Top civil servant begins legal case against Priti Patel and Home Office – The Guardian

‘Sir Philip Rutnam, the senior civil servant who resigned on Saturday claiming he was bullied and forced from office, has begun legal action against the government over his treatment by Priti Patel, his union has told the Guardian.’

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The Guardian, 3rd February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

DWP criticised for ‘incredible secrecy’ over deaths of benefit claimants – The Guardian

‘The head of an influential cross-party committee of MPs has criticised the “incredible secrecy” surrounding the government’s handling of the deaths of vulnerable benefit claimants following the case of Errol Graham, a severely ill man who died of starvation after his benefits were cut off.’

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The Guardian, 1st March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Boris Johnson to hold inquiry into scandal of subpostmasters accused of fraud – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 27th, 2020 in fraud, inquiries, news, postal service by tracey

‘The Government will commit to holding an independent inquiry following a legal ruling affecting hundreds of subpostmasters, Boris Johnson has suggested.’

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Daily Telegraph, 26th February 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

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 tracey

‘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

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The Independent, 26th February 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Guilt and anger surface as infected blood inquiry hears evidence – The Guardian

Posted February 25th, 2020 in blood products, HIV, inquiries, news by sally

‘The guilt of infected blood donors and the anger of victims whose diagnosis of HIV and hepatitis C was withheld from them for years has emerged as evidence given in secret was read out to a public hearing in London.’

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The Guardian, 24th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

UN warns of rise of ‘cybertorture’ to bypass physical ban – The Guardian

‘Psychological torture is being exploited by states to circumvent the more widely understood ban on physically inflicting pain and may open the way to a future of “cybertorture”, the UN torture rapporteur has said.’

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The Guardian, 21st February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Grenfell public inquiry delayed again over evidence concerns – The Guardian

Posted February 24th, 2020 in accidents, criminal justice, delay, evidence, fire, inquiries, negligence, news by sally

‘The Grenfell Tower public inquiry has been delayed again over demands from companies involved in the disastrous refurbishment that their evidence should not be used to help jail them.’

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The Guardian, 23rd February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Impact on rape victims of police phone seizures to be reviewed – The Guardian

‘The impact on rape victims of police seizures of their mobile phones is to be examined as the Metropolitan police begin piloting a data inspection system designed to limit invasion of privacy.’

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The Guardian, 16th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Equalities watchdog launches inquiry into use of restraint in schools – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Equality and Human Rights Commission has launched a formal inquiry into how schools are monitoring and recording their use of restraint, “following widespread concerns about its use and the lack of data available”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 12th February 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.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

Rogue surgeon report does not pretend there are easy answers – The Guardian

‘Report makes some sensible recommendations but critics say it could have gone further.’

Full report

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The Guardian, 4th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Terminally Ill Dad ‘Thoroughly Disappointed’ As Court Of Appeal Rejects Assisted Dying Case – Each Other

Posted January 31st, 2020 in appeals, assisted suicide, human rights, inquiries, judicial review, news, suicide by sally

‘A terminally ill dad is calling for a government inquiry into the UK’s blanket ban on assisted dying after the Court of Appeal rejected his human rights challenge.’

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Each Other, 30th January 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Police sending a third fewer rape cases to prosecutors, figures show – The Guardian

‘Rape victims are finding it increasingly difficult to access justice as police refer fewer cases to the Crown Prosecution Service and fewer allegations of rape are being prosecuted and convicted, according to new figures.’

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The Guardian, 30th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

People who worked on Grenfell Tower ‘could face life sentences’ – The Guardian

‘People who worked on the Grenfell Tower refurbishment could face the threat of being jailed for life, their lawyers have said, with witnesses interviewed by police believing they could be charged with manslaughter.’

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The Guardian, 30th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Grenfell Tower fire: Firms want immunity over evidence – BBC News

Posted January 30th, 2020 in evidence, fire, health & safety, immunity, inquiries, news, prosecutions by tracey

‘Firms involved in the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower have asked the public inquiry into the fire for a guarantee that anything they say in the hearings will not be used for any prosecution.’

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BBC News, 29th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Can Prince Andrew be forced to testify? – BBC News

‘Prince Andrew is coming under pressure to speak to investigators in the US about the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after claims he is not co-operating with the inquiry.’

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BBC News, 28th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ministers reject calls for immediate compensation for infected blood victims – The Guardian

‘Calls for immediate compensation for thousands of victims contaminated by infected NHS blood have been rejected by ministers at a meeting with campaigners and survivors – but more health support may be made available.’

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The Guardian, 28th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bolton Fire Highlights Ongoing High-Rise Health And Safety Issues – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square

Posted January 28th, 2020 in fire, health & safety, inquiries, news, reports by sally

‘It could easily have been another Grenfell Tower. On Friday, 15 November 2019, over 100 people were forced to flee The Cube in Bolton, Greater Manchester, after a fire broke out and spread with devastating speed through the upper floors.’

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4-5 Gray's Inn Square, 24th January 2020

Source: www.4-5.co.uk

Grenfell Tower fire: Second phase of inquiry to begin – BBC News

‘The second phase of the Grenfell Tower fire inquiry is to begin later, days after one of its panellists resigned.’

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BBC News, 27th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk