that has affected more than 3,000 people – including a couple who were conned out of almost £1m.’

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The Independent, 5th February 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Pretty Little Thing: ‘Overly sexualised’ advert banned – BBC News

Posted February 5th, 2020 in advertising, complaints, news, ombudsmen, women by sally

‘An advert for fashion retailer Pretty Little Thing which featured women wearing exposing lingerie has been banned for being “offensive”.’

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BBC News, 5th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘I wanted to forget the past – but I couldn’t’: How modern slavery victim was left in limbo for five years by Home Office – The Independent

Posted February 5th, 2020 in asylum, children, compensation, delay, detention, forced labour, government departments, immigration, mental health, news by sally

‘He arrived in the UK nearly a decade ago after an “uncle” – the term he uses for older men of his nationality – helped him escape the violence, labour exploitation and sexual abuse he was subjected to for most of his childhood. He has since been saved from his exploiters, but faced a different challenge – the battle for protection from the Home Office.’

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The Independent, 4th February 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Criminal record checks system still broken, say campaigners – The Guardian

Posted February 4th, 2020 in criminal records, delay, news, vetting by sally

‘Legal rights campaign groups have described as a “disgrace” the government’s delay in reforming the criminal record checks system.’

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The Guardian, 30th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Important New Court of Appeal Decision on Legal Advice Privilege – Littleton Chambers

Posted February 4th, 2020 in disclosure, electronic mail, legal services, news, privilege by sally

‘The Court of Appeal decision on 28 January 2020 on legal advice privilege will be of significant interest to litigators and non-litigators alike. It will be particularly important for those responsible for disclosure reviews within litigation, and to organisations with in-house lawyers. Such was the significance of the issues at play that the Law Society sought, and was granted, leave to intervene in the appeal.’

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Littleton Chambers, 29th January 2020

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

Number of self-harm incidents in prisons reaches record high – The Guardian

Posted February 4th, 2020 in news, prisons, self-harm, statistics by sally

‘Levels of self-harm in prisons have hit a new high, with more than 60,000 incidents in a year, official figures show.’

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The Guardian, 30th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Landlord Advice Companies in Litigation – Help or Hindrance? – Pallant Chambers

Posted February 4th, 2020 in landlord & tenant, legal services, news, third parties by sally

‘For individual landlords unfamiliar with the courts, recovering possession from tenants must often seem like a daunting proposition. It is therefore unsurprising that many such landlords turn to the wide variety of landlord advice companies that advertise support and assistance. These advice companies often offer different ‘packages’, ranging from simply drafting letters before action to pursuing possession orders right through to judgment.’

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Pallant Chambers, 30th January 2020

Source: www.pallantchambers.co.uk

Flight Risk: Cybersecurity in Aviation – The 36 Group

Posted February 4th, 2020 in airports, computer crime, data protection, encryption, news by sally

‘Cybersecurity is considered one of the top global risks to the world in the next decade. The problem is particularly acute for airports as they play an essential role in the economy and infrastructure of every country. Any incident involving airports would have widespread consequences to the industry, economy and society. The aviation industry finds itself at the heart of a number of regulations on data protection, network and information systems and security and safety.’

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The 36 Group, 3rd February 2020

Source: 36group.co.uk