Rare inquests into UK Covid deaths raise concerns over care failings – The Guardian

Posted January 19th, 2021 in care homes, coronavirus, inquests, news, reports by sally

‘A series of healthcare failures that could lead to more people dying from Covid-19 were highlighted by a coroner during rare inquests into deaths in the first wave of the pandemic.’

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The Guardian, 18th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Case backlog threatens UK criminal justice system, say inspectors – The Guardian

Posted January 19th, 2021 in coronavirus, courts, criminal justice, delay, news, prisons, reports, young offenders by sally

‘Urgent action is needed to tackle an “unprecedented backlog” of court cases built up during the pandemic that has “severe implications” for victims, the UK’s four justice chief inspectors have warned.’

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The Guardian, 19th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Judgment: Financial Conduct Authority v Arch Insurance (UK) Ltd and Ors [2021] UKSC 1 – UKSC Blog

‘In March 2020, the UK Government began to take a series of measures to combat the transmission of COVID-19. The present appeals considered the impact of these actions and measures on 28 clauses in the 21 lead policies written by the Appellant Insurers.’

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UKSC Blog, 15th January 2021

Source: ukscblog.com

Firms accused of putting workers’ lives at risk by bending lockdown trading rules – The Guardian

Posted January 18th, 2021 in coronavirus, employment, enforcement, health & safety, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘Irresponsible firms are exploiting looser lockdown regulations to bring thousands of non-essential workers into sometimes busy workplaces, with little chance of enforcement action by the nation’s safety watchdog.’

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The Guardian, 16th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Law Society calls for two-week pause of non-custodial Crown and Magistrates court work – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Law Society has called for urgent action including a possible two-week pause of non-custodial Crown and magistrates’ court work “amid escalating safety concerns”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th January 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Remote hearings in family proceedings – how is justice perceived? – Family Law

Posted January 15th, 2021 in coronavirus, families, family courts, news, remote hearings by tracey

‘The motion for the recent Kingsley Napley debate: “This House believes remote hearings are not remotely fair” was carried with a fairly balanced 56% in favour and 44% against. With an audience made up of over a hundred family lawyers and barristers, this result was no doubt influenced by their experience of remote court hearings heard either via video link or by telephone over the last six months, since the national lockdown in March.’

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Family Law, 14th January 2021

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Criminal solicitors body warns members it is not safe to attend Magistrates’ courts – Local Government Lawyer

‘The London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association (LCCSA) has advised its members that it is not safe to continue to attend Magistrates’ courts.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 12th January 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Covid: Couple fined for seven-mile trip to care home – BBC News

Posted January 13th, 2021 in care homes, coronavirus, enforcement, families, fines, freedom of movement, news, police by sally

‘A couple have been fined £60 for driving 20 minutes to see a relative in a care home.’

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BBC News, 12th January 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Covid fine review welcomed by ‘intimidated’ women – BBC News

Posted January 11th, 2021 in coronavirus, enforcement, fines, freedom of movement, interpretation, news, police by sally

‘Two women who criticised a police force for its “intimidating” approach to lockdown fines have welcomed a review.’

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BBC News, 10th January 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

McFarlane tells family judges to curb out-of-hours hearings – Legal Futures

Posted January 11th, 2021 in coronavirus, families, family courts, judges, news, remote hearings by sally

‘The president of the Family Division has told judges and lawyers to stop the increasing practice of holding virtual hearings outside of normal court hours, citing wellbeing concerns.’

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Legal Futures, 8th January 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

6 UK Human Rights Issues And Trends To Watch In 2021 – Each Other

‘It’s clear that coronavirus will inevitably continue to be one of the biggest rights issues of 2021 – but it’s not the only thing that should be on our radar. This selection of things to look out for – some quite specific and some more general – is by no means exhaustive and, as the last year has shown, there’s no way we can accurately predict the future. However, there are pressing issues on the horizon – here are just a few, in no particular order.’

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Each Other, 8th January 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

Covid leading to four-year waits for England and Wales court trials – The Guardian

‘Defendants, victims including teenagers, and witnesses are having to wait up to four years from the time of an alleged offence to the case reaching crown court trial because of delays caused mainly by Covid.’

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The Guardian, 10th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Visiting care home residents – the rules – Doughty Street Chambers

Posted January 8th, 2021 in care homes, chambers articles, coronavirus, news by sally

‘This blog summarises the new care home visiting rules across the UK’s four nations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 5th January 2021

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Can employees refuse to attend work because of Covid-19? – Blackstone Chambers

Posted January 8th, 2021 in chambers articles, coronavirus, employment, health & safety, news by sally

‘The Covid-19 pandemic has wrought sudden and drastic changes to the workplace. Many are now working from home, to suppress the spread of the virus and protect themselves or their families from catching it. However, working from home is a precaution which is not available to all, and which is available unequally. There has been no better example of this than last week’s drama (prior to the announcement of the third lockdown) over the reopening of schools, with the government, local authorities, unions and individual schools and teachers at loggerheads over whether pupils can safely return to schools after the Christmas break.’

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Blackstone Chambers, 7th January 2021

Source: coronavirus.blackstonechambers.com

Watchdog finds serious faults in some English care homes’ Covid defences – The Guardian

‘Inspectors have uncovered serious weaknesses in some care homes’ defences against the pandemic, including Covid-positive carers being told to work because of staff shortages, a failure to isolate residents when they return from hospital and poor use of personal protection equipment.’

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The Guardian, 7th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Families of people who died deserve a hearing’: Unison boss demands public inquiry into government handling of Covid – The Independent

‘The boss of Britain’s biggest union has called for a pandemic “day of reckoning”, saying he’d been left “heartbroken” over thousands of needless deaths among his members.’

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The Independent, 8th January 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

More than 1,000 Extinction Rebellion activists taken to court – The Guardian

‘More than 1,000 people who took part in environmental direct action organised by Extinction Rebellion have been taken to court in what experts say is one of the biggest crackdowns on protest in British legal history.’

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The Guardian, 8th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Master orders deletion of screen shot from remote hearing – Litigation Futures

Posted January 7th, 2021 in coronavirus, news, remote hearings, video recordings by tracey

‘A screen shot taken of a remote hearing must be deleted by anyone who has it, a master has ordered under a change introduced by last year’s Coronavirus Act.’

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Litigation Futures, 6th January 2021

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Childhood vaccination disputes – where does the law stand in public and private law proceedings? – Family Law

‘As the vaccinations against COVID-19 begin to be administered, it is worth revisiting recent judicial approaches in vaccination disputes concerning children in both public and private law proceedings.’

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Family Law, 6th January 2021

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Bar students and BPP at odds over face-to-face exam this week – Legal Futures

Posted January 6th, 2021 in barristers, coronavirus, examinations, legal education, news, universities by sally

‘Last night’s announcement of a new lockdown has thrown a new element into the dispute between BPP Law School and Bar students over a scheduled face-to-face exam this week.’

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Legal Futures, 5th January 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk