Category: coronavirus

Ronan Cormacain: Queen’s Consent and the Crown’s exemption from lockdown rules – are we all in this together? – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted February 15th, 2021 in bills, constitutional law, coronavirus, enforcement, freedom of movement, local government, news, parliament, royal family, statutory interpretation by sally

‘There have been recent revelations about the use of the Queen’s consent procedure in relation to Government Bills. At the heart of the issue is the role of the Queen and the Prince of Wales, in vetting Acts of Parliament before they are made. With that background, this paper examines the applicability of some of the coronavirus lockdown rules to Crown land. My conclusion is that the Crown has special and unjustified privileges in the both the content of legislation and the procedure for making it.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 15th February 2021

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Ban on bailiff-enforced evictions in England extended to end of March – The Guardian

Posted February 15th, 2021 in bailiffs, coronavirus, debts, enforcement, government departments, housing, landlord & tenant, news, rent, repossession by sally

‘The ban on bailiff-enforced evictions in England is to be extended until the end of March, the government has announced.’

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The Guardian, 14th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK woman who killed disabled son detained in hospital indefinitely – The Guardian

Posted February 12th, 2021 in autism, children, coronavirus, disabled persons, homicide, hospital orders, mental health, news, sentencing by tracey

‘A woman who killed her disabled 10-year-old son after undergoing a breakdown during the UK’s coronavirus lockdown has been detained in hospital indefinitely.’

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The Guardian, 11th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Watchdogs to inspect controversial barracks housing asylum seekers after health fears – The Independent

Posted February 12th, 2021 in asylum, coronavirus, government departments, health & safety, immigration, inquiries, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘The UK’s prison and immigration watchdogs are to carry out an investigation of two controversial military barracks that are housing asylum seekers, amid mounting concern about conditions on the sites.’

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The Independent, 11th February 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The show must now go on – St Ives Chambers

Posted February 11th, 2021 in adjournment, chambers articles, coronavirus, news, remote hearings, witnesses by sally

‘In the recent case of Bilta (UK) Ltd and others v SVS Securities Plc and others [2021] EWHC 36 (Ch) Mr Justice Smith considered an application on behalf of the Fifth Defendant, Traditional Financial Services (‘TFS’), for an adjournment 1 week before the commencement of a 5 week trial. The case was to be heard in the Rolls Building as part of the Financial List.’

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St Ives Chambers, February 2021

Source: www.stiveschambers.co.uk

Re E [2021] EWCOP 7 – The COVID-19 Vaccine & Capacity – Pump Court Chambers

Posted February 11th, 2021 in care homes, chambers articles, consent, coronavirus, Court of Protection, elderly, mental health, news, vaccination by sally

‘It was just over a month between the first Covid-19 vaccination being administered and the first reported COP decision relating to it. As ever, this decision is fact specific, but there are some important points to take away.’

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Pump Court Chambers, 11th February 2021

Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com

Astra-Zeneca v EU – the vaccine row explained in straightforward terms – The 36 Group

Posted February 11th, 2021 in chambers articles, contracts, coronavirus, EC law, medicines, news by sally

‘On 1 February, AstraZeneca told the EU that it would deliver around 50% of the 80 million COVID-19 vaccine doses that it had previously told the EU for the first quarter of 2021.’

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The 36 Group, 10th February 2021

Source: 36group.co.uk

Alternative Dispute Resolution – Becket Chambers

Posted February 11th, 2021 in chambers articles, coronavirus, delay, family courts, news by sally

‘The family courts were overwhelmed with cases prior to the Pandemic, leading to long delays and, perhaps most distressing to the parties engaged in this type of conflict resolution, last minute adjournments which can incur significant wasted costs, for which there is generally no recourse, together with the distress and anxiety associated with yet further, often prejudicial, delay in ending what is for most participants a highly unpleasant and distressing experience.’

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Becket Chambers, 1st February 2021

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

Romance fraud on rise in coronavirus lockdown – BBC News

Posted February 10th, 2021 in coronavirus, fraud, identity fraud, internet, money laundering, news, statistics by sally

‘Romance fraud – scamming someone out of money by pretending to want a relationship – has been on the rise during lockdown.’

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BBC News, 10th February 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Covid travel rule-breakers could face 10-year jail terms, says Hancock – The Guardian

Posted February 10th, 2021 in coronavirus, enforcement, fines, freedom of movement, government departments, imprisonment, news by sally

‘Travellers arriving from coronavirus hotspots could face £10,000 fines and jail sentences of up to 10 years under a package of measures designed to stop new variants entering Britain.’

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The Guardian, 9th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

COVID-19 vaccination: capacity and best interests – the first reported Court of Protection judgement – Family Law

Posted February 9th, 2021 in care homes, consent, coronavirus, Court of Protection, elderly, mental health, news, vaccination by tracey

‘On 20 January 2021 in the matter of Re E (Vaccine) [2021] EWCOP 7, the Vice-President of the Court of Protection Mr Justice Hayden, delivered the first reported judgement in a vaccination dispute. Mrs E, the 80 year old dementia sufferer at the centre of the dispute (and who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia some 20 years ago), was living in a care home where there had been several cases of COVID-19. On 8 January 2021, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham informed Mrs E’s Accredited Legal Representative that she was to be offered a COVID-19 injection on 11 January, however her son, Mr W, objected to this. Due to the risk of Mrs E succumbing to COVID-19, her legal representatives urgently sought a declaration, pursuant to s.15 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (“MCA 2005”), that it would be lawful and in her best interests to receive the vaccine at the next possible date (the appointment on 11 January having been missed due to the son’s objection).’

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Family Law, 3rd February 2021

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Community Treatment Orders: does seeing patients remotely suffice? – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 8th, 2021 in coronavirus, detention, local government, mental health, news, remote hearings by tracey

‘Jonathan Auburn and Lucy McCann assess whether decision-making as to community treatment orders requires physical attendance.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 5th February 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Bar Council warns of post-pandemic barrister shortfall – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 8th, 2021 in barristers, coronavirus, news, pupillage, statistics by tracey

‘The Bar Council has warned that the pandemic could cause a “persisting” shortage of barristers, after the number of pupillages registered last year fell by 35%.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 5th February 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Almost a third of prosecutions under coronavirus laws dropped, review shows – The Independent

Posted February 8th, 2021 in coronavirus, Crown Prosecution Service, enforcement, news, police, prosecutions, statistics by tracey

‘Almost a third of prosecutions under coronavirus laws have been brought incorrectly, leading to hundreds of cases being dropped, analysis has revealed. A review by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) found that 359 of 1,252 charges last year under laws brought in to aid public health measures were later withdrawn or quashed in court.’

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The Independent, 7th February 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Tenant of social landlord given six days in prison over breach of civil injunction by breaking Covid rules on illegal gatherings – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 5th, 2021 in coronavirus, enforcement, freedom of movement, housing, imprisonment, injunctions, landlord & tenant, local government, news, sentencing by sally

‘Bromley County Court has released a tenant of social landlord Peabody Trust who served six days in prison for breaching a civil injunction imposed after breaches of Covid regulations on gatherings.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 3rd February 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Profession claims victory in fight against extended court hours – Legal Futures

Posted February 4th, 2021 in coronavirus, courts, criminal justice, delay, legal profession, news, working time by sally

‘The legal profession claimed victory last night in the fight against extended operating hours (EOH) in the criminal courts.’

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Legal Futures, 4th February 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Certainly Uncertain: the future of prosecutions in relation to Coronavirus Support Payments – Carmelite Chambers

Posted February 2nd, 2021 in coronavirus, fraud, loans, news, prosecutions by sally

‘William England and Mark Watson consider the widely reported instances of fraud in relation to the government’s coronavirus support schemes and the implications for prosecutions.’

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Carmelite Chambers, 28th January 2021

Source: www.carmelitechambers.co.uk

Covid hits numbers at the Bar and starting pupillages – Legal Futures

Posted February 1st, 2021 in barristers, coronavirus, diversity, equality, news, pilot schemes, pupillage, racism, statistics by tracey

‘Covid has flattened the number of new practising barristers and hit pupillages hard, but there was a sharp rise in the proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds, new figures have shown.’

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Legal Futures, 1st February 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Slavery survivors moved ‘without notice, without reason’ in London lockdown – The Guardian

Posted January 29th, 2021 in asylum, coronavirus, forced labour, government departments, housing, immigration, news, refugees, trafficking in human beings by tracey

‘Modern slavery survivors with young children were among refugees allegedly forced to move accommodation in London with as little as one day’s notice during coronavirus lockdowns this winter.’

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The Guardian, 29th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Man sentenced after spitting at Jeremy Corbyn in ‘barrage of abuse’ during Covid first wave – The Independent

Posted January 29th, 2021 in assault, community service, compensation, coronavirus, news, political parties, sentencing, threatening behaviour by tracey

‘A 56-year-old man has been sentenced for spitting at former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in a “barrage of abuse” during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic.’

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The Independent, 28th February 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk