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‘Perceived credibility is of key importance in refugee status decisions (RSD). The emotional demeanour of an asylum seeker and the decision-maker’s affect may inform credibility judgements throughout the RSD process. However, research exploring these factors in an asylum-seeking context is sparse. This study examined whether emotions perceived in an asylum seeker impacted credibility decisions. The role of decision-makers’ own emotional reactions (affect) on credibility decisions was also examined. Participants (N = 128) acting as asylum decision-makers watched a mock interview where an asylum seeker either displayed behaviours indicative of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or not indicative of PTSD. Ratings of the asylum seeker’s credibility, the emotions displayed and the decision-maker’s affect were obtained alongside thematic analysis of open-ended responses. We found an emotional congruence effect; credibility ratings were higher when an asylum seeker ‘with PTSD’ showed behaviours indicating fear/distress. A novel finding was an affect heuristic driving judgements. Participants’ self-reported feelings of anger, sadness, disgust and compassion were associated with higher credibility ratings of the asylum seeker, whereas self-reporting no emotion was associated with lower ratings. Findings suggest that decision-maker affect may influence asylum credibility decisions.’

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Psychology, Crime and Law, 5th December 2025

Source: www.tandfonline.com

Mental Health Act 2025

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

‘A Covid denier from south London has been sentenced to three years and three months in prison after urging people to stage an armed revolt during the pandemic.’

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BBC News, 18th December 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

‘The Court of Appeal has rejected a barrister’s claim that LGBT charity Stonewall “caused or induced” discrimination against her by her chambers.’

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Legal Futures, 19th December 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘Companies which reclaimed VAT on professional fees may have to rethink their options following the final round of a long-running UK court challenge, according to experts.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 18th December 2025

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

‘A healthcare support worker has been jailed for nine years for sex assaults on two hospital patients.’

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BBC News, 18th December 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘When the government announces a ‘crackdown’ or some new tough policy on immigration or asylum, it is important to recognise that what this means (at most) is that migrants will be treated in accordance with the new policy unless their Convention rights require that they are treated otherwise; at most, since often when the policy is implemented there will be an explicit exemption for some groups, such as people entitled to disability benefit or the elderly. Naturally, ministers prefer not to spell this out, but it is unfortunate that 25 years after the introduction of the Human Rights Act that so many commentators, as recently shown in the response to the plans to reform aspects of the asylum system, seem unaware of (or for strategic reasons prefer not to make) this essential point.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 19th December 2025

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

‘Complex court administrative processes “increasingly function as gatekeepers to justice” and shut out litigants in person (LiPs), research has found.’

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Legal Futures, 19th December 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Space Industry (Indemnities) Act 2025

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

‘A man left his “best friend” to die alone on his kitchen floor after launching a fatal alcohol and cocaine-fuelled attack on him, a court has heard.’

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BBC News, 18th December 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘In the 50 years since equal rights for women were enshrined in UK law, the campaigners have been reduced to caricatures, or forgotten. But their struggle is worth remembering.’

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The Guardian, 18th December 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘The son of a former police officer was “misled” by a force into accepting a community resolution for violence he did not admit to, an investigation has found.’

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BBC News, 18th December 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Appeal court judges have backed a decision that dozens of asylum seekers were unlawfully detained on one of the world’s most remote islands, rejecting an appeal on Tuesday by the commissioner for the territory.’

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The Guardian, 16th December 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Paddy Power Betfair has agreed to pay £2m for failing to step in quickly enough when customers appeared to be problem gambling.

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BBC News, 17th December 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Businesses are to benefit from an opt-out class action for the first time after the last two defendants in the car delivery charges case settled for £54m.’

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Legal Futures, 18th December 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘Espionage offences in the UK’s new National Security Act are so broadly defined that they “will result in cases of real harm” with people wrongly investigated, according to the first review of state threats legislation.’

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The Guardian, 16th December 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com