Prisons ‘could see 800 deaths’ from coronavirus without protective measures – The Guardian

Posted March 23rd, 2020 in coronavirus, death in custody, early release, health, health & safety, news, prisons by sally

‘Failure to protect the most vulnerable inmates in the UK prison system from coronavirus could result in more than 800 avoidable deaths, experts have warned.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 21st March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Jury trials on hold in England and Wales due to coronavirus fears – The Guardian

Posted March 23rd, 2020 in coronavirus, courts, delay, health, health & safety, juries, live link evidence, news, trials by sally

‘All jury trials in England and Wales are being temporarily suspended because of the risk of spreading coronavirus infections, the lord chief justice has announced.’

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The Guardian, 23rd March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coronavirus: What Happens To Prisoners? – Each Other

‘The UK government has urged the country to maintain “social distancing” as the coronavirus death toll rises. How does this work for the more than 83,000 people in Britain’s often overcrowded prisons?’

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Each Other, 19th March 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Final hearings to go online “very shortly”, says Lord Chief – Litigation Futures

‘Final hearings and hearings with contested evidence in civil and family cases will “inevitably” be conducted using technology very shortly, the Lord Chief Justice has warned.’

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Litigation Futures, 19th March 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Ava-May Littleboy: No safety procedure in place, finds jury – BBC News

‘An inquest jury has criticised the safety management of an inflatable trampoline which exploded and threw a three-year-old girl to her death.’

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BBC News, 19th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

COVID-19: Managing health and risk whilst in police custody – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 18th, 2020 in codes of practice, coronavirus, detention, health, health & safety, news, police by sally

‘At the time of this article, according to officials, the criminal justice system continues to operate “as normal”. Whilst it is to be expected that non-essential trials will likely be delayed, certain components of the justice system cannot simply be deferred – crime happens no less in times of pandemic. Police custody is one such area where the wheels will need to continue to turn regardless of COVID-19.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 18th March 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

“Outrage” as only partners are allowed to work from home – Legal Futures

‘A union representing legal workers has expressed outrage at the “classist allocation of risk” that is seeing law firm partners work from home while other staff are forced into the office during the coronavirus pandemic.’

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Legal Futures, 18th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Presidential Guidance in Connection with the Conduct of Employment Tribunal Proceedings During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Tribunals Judiciary

‘This Guidance is issued in accordance with Rule 7 of the Employment Tribunals Rules of Procedure (“the Rules”). The Rules are set out in Schedule 1 of the Employment Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) Regulations 2013.’

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Tribunals Judiciary, 18th March 2020

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Coronavirus: Jury trials, message from the Lord Chief Justice – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted March 18th, 2020 in coronavirus, courts, health, health & safety, juries, news, trials by sally

‘The impact of the public health emergency on the operation of the courts has been under constant review. In all jurisdictions steps are being taken to enable as many hearings as possible to be conducted with some or all of the participants attending by telephone, video-link or online. Many court hearings will be able to continue as normal with appropriate precautions being taken. We must make every effort to maintain a functioning court system in support of the administration of justice and rule of law.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 17th March 2020

Source: www.judiciary.uk

HMCTS issues guidance for courts and tribunals users during coronavirus outbreak – Local Government Lawyer

‘HM Courts and Tribunals Service has today (13 March) issued guidance for all court and tribunal users during the coronavirus outbreak.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Grenfell Inquiry: Aesthetics v safety v money – BBC News

‘Grenfell was the worst residential fire in UK peacetime history, with 72 people losing their lives. We now know what happened – the report on phase one of the public inquiry has been published – but the next phase is spending months investigating why it happened, and considering who might be to blame.’

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BBC News, 13th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Councils and Electoral Commission welcome government decision to put May 2020 elections back by one year – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 16th, 2020 in delay, elections, health & safety, local government, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The government has decided to postpone the 7 May 2020 local and mayoral elections in England for one year.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Kaden Reddick: Topshop queue barrier death was accident – BBC News

‘A 10-year-old boy who was killed by a falling queue barrier at a Topshop store died accidentally, a coroner has said.’

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BBC News, 10th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New support plan to improve jails – Ministry of Justice

‘A new intensive support programme will help challenging jails to improve safety and rehabilitation, Prisons Minister Lucy Frazer announced today (28 February 2020).’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 28th February 2020

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Corporate witnesses in Grenfell Tower inquiry given immunity from prosecution – The Independent

Posted February 27th, 2020 in fire, health & safety, immunity, inquiries, news, witnesses by sally

‘Witnesses from firms called to the Grenfell inquiry have won their fight for immunity from prosecution for their evidence, despite a lawyer for the victims describing the idea as “abhorrent”.’

Attorney General’s undertaking

Full Story

The Independent, 26th February 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK venues could face legal duty to provide protection from terrorism – The Guardian

‘The owners and operators of businesses and public spaces such as concert halls, shopping centres and parks will be legally bound to protect such venues from terrorism under a new statutory duty proposed by the government.’

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The Guardian, 24th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge says cowboy traders can be ‘professional, legitimate and hard working’ as he jails rogue plumber – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 12th, 2020 in building law, health & safety, licensing, news, sentencing by sally

‘A judge has said cowboy traders can be “professional, legitimate and hard working”, as he jailed a rogue plumber.’

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Daily Telegraph, 11th February 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Fraud charges possible over Grenfell Tower refit, says inquiry chair – The Guardian

Posted February 11th, 2020 in conspiracy, fire, fraud, health & safety, inquiries, news by sally

‘People involved in the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower are facing possible charges of fraud and conspiracy to defraud, according to the chairman of the public inquiry into the disaster that claimed 72 lives.’

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The Guardian, 10th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Grenfell Tower inquiry backs protection for refurbishment firms giving evidence – BBC News

‘The chairman of the Grenfell Tower inquiry has backed a request from firms that refurbished the building that evidence they give should not be used against them in criminal prosecutions.’

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BBC News, 7th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Two in five prisons in poor condition, watchdog finds – The Guardian

‘The government is failing in its efforts to improve prison conditions, with record levels of safety breaches and “huge” backlogs in repairs, Whitehall’s spending watchdog has found. The National Audit Office said plans to “provide and maintain safe, secure and decent prisons” had not been carried out.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 7th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com