Boost for public safety as four justice bills receive Royal Assent – Ministry of Justice

‘The government delivers on its pledge to protect the public better and restore confidence in the criminal justice system as four major bills became law today (28 April).’

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Ministry of Justice, 28th April 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

UK’s visa schemes ‘creating and heightening’ trafficking and exploitation risks – The Independent

‘The UK’s visa schemes for Ukrainian refugees are “lacking in clarity, resourcing and accountability” and are heightening the risk of trafficking and exploitation, according to a report.’

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The Independent, 29th April 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Kellogg’s launches legal challenge against new Government food rules – The Independent

Posted April 27th, 2022 in advertising, food, government departments, health, news by sally

‘Kellogg’s is mounting a legal challenge against new Government rules that would stop some of the company’s cereals being prominently displayed in food stores.’

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The Independent, 27th April 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Why the UK-Rwanda Asylum Deal Risks Harming Global Standards – EIN Blog

Posted April 25th, 2022 in asylum, bills, government departments, immigration, international law, news by sally

‘Professor Heaven Crawley reflects on the newly announced asylum partnership agreement between the UK and Rwanda and its implications for and ramifications on global standards on refugees and asylum-seekers.’

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EIN Blog, 23rd April 2022

Source: www.ein.org.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

Trial of Extinction Rebellion co-founder delayed pending High Court judgment – The Independent

‘The criminal damage trial of the co-founder of Extinction Rebellion has been delayed pending a High Court judgment over the toppling of Edward Colston’s statue in Bristol.’

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The Independent, 19th April 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Harsher sentences introduced for ‘spiking’ drugs – Home Office

Posted April 14th, 2022 in drug offences, government departments, imprisonment, news, sentencing by tracey

‘From today, those found in unlawful possession of these drugs face sentences of up to five years behind bars.’

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Home Office, 13th April 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

‘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

One in eight private rented homes poses ‘serious threat’ to occupants’ health, damning report finds – The Independent

‘More than one in eight privately rented homes in England pose a “serious threat” to the health and safety of their occupants, a damning report has revealed.’

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The Independent, 13th April 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Stop matching lone female Ukraine refugees with single men, UK told – The Guardian

Posted April 13th, 2022 in asylum, government departments, immigration, news, refugees, Russia, Ukraine, war, women by tracey

‘UN agency intervenes in wake of claims predatory men using Homes for Ukraine scheme to target vulnerable.’

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The Guardian, 13th April 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Supporting male victims of crimes considered violence against women and girls – Family Law

‘The Home Office has published a document setting out the government’s position on and work to support male victims of crimes considered violence against women and girls. The document says: “The term ‘violence against women and girls’ refers to acts of violence or abuse that we know disproportionately affect women and girls. These crimes include – and are not limited to – rape, sexual violence, domestic abuse, stalking, ‘honour’-based abuse including forced marriage, ‘revenge porn’, and the harms associated with sex work and prostitution. These crimes have profound and long-lasting physical and mental health impacts and have absolutely no place in our society. The use of this term cannot and should not negate the experiences of, or provisions for, male victims of these crimes.” ‘

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Family Law, 11th April 2022

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

‘Cruel’ move to deport charity worker from UK overruled – The Guardian

‘An immigration tribunal has overturned a “cruel and morally wrong” decision by the Home Office to deport a well-respected black charity volunteer who grew up in the UK.’

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The Guardian, 9th April 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

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

Crypto specialists cautiously welcome regulation plans – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Specialist lawyers have cautiously welcomed the chancellor of the exchequer’s announcement that so-called stablecoins – cryptoassets with a value pegged to that of a conventional fiat currency – are to “be brought within the scope of regulation”. The announcement is part of a package of measures, including the promise of a Royal Mint “non fungible token” (NFT), to make the UK “a global hub for cryptoasset technology and investment”.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 7th April 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

R (HM) v Secretary of State for the Home Department – Blackstone Chambers

‘The Divisional Court (Lord Justice Edis and Mr Justice Lane) have handed down an important judgment concerning the legality of the Government’s policy to search, seize and retain data from the mobile phones of migrants arriving by small boat.’

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Blackstone Chambers, 25th March 2022

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

How to remove someone’s citizenship and get away with it: Sharmistha Michaels writes for the Solicitors Journal -5 SAH

Posted April 8th, 2022 in bills, chambers articles, citizenship, government departments, news by sally

‘Sharmistha Michaels argues the government’s Nationality and Borders Bill could have severe consequences for citizenship.’

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5SAH, 30th March 2022

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

Government defeated over voter ID plans in House of Lords – BBC News

‘The government has been defeated in the House of Lords over its plans to introduce photo ID for voters in elections.’

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BBC News, 7th April 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Adders and slowworms to gain extra protection under new system in England – The Guardian

‘Adders and slowworms will be among animals given extra protection under plans by the government to “streamline” the process for protecting nature-rich areas.’

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The Guardian, 29th March 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK High Court rules blanket seizure of asylum seekers’ phones breached Article 8 ECHR – EIN Blog

‘On 25 March 2022, the UK High Court ruled that the Home Office acted unlawfully and breached human rights and data protection laws by operating a secret, blanket policy of seizing, retaining and extracting data from the mobile phones of asylum seekers arriving by small boat to UK shores between April and November 2020.’

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EIN Blog, 25th March 2022

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Child Q: Black professionals urge education secretary to take action following strip-search – The Independent

‘The education secretary must take immediate action to tackle institutional racism within the education sector following the “dehumanising” strip-search of a black child in London, a collective of black professionals has demanded.’

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The Independent, 26th March 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk