Off into the Somerset – Local Government Lawyer

‘The President of the Family Division has issued new guidance on remedying breaches of the Adoption Agency Regulations 2005. Jess Purchase sets out the key points.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 6th April 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Ombudsmen release joint guidance to tackle common mistakes in aftercare of mental health in-patients – Family Law

‘The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) and the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) have released new guidance to tackle common and repeated mistakes seen in the aftercare of patients receiving support under the Mental Health Act.’

Full Story

Family Law, 5th May 2022

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

UK watchdog will have power to impose huge fines on big tech firms – The Guardian

‘A new tech watchdog will be given the power to impose multibillion-pound fines on major firms such as Google and Facebook if they breach rules designed to protect consumers and businesses.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 5th May 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Re H [2022]EWFC 10: Guidance in Learning Disability Cases – Transparency Project

‘The Good Practice Guidance for working with parents with a learning disability was first published in 2007 by the Department of Health / Department for Education and Skills. Fifteen years and two revisions later, awareness of it remains patchy. In Re H [2022] EWFC 10 (19 January 2022), where the mother’s learning disability was a central feature of the case, the children’s social worker admitted that she was unfamiliar with the Guidance.’

Full Story

Transparency Project, 26th April 2022

Source: transparencyproject.org.uk

Doctors could soon face action over ‘misleading’ social media posts – The Guardian

‘Doctors who share “misleading” information on social media could face regulatory action, according to planned new guidelines.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th April 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

FCA finalises ‘comply or explain’ diversity rules for listed companies – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 27th, 2022 in codes of practice, company law, diversity, news by sally

‘The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has finalised rules requiring UK listed companies to set out in their annual reports whether they have met board diversity targets.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 26th April 2022

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Stephen Port victims’ families ‘sceptical’ of police reforms – The Independent

‘A lawyer representing the victims of Stephen Port has said they remain sceptical about proposed policing reforms to how unexplained deaths are reported.’

Full Story

The Independent, 21st April 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Death classifications expanded after serial killer inquests – BBC News

‘The national police approach to investigating unexplained deaths is to be reformed following the inquests for victims of serial killer Stephen Port.’

Full Story

BBC News, 20th April 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ombudsmen release joint guidance to tackle common mistakes in aftercare of mental health in-patients – Family Law

‘The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) and the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) have released new guidance to tackle common and repeated mistakes seen in the aftercare of patients receiving support under the Mental Health Act.’

Full Story

Family Law, 11th April 2022

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

New Highway Code rules for phone usage come into force – everything you need to know – The Independent

‘Drivers could face a fine for just touching a mobile phone while behind the wheel – and the same goes for passengers in certain circumstances under tough new rules.’

Full Story

The Independent, 29th March 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Child Q: Black professionals urge education secretary to take action following strip-search – The Independent

‘The education secretary must take immediate action to tackle institutional racism within the education sector following the “dehumanising” strip-search of a black child in London, a collective of black professionals has demanded.’

Full Story

The Independent, 26th March 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Rule will require solicitors to challenge colleagues’ improper behaviour – Legal Futures

‘Solicitors will have a regulatory obligation to challenge colleagues who treat others unfairly or without respect as part of a plan to beef up the rules on health and wellbeing at work.’

Full Story

Legal futures, 7th March 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Senior judge recommends scaling back of Commons standards tsar’s dual role – The Independent

Posted March 4th, 2022 in codes of practice, disciplinary procedures, news, parliament by tracey

‘Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone should have her decision-making powers stripped back and the Commons be banned from amending reports into MPs’ rule breaches, a review of the standards system has recommended.’

Full Story

The Independent, 4th March 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Returning instructions a “last resort”, Bar Council tells criminal barristers – Legal Futures

Posted February 16th, 2022 in appeals, barristers, codes of practice, criminal procedure, news by sally

‘Criminal defence barristers should recognise that returning instructions where they are not under a professional duty to do so “should always be a matter of last resort”, the Bar Council has said.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 16th February 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Private parking fines to be capped at £50 – BBC News

Posted February 7th, 2022 in codes of practice, fines, government departments, news, parking by tracey

‘Private car parks will have to display prices more clearly, introduce a fairer system for appeals and give drivers a grace period for lateness as part of a government crackdown.’

Full Story

BBC News, 7th February 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Is “Perception-Based Recording” for hate crime compatible with freedom of speech? – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In R (Harry Miller) v The College of Policing [2021] EWCA Civ 1926, the Court of Appeal ruled that current police guidance on the recording of ‘hate incidents’ unlawfully interferes with the right to freedom of expression. The decision overturns a 2020 ruling by the High Court in which Mr Miller’s challenge to the lawfulness of the Hate Crime Operational Guidance was dismissed (discussed previously on this Blog here).’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 28th January 2022

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Contested heritage – A review of the Church of England guidance – Law & Religion UK

‘In a guest post, Trevor Cooper, of the Historic Religious Buildings Alliance, looks at the issues surrounding “contested heritage”.’

Full Story

Law & Religion UK, 21st January 2022

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

New Highway Code rules change who has priority at roundabouts – The Independent

Posted January 24th, 2022 in codes of practice, news, roads by tracey

‘Three new updates will be implemented from next week.’

Full Story

The Independent, 24th January 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK sets global transparency standard for asset returns – Home Office

‘The UK is the first country to publish its policy and principles on international asset returns.’

Full Story

Home Office, 13th January 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Harry Miller: Legal victory after alleged transphobic tweets – BBC News

‘An ex-police officer has won a legal challenge against a national policy for forces to record gender-critical views as non-crime “hate incidents”.’

Full Story

BBC News, 20th December 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk