UK government to introduce new rules to restrict ‘de-banking’ – OUT-LAW.com

‘The UK chancellor has announced new rules to restrict the practice of ‘de-banking’ amid reports that some banks may have closed customer accounts because of their political beliefs.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 25th October 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

‘Failure to act’ on suicide website linked to 50 UK deaths – BBC News

Posted October 24th, 2023 in coroners, government departments, inquests, internet, news, suicide by tracey

‘British authorities failed to act on multiple official warnings about a website promoting suicide that has been connected to at least 50 UK deaths, the BBC has found.’

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BBC News, 24th October 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Joe Tomlinson, Eleana Kasoulide, Jed Meers & Simon Halliday: Targeted case reviews: a legitimate compliance exercise or a scandal in the making? – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted October 23rd, 2023 in benefits, constitutional law, government departments, news by tracey

‘Government has a legitimate interest in seeking to prevent and reduce error in the benefits system and in taking action to recover funds lost. And there is widespread pressure for the Department for Work and Pensions to do just that. However, creating systems capable of doing this work is fraught with challenges, including in terms of maintaining fairness and legality. Chief amongst them is the complexity of undertaking error detection work at the scale necessary for effectiveness without harming benefit recipients, who are often vulnerable and for whom benefits are an essential source of financial support. Such challenges are also magnified when, as is typical in modern government, techniques such as outsourcing to private companies and risk assessment are adopted.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 23rd October 2023

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Procurements and losses suffered by group companies – Local Government Lawyer

‘A High Court judge earlier this month lifted an automatic suspension that was preventing the Home Office from entering into contracts worth more than £750m for visa and citizenship application services. Ed Williams and Nico Tilche look at the lessons to be learned.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th October 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Government consults on safe and legal routes for refugees – Home Office

‘Local authorities will be consulted on plans to determine an annual cap on the number of refugees resettled in the UK each year, based on the UK’s capacity to accommodate and support people coming to the UK via safe and legal routes, as the government continues work to deliver its plan to stop the boats.’

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Home Office, 20th October 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Gaps in UK law allowing ‘jihad’ to be shouted were ‘known to government’ – The Guardian

Posted October 23rd, 2023 in demonstrations, government departments, London, news, police, terrorism by tracey

‘Gaps in UK law that would allow words such as “jihad” to be shouted at rallies were known to the government but not acted upon, Britain’s former head of counter-terrorism has revealed.’

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The Guardian, 22nd October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Nitrous oxide to be illegal from November – Home Office

‘Possession of nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas”, will be illegal from 8 November 2023.’

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Home Office, 18th October 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Army members allowed to give evidence to living standards inquiry – BBC News

Posted October 20th, 2023 in armed forces, evidence, government departments, housing, inquiries, news by tracey

‘Members of the armed forces will be permitted to give evidence to MPs about the standard of their living quarters in a partial government climbdown.’

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BBC News, 16th October 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sunak to push ahead with delayed ban on gay and trans conversion practices – The Guardian

‘Rishi Sunak will push ahead with long-delayed plans to ban gay and trans conversion practices after Conservative whips warned MPs could rebel if they failed to do so.’

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The Guardian, 19th October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

River Wye: Judicial review granted over agricultural pollution – BBC News

‘A judge has granted a judicial review into the way the Environment Agency (EA) in England enforces agricultural pollution laws.’

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BBC News, 20th October 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Women still being harassed at abortion clinics despite buffer zone law – The Guardain

Posted October 19th, 2023 in abortion, demonstrations, government departments, harassment, news by sally

‘Women using abortion clinics are still being harassed despite MPs voting a year ago to create buffer zones to stop protesters intimidating them, medical and abortion groups say.’

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The Guardian, 18th October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Man found guilty of stalking Gavin Williamson – The Guardian

Posted October 19th, 2023 in government departments, impersonation, news, stalking by sally

‘A man has been found guilty of stalking the former education secretary Gavin Williamson.’

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The Guardian, 18th October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Conversion therapy: Equality watchdog calls for ban – BBC News

‘Britain’s equality watchdog has called on the government to ban “harmful” conversion-therapy practices.’

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BBC News, 17th October 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ban on no-fault evictions in England unlikely this year – The Guardian

‘Michael Gove has won a battle with No 10 to push ahead with a ban on no-fault evictions and other reforms, but renters will not get protection until next year.’

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The Guardian, 17th October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Independent Review of Disclosure and Fraud Offences launched – Home Office

Posted October 13th, 2023 in criminal justice, disclosure, fraud, government departments, news by tracey

‘An independent review into disclosure and fraud, led by Jonathan Fisher KC, has launched to make it quicker and easier to bring criminals to justice.’

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Home Office, 12th October 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Bibby Stockholm: Resident loses High Court fight over Portland migrant barge – BBC News

‘There will not be a judicial review into the Home Office’s use of a barge to house asylum seekers.’

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BBC News, 11th October 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Wandsworth Prison unsafe and inhumane – watchdog report – BBC News

‘A men’s prison in south-west London has been deemed “unsafe and inhumane”, a watchdog report has warned.’

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BBC News, 11th October 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Dangerous use of force, failure of safeguards and culture of dehumanisation – Brook House Inquiry report finds 19 instances of inhumane or degrading treatment – Garden Court Chambers

‘The BHI Inquiry has exposed the inexcusable and unconscionable dehumanising abuse of vulnerable people held in immigration detention by the Home Office. The Inquiry has found the safeguarding system in detention to be “dysfunctional”, resulting in a failure to protect detained people as intended. Vulnerable people were exposed to the risk of mistreatment and were subjected to actual harm; there were 19 incidents of credible breaches of Article 3 of the ECHR, which prohibits torture, inhuman and degrading treatment within a 5 month period.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 19th September 2023

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Government to progress stayed ordinary residence disputes after Supreme Court judgment – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has set out its position on the determination of ordinary residence disputes in light of the outcome of a recent landmark Supreme Court ruling.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 6th October 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

How UK plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda ended up before supreme court – The Guardian

‘The UK government’s plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda had generated controversy even before the former home secretary Priti Patel signed a deal with the east African country in April last year sealing the deal. Ministers claimed the plan would deter people from making the dangerous journey across the Channel on small boats.’

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The Guardian, 9th October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com