Teenager jailed for life for zombie knife murder – The Independent

‘A teenager who murdered another teenager with a 22-inch zombie knife in broad daylight has been jailed for at least 19 years.’

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The Independent, 27th June 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New guidance aims to restrict use of unregulated psychologists as expert witnesses in court – The Guardian

Posted June 26th, 2023 in codes of practice, expert witnesses, judges, mental health, news, psychiatrists by tracey

‘Family judges who appoint unregulated psychologists as expert witnesses in the courts should issue a judgment to explain their decision, according to updated guidance designed to protect the public from inadequately trained professionals.’

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The Guardian, 25th June 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Deprivation of liberty safeguards reform delayed – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Major reform of safeguards covering people detained under the Mental Capacity Act will be a matter for the next government, the current government has revealed.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 22nd June 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Windrush: Hundreds with chronic and mental illness sent back to Caribbean – BBC News

‘Hundreds of long-term sick and mentally ill people from the Windrush generation were sent back to the Caribbean in what has been described as a “historic injustice”, the BBC has found.’

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BBC News, 21st June 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Online safety bill: changes urged to allow access to social media data – The Guardian

‘Online safety experts will struggle to sound the alarm about harmful content if landmark legislation does not allow independent researchers to access data from social media platforms, campaigners have warned.’

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The Guardian, 19th June 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Gambler who took his own life made up to 100 bets a day, coroner told – The Guardian

Posted June 15th, 2023 in gambling, inquests, mental health, news, suicide by sally

‘A gambler was making as many as 100 bets a day online and had previously accumulated £18,000 in debts before he took his own life, the first inquest of its kind has heard.’

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The Guardian, 14th June 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ofsted school inspections to change after Ruth Perry’s family campaign – BBC News

Posted June 12th, 2023 in education, mental health, news, ombudsmen, teachers by tracey

‘School inspections in England are to change after the suicide of head teacher Ruth Perry led to calls for reform. Ofsted will revisit schools graded inadequate over child welfare within three months, and there will be an overhaul of its complaints system.’

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BBC News, 12th June 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ombudsman criticises council for “significant failings” under Equality Act that exacerbated poor mental health of resident – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Housing Ombudsman has found severe maladministration for Tandridge District Council after the local authority “did not abide by its duties under the Equality Act or its own safeguarding policy”, leading to the exacerbation of a resident’s poor mental health.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st June 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Church abuse victims risk new trauma over payout scheme – report – BBC News

‘A support scheme set up for Church of England abuse survivors risks re-traumatising victims, a report seen by the BBC has concluded.’

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BBC News, 1st June 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judicial review proceedings issued against NHS trust over lack of consultation on mental health services redesign – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust is facing a judicial review challenge from a claimant who alleges the trust failed to involve or consult service users on plans to redesign its community mental health services.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st June 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

UK parliament to debate university statutory duty of care towards students – OUT-LAW.com

‘As the UK parliament prepares to debate a petition by families of students that have died by suicide while at university, is it possible that additional statutory duties could be imposed upon UK’s higher education providers to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of their students, legal experts have said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 19th May 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

New ACAS mental health guidance: reasonable adjustments – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 22nd, 2023 in codes of practice, disabled persons, employment, mental health, news by tracey

‘ACAS, in conjunction with Affinity Health at Work, has launched new guidance on reasonable adjustments for mental health at work. It contains guidance for both employers and workers. David Leach and Hannah Peto examine what it says.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th May 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Work-related suicide probe call after death of head teacher Ruth Perry – BBC News

‘Every work-related suicide should be investigated by the Health and Safety Executive, experts have said, in the wake of the death of a head teacher following an Ofsted inspection.’

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BBC News, 22nd May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Trolls who encourage serious self-harm to face jail – Ministry of Justice

‘Vile trolls who hide behind the anonymity of the internet to encourage others to cause themselves serious harm will face prosecution as part of an overhaul of online safety laws announced today (18 May 2023).’

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Ministry of Justice, 18th May 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Housing case law update – April 2023 – Local Government Lawyer

‘Emily Howe, Kelly Lloyd and Laura Waby round up the latest housing law judgments of interest to housing associations and local authorities.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th May 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Bar Council launches new Wellbeing Certificates – The Bar Council

Posted May 19th, 2023 in barristers, mental health, news by tracey

‘As part of #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek this week, we have relaunched the Bar Council’s Wellbeing Certificates. As part of the process, we received 34 applications from chambers, circuits and Inns of Court.’

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The Bar Council, 17th May 2023

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Bell v HM Coroner for South Yorkshire (Eastern District) – Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog

Posted May 17th, 2023 in chambers articles, coroners, inquests, mental health, news, suicide by sally

‘In this post, Alex Carington considers a recent unsuccessful application under s. 13 of the Coroner’s Act 1988 in light of new evidence to quash an inquest in 1992 into the death of a woman who stepped into the path of an oncoming train where an open verdict was reached.’

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Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog, 16th May 2023

Source: inquestsandinquirieslawblog.com

Errol Graham: Chances missed to help man who starved to death – BBC News

‘Opportunities to help a man who starved to death were missed, a safeguarding review has found.’

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BBC News, 14th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sex abuse victims ‘must get specialist support’ – BBC News

‘Encouraging abuse victims to come forward without a specialist support system in place is “totally irresponsible”, campaigners have said.’

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BBC News, 15th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sheffield man beat neighbour to death with bag of Pokemon cards – BBC News

Posted May 10th, 2023 in drug abuse, imprisonment, mental health, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man who bludgeoned his neighbour to death with a bag full of Pokemon cards because he was angry about being insulted has been jailed for life.’

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BBC News, 9th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk