Legal aid services are on brink of collapse, lawyers tell MPs – The Guardian

‘Legal aid services are on the brink of collapse due to successive cuts and the disruption wreaked by Covid-19, say lawyers.’

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The Guardian, 29th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Legal action taken against PM over refusal to investigate Kremlin meddling – The Guardian

‘A cross-party group of MPs and peers including a former national security adviser are taking legal action against Boris Johnson over his government’s refusal to order an inquiry into Russian interference in UK elections.’

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The Guardian, 29th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police spying inquiry to examine targeting of UK black justice groups – The Guardian

Posted October 29th, 2020 in bereavement, inquiries, minorities, news, police, race discrimination, racism, spying by sally

‘A public inquiry into undercover policing is poised to reveal details of how police repeatedly spied on black justice groups, including several run by grieving families whose relatives were killed by police or died in custody.’

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The Guardian, 28th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Secrets and lies: untangling the UK ‘spy cops’ scandal – The Guardian

Posted October 29th, 2020 in inquiries, news, police, spying by sally

‘Those duped into having relationships with undercover police are hoping for answers from the inquiry.’

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The Guardian, 28th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Inquiry begins into blanket use in England of Covid ‘do not resuscitate’ orders – The Guardian

Posted October 13th, 2020 in care homes, elderly, hospitals, inquiries, medical treatment, news by sally

‘An urgent investigation into blanket orders not to resuscitate care home residents has been launched amid fears some elderly people may still be affected by the “unacceptable” practice.’

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The Guardian, 12th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Justin Welby: Child sex abuse report a ‘wake-up call’ for Church – BBC News

‘A report that found the Church of England failed to protect children from sexual abuse was “a big wake-up call”, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said. Justin Welby said “nothing must get in the way” of change after a report from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA) said the Church had failed to protect children.’

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BBC News, 7th October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Grenfell victim’s family aims to force change to evacuation rules for disabled people – The Guardian

‘The family of a disabled woman who died trapped in Grenfell Tower is taking legal action against the government to force high-rise owners to make evacuation plans for every disabled resident. Sakina Afrasehabi, who had severe arthritis and walked with a frame, died on the 18th floor in the June 2017 blaze at the age of 65. Now her family want a judicial review of government proposals, arising from the disaster, that personal evacuation plans should only apply for people in buildings considered at immediate fire risk.’

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The Guardian, 5th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coronavirus: Amnesty demands immediate inquiry into care home residents ‘abandoned to die’ – The Independent

‘The human rights of older people have been violated in England’s care homes because of a series of “shockingly irresponsible” government decisions in response to the coronavirus pandemic, a report has found.’

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The Independent, 4th October 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘I’m traumatised now’: Covid bereaved call for inquiry into NHS 111 – The Guardian

Posted September 22nd, 2020 in bereavement, coronavirus, inquiries, news by sally

‘Families whose relatives died from Covid-19 in the early period of the pandemic are calling for an inquiry into the NHS 111 service, arguing that many critically ill people were given inadequate advice and told to stay at home.’

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The Guardian, 21st September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Infected blood scandal: Treasury refuses to publish key documents – The Guardian

‘The Treasury is refusing to publish key documents about the treatment of haemophiliacs infected by the NHS with HIV on the grounds that it would be “disruptive” and material might be “distorted” by the media.’

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The Guardian, 21st September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Manchester Arena Inquiry: Hearings begin into terror attack – BBC News

Posted September 8th, 2020 in explosives, inquiries, news, suicide, terrorism by sally

‘Several people raised suspicions about the Manchester Arena suicide bomber in the minutes before he killed 22 people.’

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BBC News, 17th September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Manchester Arena attack: ‘This inquiry should be about transparency’ – BBC News

Posted September 7th, 2020 in bereavement, children, families, inquiries, news, terrorism by sally

‘The parents of eight-year-old Saffie Roussos, the youngest victim of the Manchester Arena terror attack, have been speaking about their feelings, as a public inquiry is due to start on Monday.’

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BBC News, 6th September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Grenfell bereaved say Covid ban on attending inquiry is ‘madness’ – The Guardian

Posted September 7th, 2020 in accidents, bereavement, coronavirus, families, fire, inquiries, news, victims by sally

‘Survivors and bereaved of the Grenfell Tower fire have branded as “madness” rules that mean although they can eat at a restaurant or drink in a pub, they are still not allowed to attend the public inquiry, which restarts on Monday.’

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The Guardian, 6th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

GMB union institutionally sexist, inquiry finds – The Guardian

‘One of Britain’s biggest trade unions has been described as “institutionally sexist” in a highly critical independent report.

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The Guardian, 3rd September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

JUSTICE launches timely report on urgent reform for major inquests and inquiries – JUSTICE

Posted August 27th, 2020 in inquests, inquiries, news, reports by sally

‘When a catastrophic event or systemic failure results in death or injury, the justice system must provide a framework to understand what happened and to prevent recurrence.’

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JUSTICE, 24th August 2020

Source: justice.org.uk

Developer wins High Court battle over refusal of permission for 100-home site – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 27th, 2020 in housing, inquiries, news, planning by sally

‘Developer Wainhomes (North-West) has won a High Court case against the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government over housebuilding in the area of South Ribble Borough Council.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th August 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Christopher Alder: Legal action sought over body mix-up – BBC News

‘The sister of a man found in a mortuary 11 years after he was believed to have been buried is planning to take legal action against South Yorkshire Police.’

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BBC News, 25th August 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Has the revolution happened? Can we ever go back? – Transparency Project

‘The Lord Chief Justice called it “the biggest pilot project that the justice system has ever seen” and said “there will be no going back to February 2020”. Remote court hearings would have come sooner or later, but thanks to Covid-19 they came at us fast, in March 2020, and it looks like they’re here to stay. Ironically, they were one of the things the massive £1bn court modernisation programme was supposed to have developed, but when it came to the crunch HMCTS wasn’t quite ready so there was “the most extraordinary scramble”, said Professor Hazel Genn, to find solutions that worked.’

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Transparency Project, 25th August 2020

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Call for parliament to review assisted dying law in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted August 26th, 2020 in assisted suicide, families, inquiries, news, statute law revision, suicide by sally

‘Relatives of people who have brought legal cases on assisted dying are for the first time making a joint appeal for an inquiry into the current law in England and Wales, saying there is an overwhelming case for change.’

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The Guardian, 25th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Public Inquiries and Survivors: an in-depth look at the JR challenge to the Manchester Arena Inquiry – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted August 18th, 2020 in human rights, inquests, inquiries, judicial review, news, terrorism, victims by sally

‘A recent decision of the High Court concerning the Manchester Arena Inquiry highlights an interesting question about public inquiries, the role of survivors and the protections offered by the European Convention.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 17th August 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com