Toughen up rules on ministers’ conduct, says standards watchdog – BBC News

‘The rules governing the conduct of ministers and senior civil servants need to be toughened up, according to a new report. The Committee on Standards in Public Life – which advises the PM on ethical standards – has been carrying out a review into processes in Westminster.’

Full Story

BBC News, 1st November 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Terrorism offences sentencing guidelines to be revised following legislation – Sentencing Council

Posted October 25th, 2021 in codes of practice, consultations, news, sentencing, terrorism by tracey

‘Plans to revise four sentencing guidelines for terrorism offences in England and Wales to reflect changes brought in by the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021, were published for consultation today by the Sentencing Council.’

Full Story

Sentencing Council, 20th October 2021

Source: www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk

UK’s strict gun laws strengthened with new medical arrangements – Home Office

Posted October 25th, 2021 in codes of practice, firearms, government departments, news, offensive weapons by tracey

‘New statutory guidance will tighten up existing laws on gun ownership and mean that medical information must be provided in order to obtain a licence.’

Full Story

Home Office, 20th October 2021

Source: www.gov.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.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 22nd October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Regulations and guidance issued on support councils must give domestic abuse victims – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Government has published new regulations and guidance setting out the level of support councils are required to provide to domestic abuse victims who need to escape home.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 5th October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

New Guidelines for Lawyers Practising within the Coroners’ Court – Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog

‘New guidelines for legal professionals practising within the Coroners’ Courts have been published by the Bar Standards Board, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and CILEx Regulation. The new guidelines were introduced in response to concerns, particularly about the adversarial approach adopted by some lawyers. The key takeaways are summarised below.’

Full Story

Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog, 20th September 2021

Source: inquestsandinquirieslawblog.com

NDAs “cannot be controlled by professional regulators” – Legal Futures

‘The use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) cannot be effectively controlled by professional regulators like the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and legislation is needed, a law professor and campaigner for tougher restrictions has said.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 15th September 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Are children using the internet or is it using them? – the ICO’s age appropriate design code – Mills & Reeve

Posted September 9th, 2021 in children, codes of practice, data protection, internet, news, privacy by sally

‘UK data privacy regulator, the ICO, has published the final version of its age appropriate design code (the Children’s code). This will already be familiar to those providing content intended for children, with refinement of the drafting following consultation with industry and users in 2019. But it reaches further than you might imagine, and it will be important for many organisations to assess and implement compliance in the 12 month transition period allowed for compliance.’

Full Story

Mills & Reeve, 8th September 2021

Source: www.mills-reeve.com

Ofcom accused of institutional racism over Dispatches Traveller episode – The Guardian

Posted September 2nd, 2021 in codes of practice, complaints, media, news, racism, travellers by sally

‘The Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) community has accused Ofcom of institutional racism over a decision to clear a controversial Channel 4 documentary about Traveller crime.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 1st September 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Council bans ice cream van from street following chime complaints – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 23rd, 2021 in codes of practice, food, licensing, local government, news, noise, nuisance by tracey

‘An ice-cream van operator has been banned from operating on an East Suffolk Council street over a complaint that one of its vehicles sounded its chimes for too long.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 20th August 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

UK sentencing guidelines for modern slavery offences published – OUT-LAW.com

‘The publication of new sentencing guidelines for modern slavery offences should bring home to UK businesses the continued focus on modern slavery by law enforcement bodies, a legal expert has said.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 19th August 2021

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Research Briefing: Gambling advertising: how is it regulated? – House of Commons Library

Posted August 17th, 2021 in advertising, codes of practice, gambling, licensing, news, parliament, regulations by tracey

‘This Library Paper looks at the regulation of gambling advertising in Great Britain.’

Full Story

House of Commons Library, 13th August 2021

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

New police CCTV use rules criticised as bare bones – BBC News

‘A proposed code of practice covering police use of live facial recognition in England and Wales has been criticised by human rights groups.’

Full Story

BBC News 17th August 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Modern slavery offences sentencing guidelines published – Sentencing Council

‘We have published new sentencing guidelines for sentencing offenders convicted of modern slavery offences in England and Wales, following consultation. The new guidelines will give judges and magistrates dedicated guidelines to follow when sentencing offenders guilty of offences under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, including slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, and trafficking for the purposes of exploitation.’

Full Story

Sentencing Council, 12th August 2021

Source: www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk

Unfair dismissal and religion again: Ferguson v Kintail Trustees – Law & Religion UK

‘In Mr K Ferguson v Kintail Trustees Ltd & Anor [2021] ET 4103321/2020, the claimant was Director and Chief Executive of Kintail Trustees, a limited company that operates as the corporate trustee of the Robertson Trust, a charity. He was also an elder, the treasurer and a trustee of Stirling Free Church of Scotland’

Full Story

Law & Religion UK, 9th August 2021

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Bar Council and judiciary to take action on bullying from the bench – Legal Futures

Posted August 6th, 2021 in barristers, bullying, codes of practice, judiciary, news by tracey

‘The Bar Council recently met with the senior judiciary in a bid to ensure there are proper consequences for judges who bully barristers.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 6th August 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

New guidelines to sentence trade mark offences published – Sentencing Council

‘Two new sentencing guidelines for sentencing individuals or companies that sell or possess counterfeit goods intended for sale were published by the Sentencing Council today, following consultation.’

Full Story

Sentencing Council, 5th August 2021

Source: www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk

Right-to-work regime – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Home Office has issued new right-to-work guidance as the Brexit transitional arrangements for EU workers in the UK came to an end on 30 June 2021.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 2nd August 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

New Judgment: R (on the application of A) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2021] UKSC 37 – UKSC Blog

‘The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed this appeal concerning the standards to be applied by a court on judicial review of the contents of a policy document or statement of practice issued by a public authority. It is one of two appeals heard by the same panel of five Justices examining similar issues. It should be read together with the Court’s judgment in R (on the application of BF (Eritrea)) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2021] UKSC 38.’

Full Story

UKSC Blog, 30th July 2021

Source: ukscblog.com

Defensive Advising Strategies 2: Know Your Client – Wilberforce Chambers

‘With a history in the world of financial services regulation, “know your customer/client” or “KYC” is a cornerstone of professional practice. What does it mean for legal professionals? In this instalment of my series on defensive advising strategies, I consider three aspects of KYC which are particularly relevant to lawyers, with an emphasis on the interface between solicitors and other professionals and the barristers they instruct. This perspective is based on my own experience as a practitioner and raises issues which crop up relatively frequently.’

Full Story

Wilberforce Chambers, 22nd July 2021

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk