26/02/2018 – Current Awareness

‘Medical ethics experts have called for caution as a proposed change to organ donation laws in England, which would make everyone a donor unless the explicitly register an objection, made the first step to becoming law today.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 23rd February 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Red Arrows death: Ejection seat firm fined £1.1m – BBC News

Posted February 26th, 2018 in aircraft, fines, health & safety, news by tracey

‘An ejection seat manufacturer prosecuted over the death of a Red Arrows pilot thrown from his jet has been fined £1.1m.’

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BBC News, 23rd February 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Organised criminals stealing identities of dead people to get cheaper car insurance – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 26th, 2018 in identity fraud, insurance, news by tracey

‘Organised criminals and fraudsters are stealing the identities of dead people in order to get cheaper car insurance, it has emerged.’

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Daily Telegraph, 24th February 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Care home bosses warned ‘revenge evictions’ could be illegal – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 26th, 2018 in care homes, complaints, news by tracey

‘Care home bosses have been warned ‘revenge evictions’ could be illegal, as the regulator confirms it has begun collecting data to examine the scale of the problem.’

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Daily Telegraph, 25th February 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

NHS judicial review to go ahead after High Court grants campaigners costs-capping order – Litigation Futures

Posted February 26th, 2018 in costs capping orders, health, judicial review, news, social services by tracey

‘A judicial review of the government’s plan to introduce accountable care organisations (ACOs) – which campaigners claim will lead to the stealth privatisation of the NHS – is set to go ahead after the High Court granted the crowd-funded claimants a costs-capping order.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 23rd February 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Working Together to Safeguard Children: revisions to statutory guidance – Home Office

Posted February 26th, 2018 in child abuse, child neglect, consultations, reports by tracey

‘Summary of responses we received, along with the government’s response outlining the next steps.’

Full guidance

Home Office, 26th February 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Arsonist jailed for setting fires including at Titanic exhibition – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted February 26th, 2018 in arson, burglary, criminal damage, guilty pleas, news, sentencing by tracey

‘A man from Sheffield who admitted to deliberately setting fire to a museum, a university and a hospital, so he could steal from the evacuated buildings, has been jailed.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 24th February 2018

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

BSB agrees approach to improve transparency for clients of the Bar – Bar Standards Board

Posted February 26th, 2018 in advertising, barristers, consumer protection, fees, legal services, press releases by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has set out a revised approach to improve transparency standards for clients of the Bar. This responds to the recent Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) market study of legal services and takes full account of responses to a recent BSB consultation.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 23rd February 2018

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Bar Council responds to new AGFS announcement – The Bar Council

Posted February 26th, 2018 in barristers, fees, press releases by tracey

‘Responding to today’s announcement of a new Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS) the Chair of the Bar, Andrew Walker QC, said: “For years, our system of criminal justice has suffered from a remorseless succession of cuts in funding, and wholly inadequate investment. This has included huge cuts in the fixed fees payable to those defence barristers who carry out publicly-funded work in the Crown Court under the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS); cuts that, proportionately, have far exceeded those imposed on public service providers in any other sector. These are the very same barristers who are working tirelessly under an ever-increasing workload for those very same fees. Without their commitment, and their continued goodwill, the system would simply cease to function.” ‘

Full press release

The Bar Council, 23rd February 2018

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Energy price cap: Government to introduce legislation to limit how much power firms can charge – The Independent

Posted February 26th, 2018 in competition, energy, news by tracey

‘A bill introducing an energy cap for 11 million households across Britain will be introduced to Parliament today. The Government claims the Domestic Gas and Electricity Bill, which will allow the regulator Ofgem to limit tariffs until 2020, could save people up to £100 a year.’

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The Independent, 26th February 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Court to hear case of banker kept alive against family’s wishes – The Guardian

Posted February 26th, 2018 in consent, families, hospitals, medical treatment, news, Supreme Court by tracey

‘The case of an investment banker who suffered severe brain damage following a heart attack will be heard by the supreme court on Monday in a test of whether judges need to authorise the withdrawal of life support treatment.’

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The Guardian, 25th February 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com