Eritrean asylum seeker wins age assessment case in High Court – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 17th, 2016 in asylum, children, news by sally

‘Leicestershire social workers incorrectly assessed an Eritrean asylum seeker as an adult when he was in fact still a minor, the High Court has ruled.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th August 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Escaping “the jungle” must be done in an orderly manner – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted August 9th, 2016 in appeals, asylum, children, human rights, news, proportionality by sally

‘Four asylum seekers, namely three unaccompanied minors and one disabled adult, were in “the jungle” – the (increasingly permanent) temporary refugee and migrant camp in Calais – since October 2015. Having fled from war-torn Syria, they were trying to join their siblings in the UK. The problem was that the French system for processing asylum claims under EU rules would involve considerable delays and the evidence showed that the conditions in the camp were wholly inadequate: these children experienced physical violence and their medical needs were unmet. So they ignored the EU rules and issued a claim in the UK.’

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UK Human Right Blog, 8th August 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Anger over legal aid bill for Ellie Butler’s parents – The Guardian

‘The grandfather of murdered six-year-old Ellie Butler has condemned the legal aid granted to her killer father, amid reports the taxpayer picked up a bill of more than £1.5m for his legal expenses.’

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The Guardian, 6th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Home Office wins Syrian refugee appeal in Court of Appeal – BBC News

Posted August 3rd, 2016 in appeals, asylum, children, EC law, news by sally

‘The Home Office has won an appeal against a landmark ruling allowing four Syrian refugees living in Calais’ so-called Jungle camp to come to Britain.’

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BBC News, 2nd August 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ellie Butler murder: Father displayed ‘pattern of impulsive violence’ – BBC News

‘A man who murdered his six-year-old daughter was described as displaying a “pattern of impulsive violence” months before she died, it has been revealed.’

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BBC News, 30th July 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High Court rules council acted unlawfully in cuts to short break funding – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 28th, 2016 in budgets, charities, children, equality, holidays, local government, news by sally

‘The High Court has ruled that a local authority acted unlawfully when it reduced funding to voluntary sector organisations that offer short breaks to disabled children.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th July 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Seen and heard? Children as witnesses in family proceedings – Family Law Week

‘Damian Stuart, Barrister, FOURTEEN, re-visits Baroness Hale’s seminal speech in Re W (Children) (Abuse: Oral Evidence) in the light of Lord Justice McFarlane’s recent judgment in Re E (A Child).’

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Family Law Week, 22nd July 2016

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Seaside arcade ordered to pay £300 to girl, 8, after refusing to give her prize – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 27th, 2016 in children, compensation, gambling, news by sally

‘A seaside amusement arcade has been ordered to pay back more than £300 to an eight-year-old girl because they refused to give her a prize.’

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Daily Telegraph, 26th July 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Why children should be barred from cells – Legal Voice

Posted July 26th, 2016 in children, detention, news, police by sally

‘Shauneen Lambe explains why Just for Kids Law is calling for urgent reform in the way arrested children are treated.’

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Legal Voice, 26th July 2016

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Migrant children are being failed by UK, says Lords committee report – The Guardian

Posted July 26th, 2016 in asylum, children, detention, immigration, news, refugees, reports, select committees by sally

‘The UK is shirking its responsibility to care for thousands of unaccompanied migrant children, dismissing them as “somebody else’s problem”, a report has concluded.’

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The Guardian, 26th July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Criminal injuries compensation – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The courts have tackled the issue of compensation for criminal injuries inflicted before birth.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 25th July 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Severely disabled baby should be allowed to die, judge rules – The Guardian

Posted July 25th, 2016 in children, disabled persons, medical treatment, news by sally

‘A severely disabled baby who has been on a ventilator since he was 18 minutes old should be allowed to die, a high court judge has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 22nd July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ben Butler to appeal against conviction for murdering daughter Ellie – The Guardian

Posted July 22nd, 2016 in appeals, children, murder, news by sally

‘A man who murdered his six-year-old daughter 11 months after the high court returned her to his custody is appealing against his conviction and life sentence.’

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The Guardian, 22nd July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government accused of scrapping pledge to end child detention in prison-style immigration removal centres – The Independent

Posted July 22nd, 2016 in children, detention, families, immigration, news by sally

‘The Government has been accused of quietly ditching its policy of ending child detention in prison-style immigration centres after it announced the closure of new flagship accommodation for families being removed from the UK.’

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The Independent, 22nd July 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Coroner could reopen inquest into murdered Ellie Butler – The Guardian

Posted July 22nd, 2016 in children, inquests, murder, news by sally

‘The inquest into the death of a six-year-old girl who was murdered by her father could be reopened, the Guardian can reveal.’

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The Guardian, 21st July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Teenager sues after repeatedly being held overnight in police cell – The Guardian

Posted July 21st, 2016 in children, detention, local government, news, police, young persons by sally

‘Test case against Met police and Islington council brought on behalf of 14-year-old boy by Just for Kids Law, which says cells are not fit places for children.’

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The Guardian, 21st July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Barristers still face flexible working penalty – The Bar Council

‘The Bar Council has launched a new flexible working guide for chambers, which includes proposals for possible rent reductions for those barristers seeking to work reduced hours or away from chambers because of care responsibilities.’

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The Bar Council, 19th July 2016

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Grieving parents told to ‘not pick fight with the NHS’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 20th, 2016 in bereavement, children, doctors, families, hospitals, news, standards by sally

‘The parents of a toddler who died after doctors missed signs of sepsis were told not to “pick a fight with the NHS, you will lose” when they questioned the quality of his care. The revelation emerged following publication of a damning report that accused the organisations responsible of being incapable of accepting their shortcomings in the case.’

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Daily Telegraph, 19th July 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police watchdog criticises force over delays in children’s cases – The Guardian

Posted July 20th, 2016 in child abuse, children, delay, news, ombudsmen, police, sexual grooming, sexual offences by sally

‘A police force has been criticised by independent inspectors for not always responding quickly enough when children are at risk of sexual exploitation. HM Inspectorate of Constabulary said the delays by Devon and Cornwall police could result in children being put at risk of significant harm, and the causes needed to be tackled promptly.’

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The Guardian, 20th July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Mother forced her children to undergo serious operations they did not need to claim £375,000 benefits – The Independent

Posted July 20th, 2016 in benefits, child cruelty, children, families, medical treatment, news by sally

‘A mother has been convicted of child cruelty after forcing her children to undergo gastric surgery they didn’t need in order to claim £375,000 in benefits.’

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The Independent, 20th July 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk