Category: news

‘This article argues that the changes to the tort of private nuisance introduced by the Supreme Court in Fearn v Tate Gallery [2023] UKSC 4 necessitate reconsideration of three areas of uncertainty created by its earlier decision in Coventry v Lawrence [2014] UKSC 13: the principles governing the assessment of locality, the status and content of “coming to the nuisance”, and the exercise of remedial discretion. The decision in Fearn v Tate Gallery significantly increases the importance of these unresolved issues to the workability of the tort, thus intensifying the need for clarification. This article concludes by proposing Fearn-compliant paths towards their resolution.’

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Cambridge Law Journal, 6th February 2026

Source: www.cambridge.org

‘Online advertising’s increasing opacity and automation have exposed critical limitations in the current regulatory structures, particularly regarding fraudulent content and ad misplacement. This contribution argues that the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA) marks a partial shift by extending duties to user-to-user (U2U) and search services for addressing fraudulent ads (OSA Part 3, Chapter 5), but the scope of these responsibilities remains unclear. Key definitional ambiguities, particularly around ‘user-generated content’, ‘users’ and ‘services’, threaten to confuse the regime’s enforcement potential in this context and undermine the coherence of these new obligations. Whether advertisers fall within the scope of ‘users’ under the Act critically shapes the application of general safety duties to advertising, raising unresolved questions about the reach of illegal content provisions across different types of services. The Act’s exemption of search services from broader duties on illegal content in paid-for ads further entrenches enforcement asymmetries between regulated services despite equivalent exposure to harm. While the Online Advertising Programme (OAP) was conceived to address systemic regulatory blind spots, its limited focus on content, rather than delivery infrastructure, has stalled meaningful reform. The article concludes that the OSA introduces vital duties but falls short of delivering a comprehensive regulatory framework, leaving some gaps in coverage, enforcement, and oversight of third-party ad delivery systems.’

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Journal of Media Law, 5th February 2026

Source: doi.org

‘Palestine Action’s ban under terrorism legislation has been ruled unlawful by the High Court in a humiliating blow for the government but the ban will remain in place until a further order by the courts.’

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The Independent, 13th February 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘Ofcom has fined porn company Kick Online Entertainment SA £800,000 for failing to introduce proper age verification measures.’

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BBC News, 12th February 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘The Crown Estate has an important role as a land manager and licensor of renewable energy projects in the UK, and the management of its assets links to long-term environmental targets, including the achievement of net zero by 2050. Recent debates on the devolution of the Crown Estate in Wales are therefore of importance to the future of environmental governance systems and renewable energy production. This analysis considers the general duty of the Crown Estate in relation to net zero and sustainable development targets, as well as how the devolution settlement has created the possibility for policy divergence and the extent to which the Crown Estate’s operations have become territorialized. It finds that should the devolution of the Crown Estate take place in Wales, the emphasis will rest with the Welsh Parliament to create an ambitious, achievable, and enforceable governance structure for the effective delivery of environmental and net zero targets by a Welsh Crown Estate.’

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Journal of Environmental Law, 13th February 2026

Source: doi.org

‘There is limited research on how police engage with racially minoritised victims and survivors of violence against women and girls (VAWG), particularly VAWG that occurs at the intersection of race and gender. This article begins to address that gap examining police handling of these cases, as well as police constructions of the barriers they face and what works. Drawing on a mixed-methods approach – including focus groups with 52 police officers across two police forces, analysis of 55 case files involving VAWG (such as rape and sexual assault), and bodycam footage of police callouts – we examine current police practices and accounts about these practices, focusing on cases involving racially minoritised women and girls, and assess why these practices often fall short of victim/survivor needs and expectations. We highlight examples of good practice, alongside challenges and knowledge gaps, to suggest a path forward for more effective and equitable policing.’

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Policing and Society, 5th February 2026

Source: www.tandfonline.com

‘The failure of the claimants in the ‘Dieselgate’ group litigation to “curb the extent of the involvement of innumerable lawyers” is to be marked by a costs penalty, the High Court has decided.’

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Legal Futures, 13th February 2026

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘Freedom of speech will increasingly be front and centre of universities’ minds, particularly given some of the high-profile situations in recent months.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th February 2026

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

‘A dog owner whose XL bullies attacked and killed a man has been jailed for five years.’

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BBC News, 12th February 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Earlier this summer, the Minister of Justice, Simon Hughes, confirmed the Government’s commitment to a further change to the Family Justice System, which will see children given more of a voice in court and other proceedings in which decisions are made about their lives.’

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Kingsley Napley Family Law Blog, 12th February 2026

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

‘A police force that charged a woman with perverting the course of justice after she reported being raped by a policeman is to be investigated.’

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BBC News, 12th February 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘A woman who murdered her partner before cutting her body in two and burying her remains in the back garden of a house more than 15 years ago has been jailed for life.’

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BBC News, 11th February 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Alternative food manufacturers will need to show caution in marketing after a new UK Supreme Court ruling over the use of the term “milk” to promote a dairy free rival, an expert has warned.’

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OUT-LAW.com. 11th February 2026

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

‘UK law firms are considering legal action on behalf of women who developed brain tumours after using the contraceptive injection Depo-Provera.’

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The Guardian, 11th February 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Systemic gaps in support for parents whose children are removed from their care helped drive runaway heiress Constance Marten to hide her pregnancy – with thousands more children at risk, experts have warned.’

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The Independent, 12th February 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘The High Court’s recent judgment in Municipio de Mariana v BHP Group sits firmly in the context of exceptionally large and expensive commercial group litigation. It is a reminder that, even in the most complex cases, orthodox costs principles apply with full force and thorough evidential preparation is the difference between meaningful interim recovery and heavy discounts.’

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Gatehouse Chambers, 2nd February 2026

Source: gatehouselaw.co.uk

‘The Sentencing Act 2026 (‘the Act’), which received Royal Assent on 22 January, is likely to have a significant impact on the way in which the courts deal with offenders. The Act follows a period of consultation which highlighted the chronic challenges facing the criminal justice and prison system. At the heart of the new Act is an aspiration to rehabilitate low-level offenders in the community, rather than through the prison system. This includes more stringent community order requirements to ensure that punitive aspects of the justice system remain intact.’

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Guildhall Chambers, 10th February 2026

Source: www.guildhallchambers.co.uk

‘A teenager has been sentenced to a minimum term of 13 years for murdering a 12-year-old boy on his way home from school.’

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BBC News, 10th February 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘A 29-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering his partner’s five-month-old baby.’

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BBC News, 10th February 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘On the 10th of February, the The Animal Law Foundation and the League against Cruel Sports presented a letter to the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The full text is attached to this post. In the letter, which marks the twentieth aniversary of the passing of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the ALF and the LACS ackowledge that the Act has undoubtedly improved the lives of many animals. However, its full potential is yet to be realised.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 11th February 2026

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com