What powers does “take such action as is necessary to enforce” give to police officers? – UK Police Law Blog

‘The powers in the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Business Closure) (England) Regulations 2020 allow a constable to “take such action as is necessary to enforce a premises closure or restriction”. The powers in theCoronavirus Act 2020, schedule 22 (formerly schedule 21 in the Bill) are to enforce a restriction or prohibition on gatherings or events and to close and restrict access to premises during a public health response period. Again, it will allow a constable to “take such action as is necessary to enforce such a restriction, prohibition or closure”. But what does the phrase, “take such action as is necessary to enforce …” mean?’

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UK Police Law Blog, 25th March 2020

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

Coronavirus: What Are My Employment Rights? – Each Other

Posted March 26th, 2020 in coronavirus, employment, health, health & safety, news, remuneration, sick leave by sally

‘With the UK now in coronavirus lockdown, many people will be anxious about their right to stay at home and their right to get paid. Lawyer Alex Monaco answers a selection of frequently asked questions on your employment rights.’

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Each Other, 25th March 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Lord Chancellor praises lawyers’ “heroic” efforts – Legal Futures

‘The Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland yesterday praised lawyers for their “heroic efforts” in trying to keep trials going during the coronavirus pandemic.’

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Legal Futures, 25th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Government to protect commercial tenants from eviction if they miss rent payments over coronavirus outbreak –

‘Commercial tenants who miss a payment in the next three months because of the coronavirus outbreak will be protected from eviction, the government has announced.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Open justice direction published for remote hearings – Litigation Futures

‘A new practice direction clarifying when civil courts may derogate from the principle of open justice to conduct hearings remotely in private has been published today.’

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Litigation Futures, 25th March 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

England: police to get power to use force to impose coronavirus lockdown – The Guardian

Posted March 26th, 2020 in coronavirus, emergency powers, enforcement, fines, freedom of movement, news, police by sally

‘Police will be authorised to use force to send people back home if they refuse to obey the coronavirus lockdown, under government plans.’

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The Guardian, 25th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

What The Coronavirus Bill Could Mean For Mental Health – Each Other

‘The UK government’s Emergency Coronavirus Bill paves the way for widespread changes to legislation that could potentially have an alarming impact on our human rights, especially in the area of mental health.’

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Each Other, 24th March 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Coronavirus Act 2020 – legislation.gov.uk

Posted March 26th, 2020 in coronavirus, emergency powers, legislation by sally

Coronavirus Act 2020

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

High court rejects call to free 736 detainees at risk from coronavirus – The Guardian

‘The high court has rejected calls to free hundreds of immigration detainees who, lawyers and human rights activists say, are at risk from Covid-19 while behind bars.’

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The Guardian, 26th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK abortion law briefly changes during Covid-19 outbreak – The Guardian

Posted March 25th, 2020 in abortion, coronavirus, government departments, health, internet, news by sally

‘The UK government published then deleted changes to abortion law that would have allowed women to access medical terminations without travelling to a clinic, leaving women’s health charities “staggered”.’

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The Guardian, 24th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Vice-President of Court of Protection issues further guidance for judges and practitioners on hearings – Local Government Lawyers

‘No hearings in the Court of Protection which require people to attend are to take place unless there is a genuine urgency and it is not possible to conduct a remote hearing, the Court’s Vice-President has said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

UK eviction ban promise broken, say critics – The Guardian

Posted March 25th, 2020 in bills, coronavirus, emergency powers, housing, landlord & tenant, news, repossession by sally

‘The “complete ban” on evictions promised by the government has been widely criticised after it emerged that the coronavirus bill merely extends the notice required for possession, from two months to three.’

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The Guardian, 24th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

PI industry protocol aims to prevent Covid-19 game-playing – Litigation Futures

‘A protocol aimed at cutting out opportunistic tactics by either claimants or defendants in personal injury (PI) cases during the Covid-19 pandemic has been unveiled by leading claimant firm Thompsons and the Association of British Insurers (ABI).’

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Litigation Futures, 25th March 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Calls to protect criminal solicitors, pupils and LPC students – Legal Futures

‘Criminal defence solicitors in London yesterday threatened to stop attending police stations and a protocol to protect pupil barristers was published among efforts to protect the profession during the coronarivus pandemic.’

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Legal Futures, 25th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Coronavirus: Inmates could be freed to ease virus pressure on jails – BBC News

‘The government is considering releasing some offenders from prisons in England and Wales to ease pressures caused by the coronavirus pandemic.’

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BBC News, 25th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Emergency coronavirus legislation passed by MPs without opposition – The Guardian

‘Emergency legislation giving sweeping powers to ban gatherings and forcibly quarantine suspected coronavirus patients was passed by MPs on Monday night, despite continued worries about civil liberties and the potential effect on vulnerable people.’

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The Guardian, 23rd March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coronavirus: What’s in the emergency legislation? – BBC News

‘The government has passed all stages of its 329-page emergency bill through the House of Commons.’

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BBC News, 24th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Circuit leader tells barristers not to attend court today – Legal Futures

Posted March 24th, 2020 in barristers, coronavirus, courts, live link evidence, news by sally

‘The leader of the North Eastern Circuit has urged his members not to attend any court hearings today in the wake of the government’s decision last night to lock down the UK.’

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Legal Futures, 24th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Jurors packed into crowded courts: how the government defied coronavirus advice – The Guardian

Posted March 24th, 2020 in coronavirus, courts, health, health & safety, juries, news, trials by sally

‘Trials may now be suspended in England, but forcing people to mix in cramped rooms during a coronavirus crisis was risky at best.’

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The Guardian, 23rd March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

SRA will take “pragmatic” approach to breaches during pandemic – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has finally issued guidance to those it regulates on dealing with the coronavirus, stressing it will be “pragmatic” when taking action over rule breaches related to the pandemic.’

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Legal Futures, 24th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk