Council decision to keep asylum seekers who were putative children in hotel accommodation was unlawful, High Court rules – Local Government Lawyer

‘The London Borough of Brent breached its section 20 duties under the Children Act 1989 when it chose not to provide proper accommodation to unaccompanied asylum seekers while awaiting an assessment of their age, a High Court judge has ruled.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Abuse survivor fights for justice after 70 years – BBC News

Posted October 28th, 2021 in care homes, child abuse, children, inquiries, news, sexual offences by sally

‘A woman who was sexually abused in a children’s home in the 1950s has called for an inquiry and an apology.’

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BBC News, 28th October 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Widnes baby death: Father guilty of son’s murder – BBC News

‘The father of a baby boy who died after suffering “horrific” head injuries has been found guilty of his murder.’

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BBC News, 26th October 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Birmingham man tried to kill baby with poisoned milk bottle – BBC News

Posted October 26th, 2021 in attempted murder, children, imprisonment, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man who tried to kill a newborn baby by giving her prescription drugs in a milk bottle has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 25th October 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Guarding Special Guardianship: the need for legal aid reform – Family Law week

Posted October 25th, 2021 in children, families, family courts, guardianship, legal aid, news by tracey

‘Jessica Johnston, Legal Adviser with Family Rights Group, explains a major challenge to prospective special guardians and how it might be overcome.’

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Family Law Week, 21st October 2021

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Jailing of most mothers for non-violent crimes should stop, says report – The Guardian

‘The imprisonment of many mothers serving sentences for non-violent and relatively minor crimes should be ended and community women’s centres used instead, according to research that has found separation can increase the risk of children being exploited and cost hundreds of thousands of pounds for just a single case.’

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The Guardian, 25th October 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge criticises Mackenzie Friend over timing of application to revoke adoption order – Local Government Lawyer

‘A disputed adoption case has highlighted the problems of reliance on a Mackenzie Friend rather than a solicitor in proceedings, a Family Division judge has suggested.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Fostering agencies and religious beliefs – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Court of Appeal has recently ruled on the legality of a fostering agency’s requirement that potential carers must be Christians. Natasha Isaac examines the case.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Is The Cost of Childcare Threatening Families’ Human Rights? – Each Other

Posted October 22nd, 2021 in benefits, child support, children, families, government departments, human rights, news by sally

‘Childcare costs can threaten the right to a family life, but the UK government has rejected calls for an independent inquiry into soaring prices.’

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Each Other, 20th October 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

Janner child abuse claims: police guilty of failing to investigate, report finds – The Guardian

Leicestershire police were guilty of multiple serious and inexcusable failures to properly investigate allegations of child sexual abuse against the late Labour peer Greville Janner, according to a damning report.’

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The Guardian, 19th October 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Parental responsibility: a short guide for local authority SEND teams – Local Government Lawyer

‘Grace-Mary Sweeney of LASEN explores the concept of parental responsibility, how it interacts with education law, and some practical implications for Local Authority SEND Teams.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Language Matters: time to reframe our national vocabulary for family breakdown – Family Law

Posted October 15th, 2021 in children, divorce, families, family courts, news by tracey

‘As a society we have made huge progress, for example, in removing gender-biased and racist language from everyday speech. We do this because we recognise that using biased language can reinforce biased thinking. But there remain areas in which the power of language to influence thought and behaviour has not yet been properly appreciated. This article concerns the use of the language of aggression and conflict in the context of family breakdown and argues that it is time for change.’

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Family Law, 14th October 2021

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Terror offender accused of ‘grooming’ Manchester Arena bomber will refuse to answer inquiry questions – The Independent

‘A terror convict who allegedly “groomed” the Manchester Arena bomber will refuse to ask questions if he is ordered to give evidence at the public inquiry into the attack.’

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The Independent, 15th October 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

East Kent baby deaths: Trust was short of staff – BBC News

‘There were not enough maternity staff to keep mothers and babies safe at a hospital trust at the centre of a baby deaths scandal, inspectors have found.’

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BBC News, 15th October 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Facebook whistleblower claims checked for breach of UK law – BBC News

Posted October 14th, 2021 in children, internet, mental health, news, privacy, whistleblowers by sally

‘The data-privacy watchdog has written to a Facebook whistleblower, requesting her full evidence to see whether the technology company has broken UK law.’

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BBC News, 13th October 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Harmful emissions and human rights duties – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 13th, 2021 in children, environmental health, health, human rights, local government, news, waste by tracey

‘Stephen Tromans QC and Victoria Hutton consider a significant High Court ruling on the duties of the Environment Agency in relation to a landfill site.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Speech by the President of the Family Division: Supporting Families in Conflict – There is a better way – Courts & Tribunals Judiciary

‘An Address by Sir Andrew McFarlane to the Jersey International Family Law Conference 2021.’

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Courts & Tribunals Judiciary, 11th October 2021

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Treating children for gender dysphoria: Bell v Tavistock & Portman NHS Trust – Law & Religion UK

‘Bell & Anor v The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust [2021] EWCA Civ 1363 has little, ostensibly, to do with “religion”, but relates to an issue which some would feel had moral and social dimensions – the treatment of children for gender dysphoria, defined by the Court of Appeal as “a complex condition that occurs in both children and adults. It involves, in the simplest terms, a strong desire to be and to be treated as being of the gender other than their natal sex at birth. Those diagnosed with it suffer associated significant distress or impairment in function. A range of clinical interventions may be prescribed”.’

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Law & Religion UK, 11th October 2021

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Should sex offenders’ voices ever be heard? – BBC News

‘A police force has released audio clips from child sex offenders in the hope they will help prevent others from escalating into criminal behaviours. The move has provoked a split reaction, with a charity arguing that if it helps even one person, it is beneficial. However, a survivor of child sex abuse said they were upset that abusers had been given a platform by Avon and Somerset Police.’

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BBC News, 10th October 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court of Appeal rules on the legality of Christian requirement by fostering agency – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In this claim for judicial review, the issue was whether it was lawful for the claimant independent fostering agency (Cornerstone) only to accept heterosexual evangelical Christians as potential carers under the Equality Act 2010 (EA 2010) and the European Convention on Human Rights (the Convention).’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 7th October 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com