Robert Francis QC: the man behind the NHS Mid Staffs report – The Guardian

Posted January 31st, 2013 in barristers, health, hospitals, inquiries, news, reports by sally

“If some of the array of senior figures and organisations in the NHS are anxious about what the publication of the Mid Staffordshire scandal report might mean for their reputations, that is understandable. The mammoth public inquiry was chaired by Robert Francis QC, described by solicitors who hire him as ‘formidable’ and ‘forensically exceptional’. A barrister specialising in the NHS and medical negligence, he is highly skilled at getting to the truth and quietly scathing when he feels censure is due.”

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The Guardian, 30th January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Iraqis seek public inquiry at the High Court over UK troops’ ‘acts of brutality’ – The Independent

Posted January 30th, 2013 in armed forces, human rights, inquiries, Iraq, news, torture, unlawful killing by sally

“Allegations that British troops in Iraq were guilty of killing civilians and ‘terrifying acts of brutality’ were made at the High Court today [29 January].”

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The Independent, 29th January 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Scores of violent offenders able to walk out of jail – Daily Telegraph

“Scores of Britain’s most dangerous criminals have walked out of open prisons over the past year, official statistics disclosed yesterday.”

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Daily Telegraph, 28th January 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Use of police cautions has ‘got out of hand’, magistrates warn – Daily Telegraph

“One in four violent criminals are avoiding court as magistrates warned the excessive use of cautions by police has ‘got out of hand’.”

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Daily Telegraph, 27th January 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Leveson: Press and politicians still seek solution – BBC News

“For months, the Leveson Inquiry dominated the news, as a succession of high-profile witnesses gave evidence – actors Hugh Grant and Sienna Miller, singer Charlotte Church; the parents of Milly Dowler and Madeleine McCann; editors, proprietors, police chiefs, politicians.”

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BBC News, 27th January 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Plebgate: Met police calls in external force to review Scotland Yard inquiry – The Guardian

Posted January 25th, 2013 in inquiries, news, police by tracey

“The Metropolitan police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has called in an external force to review Scotland Yard’s criminal investigation into the plebgate saga.”

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The Guardian, 24th January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Is Britain guilty of systemic torture in Iraq? – The Guardian

Posted January 21st, 2013 in armed forces, inquiries, Iraq, news, sexual offences, torture by sally

“High court to hear shocking testimonies alleging sexual abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners and their families by British armed forces between 2003 and 2008.”

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The Guardian, 19th January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lady Neuberger to investigate claims on care for dying patients – The Guardian

Posted January 15th, 2013 in elderly, inquiries, medical treatment, news by sally

“Care services minister, Norman Lamb, appoints peer to carry out review of Liverpool Care Pathway after months of denunciations.”

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The Guardian, 15th January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Information Commissioner Responds to Leveson – Panopticon

Posted January 15th, 2013 in data protection, inquiries, media, news by sally

“The Information Commissioner’s Office (‘ICO’) has published its response to the recommendations that Lord Justice Leveson made to the ICO and the Ministry of Justice (‘MoJ’) in his Inquiry Report on the Culture, Practices and Ethics of the Press. See here for the full response.”

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Panopticon, 14th January 2013

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Jimmy Savile scandal: How will it affect future abuse cases?- BBC News

“Jimmy Savile’s ability to commit hundreds of serious sexual offences inside public institutions, ‘hiding in plain sight’ as Friday’s police and NSPCC report on his crimes puts it, seems almost incredible. And for his victims, it is indeed credibility which is the issue at the heart of this scandal.”

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BBC News, 12th January 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

OFT to act on unfair gym membership contracts – The Guardian

Posted January 14th, 2013 in consumer protection, inquiries, news, ombudsmen, unfair contract terms by tracey

“At the end of what is always the busiest month of the year for gyms, the OFT is expected to announce that it will outlaw contracts that last longer than 12 months or do not contain a get-out clause for members who, for example, lose their job or sustain an injury. The move follows a year-long investigation into a number of gym chains, believed to include LA Fitness, Fitness First and Bannatyne’s. The OFT is also understood to be looking at debt collectors that some reports say use aggressive practices in chasing money owed to gym groups.”

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The Guardian, 12th January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Banning drugs drives a ‘rising tide’ of legal highs, peers warn – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 14th, 2013 in crime, drug offences, inquiries, news, parliament by tracey

“The current classification system simply cannot keep up as a new legal high emerges every six days in the UK and young people share links to where they can be bought online and via their mobile phones, Baroness Meacher, chairwoman of the parliamentary inquiry into legal highs, said.”

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Daily Telegraph, 14th January 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Call for evidence – Macur Review

Posted January 9th, 2013 in care homes, child abuse, evidence, inquiries, news, Wales by sally

“The Independent Review of the Waterhouse Tribunal will today publish an Issues Paper calling for views on the scope of the original Inquiry and whether or not it sufficiently investigated specific allegations of child abuse in North Wales care homes.”

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Macur Review, 8th January 2013

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Wales child abuse: Judge appeal to Waterhouse witnesses – BBC News

Posted January 8th, 2013 in child abuse, inquiries, news, Wales, witnesses by sally

“The judge leading a review of an inquiry into sexual abuse at care homes in north Wales has appealed for witnesses to come forward.”

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BBC News, 8th January 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jimmy Savile scandal: BBC branded ‘incapable and chaotic’ – The Guardian

Posted December 20th, 2012 in BBC, inquiries, media, news, reports by tracey

“A scathing report into the BBC’s handling of a shelved Newsnight exposé of Jimmy Savile revealed a culture of ‘suspicion and mistrust’ at the corporation, riven by factions and in-fighting with ‘rigid management chains’ that rendered it ‘completely incapable’ of dealing with the scandal when it was exposed.”

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The Guardian, 19th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Baha Mousa: guilty verdict on doctor should force an inquiry into Iraq abuse – The Guardian

Posted December 18th, 2012 in armed forces, doctors, inquiries, Iraq, news, professional conduct by sally

“It was left to a medical body to censure Derek Keilloh. That no one else has been brought to book over the killing is shameful”

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The Guardian, 17th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Leveson Inquiry: Public invited to review press code – BBC News

Posted December 17th, 2012 in codes of practice, complaints, inquiries, media, news, public interest by sally

“Five lay people will be invited to take part in a review of the newspapers’ code of practice in the wake of the Leveson report into press ethics.”

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BBC News, 15th December 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Review in to the Waterhouse Inquiry underway – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 10th, 2012 in child abuse, inquiries, news, social services by sally

“The independent review chaired by Mrs Justice Macur DBE, which will consider the scope of the Waterhouse inquiry and whether any specific allegations of child abuse falling within the terms of the reference were not investigated by the Inquiry, has now commenced.”

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Ministry of Justice, 28th November 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Criminal records of striking miners ‘should be erased’ – The Guardian

Posted December 3rd, 2012 in criminal records, industrial action, inquiries, miners, news, public order by sally

“Calls to erase the criminal records of the estimated 7,000 men detained and ‘falsely charged’ during the miners’ strike have been made by campaigners demanding a fresh inquiry into the policing of the dispute.”

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The Guardian, 1st December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

David Cameron statement in response to the Leveson Inquiry report – The Guardian

“Prime Minister delivered the statement to the House of Commons on the day that Leveson report was published.”

Full statement

The Guardian, 29th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk