Ukrainians granted sanctuary in Britain sent to live with suspected gangsters – The Independent

Posted April 15th, 2024 in asylum, gangs, government departments, immigration, news, refugees, Russia, Ukraine, war by tracey

‘Ukrainian refugees fleeing the horrors of war to find sanctuary in British homes were sent to live with suspected gangsters under the government’s flagship Homes for Ukraine scheme, The Independent can reveal.’

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The Independent, 14th April 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ministry of Defence official took £70,000 in secret payments – BBC News

‘A former Ministry of Defence (MoD) official has been jailed after taking £70,000 in secret payments and gifts.’

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BBC news, 13th April 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Changes to legal migration rules for family and work visas in 2024 – House of Commons Library

Posted April 12th, 2024 in families, government departments, immigration, news, parliament, visas by sally

‘On 4 December 2023 the Home Secretary, James Cleverly, announced future changes to visa rules in what he described as a “five-point plan” to reduce immigration. The Home Office released more information on 21 December, including some adjustments to what had initially been announced.’

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House of Commons Library, 11th April 2024

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Carers scandal: why are so many being prosecuted by the UK government? – The Guardian

‘George Henderson was convicted of fraud and had to repay £19,500 in carer’s allowance years after ticking the wrong box on the form. He is not alone. The Guardian society editor, Patrick Butler, looks at why thousands are facing prosecution over innocent mistakes.’

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The Guardian, 12th April 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Carer convicted over benefit error worth 30p a week fights to clear his name – The Guardian

‘A carer who says he was “dragged through the courts” and had to sell his home to pay back almost £20,000 in benefit overpayments is fighting to clear his name after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) acknowledged he made an innocent mistake.’

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The Guardian, 12th April 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

New UK laws to curb ‘disruptive protests’ come into force – The Independent

‘New public order powers to prevent “disruptive” protests in the UK will come into force from Friday [5th April].’

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The Independent, 5th April 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Fourth former UK supreme court judge signs letter over Israeli actions in Gaza – The Guardian

‘Lord Carnwath joins Lady Hale, who was president of the UK’s highest court, and lords Sumption and Wilson, in urging ministers to act to prevent the “plausible risk” of genocide in Gaza.’

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The Guardian, 4th April 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

New laws to cut migration and put British workers first in force – Home Office

Posted April 4th, 2024 in government departments, immigration, news, recruitment, remuneration by tracey

‘Changes that are now in force will slash migration and prevent the undercutting of British workers by employers looking to recruit cheap labour from overseas.’

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Home Office, 4th April 2024

Source: www.gov.uk

Government accepts all recommendations made by Angiolini Inquiry – Home Office

‘Government led recommendations made by Part 1 of the independent Angiolini Inquiry have been accepted.’

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Home Office, 25th March 2024

Source: www.gov.uk

More synthetic opioids banned to protect communities – Home Office

‘Fifteen additional synthetic opioids are now under the strictest controls to prevent drug related deaths and ensure anyone caught supplying them faces tough penalties.’

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Home Office, 20th March 2024

Source: www.gov.uk

Small boat pilot jailed after endangering more than 50 lives – Home Office

‘A small boat pilot has been jailed after crossing the Channel with more than 50 migrants in a perilously overcrowded dinghy.’

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Home Office, 21st March 2024

Source: www.gov.uk

Former CPS chief says clampdown on protests risks creating ‘thought crimes’ – The Guardian

‘The former director of public prosecutions for England and Wales has warned against the risk of creating “thought crimes” amid the recent clampdown on protesters and demonisation of demonstrators by politicians.’

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The Guardian, 24th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Thousands of UK women owed pension payout after ombudsman’s Waspi ruling – The Guardian

Posted March 22nd, 2024 in compensation, government departments, news, ombudsmen, pensions by sally

‘Thousands of women, potentially hundreds of thousands, are owed compensation because of government failings related to the way changes to the state pension age were made, a long-awaited official report has said.’

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The Guardian, 21st March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Rwanda flights: Lords inflict further defeats on government – BBC News

‘The House of Lords has inflicted fresh defeats on the government over its flagship Rwanda bill, meaning further delay to it becoming law.’

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BBC News, 21st March 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK smoking ban for those born after 2009 starts journey into law – BBC News

Posted March 22nd, 2024 in bills, children, government departments, health, news, smoking, young persons by sally

‘Rishi Sunak’s plan to ban anyone born after 2009 from buying cigarettes is starting its journey into law.’

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BBC News, 21st March 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Disrespectful of the rule of law’? – Doughty Street Chambers

‘In Maleci (Non-admission of late evidence) [2024] UKUT 00028 (IAC) the Upper Tribunal, chaired by the President, has sought to address a long-running problem in both tiers of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber: the Home Office’s failure to comply with directions or co-operate in proper case management.’

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Doughty Street Chamber, 22nd February 2024

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Migrant Work, Gender and the Hostile Environment: A Human Rights Analysis – Industrial Law Journal

‘This article addresses work-related and gendered harms of the “hostile environment”, a set of measures implemented through the Immigration Acts of 2014 and 2016, which aims to make life in the UK impossible for irregular migrants. The hostile environment criminalises work without legal status, facilitates data sharing between public bodies and immigration enforcement, and restricts access services and benefits. The article examines factors that can make women susceptible to irregularity and exposure to hostile environment measures, and distinctive forms of gendered harm such as workplace sexual harassment. It argues that the detrimental impacts of the hostile environment contravene international and regional human rights obligations. Barring certain migrants from access to the labour market may violate the socio-economic right to work and/ or the right to private and family life, while a lack of access to legal remedy or labour inspection fuelled can violate migrants’ right to decent work and undermine protections against forced labour. The UK’s recent ratification of the Council of Europe’s “Istanbul Convention” and ILO Convention 190 on violence and harassment at work signifies a renewed commitment to safeguarding women regardless of migration status, but the universalistic potential of these instruments is undermined by the hostile environment’s continued operation.’

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Industrial Law Journal, March 2024

Source: academic.oup.com

Rwanda bill could become law without independent scrutiny, says ex-watchdog – The Guardian

‘Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda deportation bill could be forced on to the statute books without fulfilling the government’s legal commitment to independent scrutiny, the former borders watchdog has told peers.’

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The Guardian, 19th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Retailers who break new smoking ban face on-the-spot fines in UK – The Guardian

‘Powers to issue £100 on-the-spot fines are to be handed to council officers enforcing a landmark law banning future generations from smoking, which Rishi Sunak has hailed as a chance to “save thousands of lives and billions of pounds”.’

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The Guardian, 20th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Office attempt to deport UK-born man was illegal, judge says – The Guardian

Posted March 19th, 2024 in citizenship, deportation, government departments, immigration, news by tracey

‘The Home Office acted unlawfully in trying to deport a British-born man who has never left the country to Portugal, from where his parents arrived more than 30 years ago, a judge has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 18th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com