Number of prisoners stuck in solitary confinement a real worry, prisons watchdog warns – The Independent

Posted April 21st, 2022 in coronavirus, mental health, news, prisons by sally

‘The prisons watchdog has warned of the “long-term price” of restricting offenders’ time out of cells, as reports show many are living in conditions equal to solitary confinement.’

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The Independent, 20th April 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Going backwards: statutory sick pay after the pandemic – by Dr Lisa Rodgers – UK Labour Law

‘The coronavirus pandemic has seen unprecedented interference by governments in many aspects of our working lives. In terms of labour law, some of the changes made by the UK government during the pandemic have been deregulatory and served to erode protection for workers (for example, through increasing flexibility in working time for key workers: Working Time (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020. For the most part though, these changes have increased worker protection and provided significant support for UK businesses and employees. The two furlough schemes, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and the accompanying Self-Employment Income Support Scheme have been widely judged as pandemic success stories, with the CJRS supporting 11.6 million people and playing a clear role in limiting job losses. Likewise, changes to the sick pay system during the pandemic have been positive, serving to increase access to the scheme and reduce the administrative burden on both employees and their employers.’

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UK Labour Law, 12th April 2022

Source: uklabourlawblog.com

‘Insufficient evidence’ to prosecute two people suspected of leaking CCTV of Matt Hancock kiss – The Independent

‘No-one will be prosecuted over the leaking of CCTV footage that showed former health secretary Matt Hancock kissing his aide while coronavirus social distancing guidelines were in place.’

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The Independent, 13th April 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

NEWS ‘Defendants in the bath’: magistrates reveal remote-hearing concerns – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Three-quarters of magistrates do not want remote links to be used as extensively as they were during the pandemic, according to landmark research on their experiences in the criminal courts. After canvassing the views of 865 magistrates, a report published by the Magistrates Association, assisted by legal charity Transform Justice, concludes that audio and video links negatively impact communication and effective participation, particularly for vulnerable court users.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 12th April 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

High court denies Met permission to challenge ruling on Sarah Everard vigil – The Guardian

‘The Metropolitan police has been refused permission for a “hopeless” appeal against a high court ruling that found the force breached the rights of organisers of a vigil for Sarah Everard in south London last year.’

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The Guardian, 11th April 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Publicly-funded criminal barrister numbers drop by 11% – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 11th, 2022 in barristers, budgets, coronavirus, criminal justice, legal aid, news, statistics by sally

‘The number of barristers practising full-time in publicly-funded criminal law dropped by 11% last year, according to analysis by the Bar Council. In 2021, only 2,400 barristers reported that their practice was entirely publicly-funded criminal work, down from from 2,670 the previous year.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 8th April 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Article by Jonathan Lewis – Non-party disclosure orders in judicial review proceedings (R (AB) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care) – Henderson Chambers

‘Two children sought permission to judicially review various decisions made by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care relating to provision of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines to children. To pursue their claim, they sought disclosure of various statistics from the Office for National Statistics (the ONS). As the ONS was not a party to proceedings, they made an application under CPR 31.17 for disclosure. Mr Justice Swift dismissed that application on the basis that the information sought was not necessary for the fair determination of the questions of law raised by the pleaded case.’

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Henderson Chambers, 31st March 2022

Source: www.hendersonchambers.co.uk

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

Posted April 5th, 2022 in coronavirus, legislation, national insurance, parliament, rent by sally

2022 c. 12 – Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Act 2022

2022 c. 11 – Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022

2022 c. 16 – National Insurance Contributions (Increase of Thresholds) Act 2022

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

GPs attack “bullying” solicitors over Covid exemption letters – Legal Futures

Posted March 29th, 2022 in coronavirus, doctors, news, solicitors, vaccination by sally

‘The British Medical Association (BMA) has accused solicitors of bullying GPs by threatening legal action if the doctor does not provide a Covid vaccination exemption for their client.’

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Legal Futures, 29th March 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Dismissal was part of firm’s fair redundancy process, judge rules – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A former law firm employee was dismissed because of redundancy measures made necessary during lockdown, an employment tribunal has found.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 25th March 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Good Law Project fails to revive PPE claim after serving one day late – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Good Law Project (GLP) has lost a bid to revive a judicial review which was thrown out after the legal campaign group served a claim form one day late.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 24th March 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Lockdown conveyancing redundancy was genuine, tribunal rules – Legal Futures

‘A redundancy exercise run by a law firm in its conveyancing department following the first lockdown in 2020 was genuine, an employment tribunal has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 24th March 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Should Access To The Internet Be A Human Right? – Each Other

Posted March 21st, 2022 in coronavirus, human rights, internet, news by sally

‘A right to internet access might sound trivial to some, but for many people access to the internet continues to provide a lifeline. Even after national Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted, many people remain dependant on the internet as a means of accessing medication, food, an education and a source of income.’

Full Story

Each Other, 17th March 2022

Source: eachother.org.uk

Ministers failed to allow parliament opportunity to scrutinise UK Covid laws – The Guardian

Posted March 18th, 2022 in bills, coronavirus, government departments, inquiries, news, parliament by sally

‘Ministers failed to allow parliament enough opportunity to scrutinise the sweeping laws passed to tackle the Covid pandemic, according to a cross-party committee of MPs.’

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The Guardian, 18th March 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Victory for claimants in Sarah Everard vigil case – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 15th, 2022 in coronavirus, demonstrations, freedom of expression, London, news, police by sally

‘Leigh & Ors v (1) The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and (2) Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Interested Party) [2022] EWHC 527. A year after the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, the Divisional Court has given its judgment on the MPS response to the proposed vigil for Ms Everard organised by #ReclaimTheseStreets on Clapham Common, near where she was last seen alive.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 14th March 2022

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Outdoor civil weddings and partnerships here to stay – BBC News

Posted March 15th, 2022 in civil partnerships, consultations, coronavirus, licensing, marriage, news by sally

‘Outdoor civil weddings and partnerships are being legalised permanently in England and Wales. Until last summer, non-religious ceremonies had to be held inside or in a permanent outdoor structure. The rules were relaxed to allow for more guests while coronavirus social distancing measures were in place.’

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BBC News, 15th March 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mayor of Greater Manchester defeats High Court challenge over bus franchising and impact of pandemic – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 14th, 2022 in appeals, contracting out, coronavirus, local government, news, transport by sally

‘Two bus operators have lost a High Court challenge to the decision by Andy Burnham, elected mayor of Greater Manchester, to proceed with bus franchising.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th March 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Police acted unlawfully over Everard vigil, court rules – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Metropolitan Police unlawfully failed to consider whether the right to protest provided a “reasonable excuse” under coronavirus restrictions to organise a vigil for murder victim Sarah Everard, the High Court ruled today.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th March 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK Covid inquiry draft terms of reference set out – BBC News

Posted March 11th, 2022 in coronavirus, government departments, inquiries, news by sally

‘The draft terms of reference for the UK public inquiry into the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic have been published.’

Draft terms

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BBC News, 11th March 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Firm to pay £26,500 to worker sacked for not coming in on Jewish holiday – Law Society’s Gazette

‘An employment tribunal has ordered that a firm pay around £26,500 to a Jewish employee sacked after he did not come to work on Passover.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 7th March 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk