‘Dangerous path to go down’: four legal experts on the Post Office exoneration bill – The Guardian

‘The government’s decision to pass a law overturning the convictions of post office operators has left many lawyers and judges uneasy.’

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The Guardian, 11th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Grenfell solicitor wins unfair dismissal claim over redundancy – Legal Futures

‘A solicitor made redundant after her work on the Grenfell Tower disaster ended has won a claim for unfair dismissal because her law firm did not properly consider another role for her.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd January 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Cassandra Somers-Joce: Public Inquiries, the Public Record, and Governmental Accountability – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted December 20th, 2023 in constitutional law, disclosure, government departments, inquiries, news by sally

‘“Public inquiries are one of Britain’s only growth industries,” the Financial Times has suggested recently. Research from the Institute for Government demonstrates that there were 69 public inquiries launched between 1990 and 2017, compared with 19 in the previous 30 years. Several high-profile public inquiries are open at time of writing, including the Grenfell Inquiry, the Covid-19 Inquiry, and the Post Office Horizon Inquiry. The near-constant media coverage of the Covid-19 Inquiry, chaired by Baroness Heather Hallett, serves as a reminder of the role that public inquiries play in ensuring accountability and scrutiny. Each week of the Covid-19 Inquiry has painted a fuller picture of governmental decision making during the pandemic. The Covid-19 Inquiry has, however, demonstrated the shortcomings in governmental record-keeping and disclosure, particularly with respect to decisions which were taken via private communications platforms such as WhatsApp.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 20th December 2023

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Police still victim blaming in grooming gang cases, watchdog finds – The Guardian

Posted December 8th, 2023 in child abuse, children, inquiries, news, ombudsmen, police, sexual grooming, sexual offences, victims by michael

‘The inquiry by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) comes more than a decade after scandals in Rotherham and Rochdale came to light, revealing failings by the authorities that left gangs of men free to attack vulnerable young girls.’

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The Guardian, 8th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

David Fuller: NHS failures enabled killer to abuse bodies – report – BBC News

Posted November 29th, 2023 in hospitals, inquiries, murder, negligence, news, sexual offences by sally

‘Mortuary abuser David Fuller was able to offend without being caught because of “serious failings” at the hospitals where he worked, an inquiry has found.’

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BBC News, 28th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

No more new investigations in Rotherham child abuse inquiry – BBC News

‘An inquiry into child abuse in Rotherham will not start any new investigations from next year, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.’

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BBC News, 28th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MPs launch inquiry into lengthening probate delays – Legal Futures

Posted November 24th, 2023 in complaints, delay, HM Courts Service, inquiries, news, select committees by tracey

‘MPs have launched an inquiry into probate in the wake of mounting concern about how long the process is taking, with HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) admitting to rising levels of complaints.’

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Legal Futures, 24th November 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lucy Letby public inquiry formally opened by judge – BBC News

Posted November 23rd, 2023 in birth, children, hospitals, inquiries, murder, news, nurses by sally

‘The public inquiry into serial killer Lucy Letby’s crimes has formally begun although hearings may not begin until next autumn.’

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BBC News, 22nd November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Inquiry says Ofsted viewed as ‘not fit for purpose’ – The Independent

Posted November 20th, 2023 in education, inquiries, news, ombudsmen, school children, teachers by tracey

‘Ofsted is in need of major reform and is seen as “not fit for purpose” according to an inquiry into the education inspectorate for England. The Beyond Ofsted inquiry called for “transformational change” and said it found Ofsted as “having a detrimental impact on schools which some perceive as toxic”.’

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The Independent, 20th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Church of England takes next step towards redress for abuse victims – The Independent

‘The Church of England has taken its next step towards putting in place a “robust” scheme to deliver apologies and compensation to abuse victims.’

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The Independent, 15th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Channel deaths: Government orders inquiry into mass drowning – BBC News

Posted November 9th, 2023 in government departments, immigration, inquiries, news by sally

‘The government has ordered an independent inquiry into a migrant mass drowning in the English Channel.’

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BBC News, 9th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Parents of babies who died or were harmed in NHS care demand inquiry – The Guardian

Posted November 1st, 2023 in bereavement, birth, children, families, hospitals, inquiries, news by sally

‘Parents of babies who have died or been harmed as a result of poor care are demanding that ministers order a public inquiry into repeated failings in NHS maternity units.’

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The Guardian, 31st October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Andrew Malkinson: Wrongful conviction inquiry judge pledges ‘fearless’ review – BBC News

‘A judge investigating why Andrew Malkinson spent 17 years in jail for a rape he did not commit says she will be “fearless” in seeking the truth.’

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BBC News, 26th October 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.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

Lucy Letby inquiry to consider hospital and NHS culture – The Guardian

Posted October 20th, 2023 in birth, children, families, hospitals, inquiries, murder, news, nurses by tracey

‘The inquiry into how Lucy Letby was able to murder seven babies will look into the direct experiences of parents, the conduct of other staff at the Countess of Chester hospital and the wider effectiveness of NHS governance, the Department of Health has said. Announcing the formal terms of reference for the inquiry, the government listed 30 questions to be considered within the three broad categories, including whether there were proper whistleblowing procedures and whether the NHS trust was “sufficiently candid” with parents.’

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The Guardian, 19th October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Andrew Malkinson says wrongful rape conviction inquiry should be statutory – The Guardian

Posted October 19th, 2023 in inquiries, miscarriage of justice, news, rape by sally

‘Andrew Malkinson believes an inquiry into how he was wrongfully convicted of rape must be made statutory to ensure Greater Manchester police do not hide evidence.’

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The Guardian, 18th October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Inquiry to open into claims British soldiers summarily killed 80 Afghans – The Guardian

Posted October 10th, 2023 in Afghanistan, armed forces, homicide, inquiries, news by sally

‘A public inquiry into allegations that 80 Afghans were summarily killed by members of three different British SAS units begins on Monday amid pleas from victims’ families to uncover the truth behind the deaths.’

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The Guardian, 9th October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Families who lost loved ones in pandemic ‘will not be ignored’ – inquiry chair – The Independent

‘The second stage of the inquiry is set to examine key decision-making in Westminster between January 2020 and February 2022.’

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The Independent, 3rd October 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Experts call for Lucy Letby inquiry to cover statistical evidence used in trial – The Guardian

Posted October 3rd, 2023 in birth, children, evidence, hospitals, inquiries, murder, news, nurses, statistics by sally

‘The Royal Statistical Society (RSS) is calling for the Lucy Letby inquiry to cover statistical evidence used in the trial of the serial baby killer, saying it can be difficult “to draw conclusions from suspicious clusters of deaths” in hospitals.’

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The Guardian, 3rd October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Asylum seekers ‘degraded’ at detention centre: key points from Brook House inquiry – The Guardian

‘Report on immigration removal centre details “crushing” abuse and excessive use of force that has left detainees with PTSD.’

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The Guardian, 19th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com