‘Murderers and paedophiles who refuse to disclose information about their victims could spend longer behind bars as a bill to enact “Helen’s Law” enters Parliament today (8 January 2020).’
Ministry of Justice, 8th January 2020
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
‘The start of 2020 is set to see the biggest shake up of divorce laws for over half a century as the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill entered Parliament on 7 January. First promised by the government in April 2018, divorcing couples have now been waiting nearly a year for the arrival of the bill, which is likely to revolutionise marriage split with the introduction of “no-fault” divorce.’
The Independent, 8th January 2020
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The government has swiftly put long-awaited divorce reform back on the agenda after reintroducing legislation to end what the justice secretary called ‘needless antagonism’.’
Law Society's Gazette, 7th January 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘A decision to sanction the release of the man who murdered Helen McCourt is to be reviewed by the parole board.’
BBC News, 10th December 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Engaging in controlling and/or coercive behaviour in intimate or familial relationships became a new criminal offence in England and Wales in December 2015. Coercive Control involves a pattern of abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten the victim. Example behaviours included in this legislation are isolation from friends and family, deprivation of basic needs, monitoring behaviour and time, controlling a victim’s life and/or finances, and may include physical violence. The introduction of this offence was welcomed for recognising the cumulative impact of various forms of domestic abuse and for encouraging police and other criminal justice agencies to move beyond an incident-led and physical violence-based understanding of domestic abuse. However, four years on since the legislation was enacted and with no compulsory national level training or support, what has actually changed?’
OUP Blog, 25th November 2019
Source: blog.oup.com
‘On 15 October the Environment Bill was published. The first half of the bill was originally published in December 2018 as the Environmental (Principles and Governance) Bill.’
Law Society's Gazette, 25th November 2019
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘In this latest Environmental Law News Update, William Upton QC and Mark Davies consider developments regarding the Environment Bill, leadership in the climate crisis and a case against Exxon Mobil in the US for improper forecasting of the cost of climate regulation to its business.’
Six Pump Court, 6th November 2019
Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk
‘The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill is intended to give effect in the UK to the Withdrawal Agreement (WA) agreed by the UK with the EU-27 on 1 October 2019. The Bill received its second reading on 22 October 2019 and is currently in ‘limbo’ pending the start of the committee stage. If and when it is adopted, the Bill will make significant amendments to (inter alia) the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (EUWA).’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 4th November 2019
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘A landmark bill seeking to “transform” the UK’s response to the “terrible crime” of domestic abuse has fallen as Parliament prepares to dissolve ahead of the snap general election on 12 December.’
Rights Info, 1st November 2019
Source: rightsinfo.org
‘In this latest Environmental Law News Update Gordon Wignall, Christopher Badger and Natasha Hausdorff consider the recently published Environment Bill, the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill and whether public nuisance might provide a means of taking action in cases of climate change.’
Six Pump Court, 23rd October 2019
Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk
‘The latest monthly environmental law news podcast presented by Mark Davies in association with LexisPSL, is now available.
In this short update Mark considers:
– Publication of the Environment Bill;
– Environment Agency aims to become net carbon zero by 2030; and
– New requirements for applicants for certain bespoke permits to carry out risk assessments on adapting to climate change.’
Six Pump Court, 29th October 2019
Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk
‘The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill (“WAB”) is (to put it mildly) a web of complexity.’
Monckton Chambers, 25th October 2019
Source: www.monckton.com
‘In this post, I make a preliminary attempt at assessing the provision made in the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill – or WAB – for the scrutiny of the legislative powers which it delegates to the executive. My conclusions are not positive. The scrutiny procedures it seeks to enact are inadequate – so inadequate that it would be a constitutional mistake for Parliament to approve this aspect of the WAB without significant amendment. At the very least (or so I suggest) the Bill ought to be amended to incorporate the so-called “sifting process” developed for equivalent delegated powers under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (EUWA). Better still, this should be seen as an opportunity to embrace further incremental improvements on that process.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 24th October 2019
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘A woman whose daughter was murdered three decades ago has said she is running out of time to find out where the body is.’
BBC News, 16th October 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘EU citizens and their family members could gain the right to appeal decisions on their applications for settled status in the event of a no-deal Brexit.’
Rights Info, 15th October 2019
Source: rightsinfo.org
‘Over the past 12 months, there has been much media coverage regarding reforming this country’s divorce system. To date, concerns about protecting the sanctity and institution of marriage have prevented the law from keeping up with the modern family and changing societal values. However, following the high profile case of Owens v Owens the government proposed changes to legislation in September 2018. Stewarts took part in the consultation on these changes, and here, Lucy Gould discusses the proposed legislation and its historical context.’
Family Law, 11th October 2019
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
‘Boris Johnson seems caught in an impossible bind. The European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act – the Benn Act for short – obliges him to seek an extension of Article 50 on 19 October. He can extend, honour the law, but break his promises. He can refuse to extend, honour his promises, but break the law. Or he can resign. The Benn Act appears to trap the Prime Minister between these unpalatable options. Nevertheless, he may be able to escape. For the Act may ask the impossible.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 1st October 2019
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘The first domestic abuse commissioner for England and Wales is “relieved” the prime minister has pledged to re-introduce a new law on the issue.’
BBC News, 18th September 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The number of domestic violence killings has reached a five-year high, figures show.’
The Guardian, 13th September 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Sexual grooming crimes have soared by a third in a year as paedophiles turn to Instagram to target children as young as 11, the NSPCC has said.’
The Independent, 11th September 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
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