Day: 10 January 2018

The Liam Allan case is the tip of the iceberg – Legal Voice

Posted January 10th, 2018 in budgets, criminal justice, disclosure, news, police, prosecutions, rape by sally

‘In December 2017 there was a considerable outcry following the case of Liam Allan, a middle class white man studying criminology who had been charged with rape. Crucial material was not disclosed or properly reviewed by the police which totally undermined the case against the defendant and the case was dropped. The Director of Public Prosecutions apologised, an enquiry into disclosure is to follow, the police were slammed, and the issue was raised with the Prime Minister in the House of Commons. Even the Daily Mail got in on the act and other cases have also been dropped since.’

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Legal Voice, 10th January 2018

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

New lord chancellor prioritises parole transparency review – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 10th, 2018 in Ministry of Justice, news, parole by sally

‘Less than 24 hours after the prime minister handed the justice brief to solicitor David Gauke as part of a cabinet reshuffle, the new lord chancellor says he has begun the process of making parole decisions more transparent.’

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Law Society's Gazette, January 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The use of testing for drugs and alcohol in FDAC – Family Law

Posted January 10th, 2018 in alcohol abuse, care orders, drug abuse, families, family courts, forensic science, news, social services by sally

‘The FDAC National Unit (NU) coordinates quarterly meetings for all FDAC substance misuse workers, to provide a forum for discussing issues arising from working in FDAC, which is a very different experience to working within adult treatment services. Issues that arise include being part of a multi-disciplinary team, working within the tight timescales of care proceedings, and the need to focus on the welfare of the child and the child’s timescales rather than solely on the parent/s. Issues relating to testing are also discussed regularly.’

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Family Law, 9th January 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

EVENT: LSE – Lessons from Grenfell Tower: inequality and housing need, the Giant that still divides us

Posted January 10th, 2018 in Forthcoming events by sally

‘The crucially important role of social housing has been recognised following the Grenfell Tower disaster, which also laid bare the disconnect between the ‘elites’ and the most disadvantaged in society.This event explores the link between inequality and housing, evidenced by the growing demand for low cost rented housing among those on the very lowest incomes. Unless the voices of communities and residents are heard and taken seriously, there is a risk that gaps in society will widen even further.’

Date: 23rd February 2018, 6.30-7.30pm

Location: Sheikh Zayed Theatre, New Academic Building, London School of Economics

Charge: Free, see website for details

More information can be found here.

Data protection bill amended to protect security researchers – The Guardian

Posted January 10th, 2018 in anonymity, bills, data protection, internet, news by sally

‘The government is to amend the data protection bill to protect security researchers who work to uncover abuses of personal data, quelling fears that the bill could accidentally criminalise legitimate research.’

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The Guardian, 9th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Privacy, the common law and a celebrity divorce – Transparency Project

Posted January 10th, 2018 in divorce, family courts, media, news, privacy by sally

‘Under the headline ‘Jamie and Louise Redknapp’s divorce papers to be kept secret as a judge blocks the release of documents’ the Transparency Project reported last week-end that the Press were complaining a London court had ‘blocked the release of papers that would normally be made public and he has not given a reason why’. The Daily Mail, TP said, had complained: ‘A judge has thrown a blanket of secrecy over the’ couple’s divorce.’

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Transparency Project, 9th January 2018

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

High Court judge criticises “very serious defects” in housing decision letter – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 10th, 2018 in children, disabled persons, housing, local government, news by sally

‘A decision letter sent by the London Borough of Hillingdon to an applicant for housing “suffers from very serious defects”, Nicklin J has said in the High Court.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 10th January 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

SDT issues mental health warning to employers in case of solicitor under billing pressure – Legal Futures

Posted January 10th, 2018 in forgery, mental health, news, professional conduct, solicitors, tribunals by sally

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has decided against striking off a solicitor it found had forged correspondence and lied to both her client and her employer, after finding that a root cause of her misconduct was the firm’s culture and the pressure it exerted on her to meet billing targets.’

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Legal Futures, 10th January 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Brexit bill may have broken international environment law, says UN – The Guardian

Posted January 10th, 2018 in bills, brexit, consultations, EC law, environmental protection, international law, news by sally

‘The British government may have breached a major “environmental democracy” law by failing to consult the public when drawing up Brexit legislation.’

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The Guardian, 9th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Council mulls consultation on public space protection order to protect health clinic – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 10th, 2018 in abortion, consultations, harassment, local government, news, public spaces protection orders by sally

‘The Cabinet at the London Borough of Ealing will next week (16 January) consider whether to authorise a consultation on a possible Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) around a Marie Stopes clinic.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 9th January 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Plastic bag charge: 5p levy could be extended in England – BBC News

Posted January 10th, 2018 in environmental protection, news by sally

‘The 5p charge for plastic bags in large shops in England could be extended to cover nearly all retailers, as part of government plans for the environment.’

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BBC News, 10th January 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Why has serial offender Terry Ellis swapped a life of crime to go straight? – The Guardian

Posted January 10th, 2018 in news, prisons, recidivists, rehabilitation by sally

‘A stint at the UK’s only therapeutic prison, Grendon, put this criminal in touch with his feelings. It’s allowed him to set up a business to help others leaving jail.’

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The Guardian, 9th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com