Gambling Commission is “a small regulator in a huge and fast-evolving industry”, warns spending watchdog – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 2nd, 2020 in budgets, gambling, news, ombudsmen, regulations, statistics by sally

‘Even if the Gambling Commission were to make recommended improvements, it is “a small body that is unlikely to be fully effective in regulating a challenging and fast-changing industry within the current system”, the National Audit Office has warned.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Audit firms face review by watchdog over climate risk exposure – The Guardian

Posted February 21st, 2020 in auditors, climate change, disclosure, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The UK’s accounting watchdog has launched a major review into whether companies and their auditors are adequately reflecting the financial risks of the climate crisis in their accounts.’

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The Guadian, 20th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Council to review decision on admission of summer-born child after criticism from LGO – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 19th, 2020 in children, delay, education, families, local government, news, ombudsmen, school children by sally

‘Warwickshire County Council has said it will review its decisions in two cases in which it denied parents’ requests for deferred summer-born children to start school in reception class rather than year one after receiving criticism from the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO).’

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Local Government Lawyer, 18th February 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Met Police remove 374 names from gangs matrix – BBC News

Posted February 17th, 2020 in data protection, gangs, news, ombudsmen, police, statistics by sally

‘The Metropolitan Police has removed 374 people from its gangs matrix after the UK’s data watchdog found it breached data protection laws.’

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BBC News, 15th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Family of UK man who died in police custody criticises watchdog – The Guardian

‘The family of a man who died in custody last month has criticised the police watchdog for failing to recommend the suspension of officers being investigated over the circumstances of his death.’

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The Guardian, 11th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Housing Ombudsman issues guidance for landlords on responding to complaints – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Housing Ombudsman has published new guidance notes aimed at assisting landlords with policies and in responding to complaints.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 12th February 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

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

Met police deploy live facial recognition technology – The Guardian

‘The Metropolitan police have been accused of defying the warnings of its own watchdogs by beginning operational use of facial recognition CCTV, despite a scathing assessment of its effectiveness from the expert hired to scrutinise its trials.’

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The Guardian, 11th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Regulator Ofcom to have more powers over UK social media – BBC News

Posted February 12th, 2020 in internet, news, ombudsmen, regulations, standards, suicide, young persons by sally

‘New powers will be given to the watchdog Ofcom to force social media firms to act over harmful content.’

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BBC News, 12th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Two in five prisons in poor condition, watchdog finds – The Guardian

‘The government is failing in its efforts to improve prison conditions, with record levels of safety breaches and “huge” backlogs in repairs, Whitehall’s spending watchdog has found. The National Audit Office said plans to “provide and maintain safe, secure and decent prisons” had not been carried out.’

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The Guardian, 7th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Pretty Little Thing: ‘Overly sexualised’ advert banned – BBC News

Posted February 5th, 2020 in advertising, complaints, news, ombudsmen, women by tracey

‘An advert for fashion retailer Pretty Little Thing which featured women wearing exposing lingerie has been banned for being “offensive”.’

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BBC News, 5th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Yousef Makki: Boy B loses bid to keep identity secret – BBC News

‘A teenager cleared of lying to police over the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Yousef Makki has lost a High Court bid to protect his identity.’

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BBC News, 28th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

East Kent hospitals: Care watchdog inspects trust after baby death apology – BBC News

‘England’s care watchdog has carried out a no-notice inspection of an NHS trust at the centre of concerns over the possible preventable deaths of babies.’

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BBC News, 24th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ombudsman reminds councils of their foster carer school transport duties – Local Government Lawyer

‘Councils across England are being reminded about the financial support they must provide to foster carers’ school transport expenses following an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman into Wolverhampton council.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th January 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Rotherham child sex abuse victim ‘vindicated’ – BBC News

‘A survivor of sexual abuse in Rotherham has told the BBC she feels “vindicated” by a watchdog’s investigation that found South Yorkshire Police did not do enough to protect her.’

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BBC News, 18th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

London council’s special needs inquiry caused by ‘systemic failures’ – BBC News

‘At least 5,000 children seeking special educational needs support (Send) are to have their cases reviewed after a London council landed a stinging rebuke from the local government ombudsman. Concerns about “systemic failures” in Richmond’s Send department prompted the watchdog to take the highly unusual step of ordering the full-scale audit.’

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BBC News, 17th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ombudsman criticises council for failing to properly involve complainant in assessment and support planning process – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 16th, 2020 in budgets, disabled persons, local government, news, ombudsmen, social services by sally

‘A council significantly delayed completing an assessment of a complainant’s social care needs, failed to complete a support plan before reducing his personal budget and failed to properly involve him in the assessment and support planning process, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th January 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Disjointed’ policing hampering efforts to tackle county lines exploitation, watchdog finds – The Independent

Posted January 10th, 2020 in children, drug offences, drug trafficking, gangs, news, ombudsmen, police, young offenders by tracey

‘Disjointed policing and a lack of coordination between forces are worsening the issue of county lines drugs gangs exploiting children, a government watchdog has warned.’

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The Independent, 10th January 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Love Island star Molly Mae’s Insta post banned – BBC News

Posted January 8th, 2020 in advertising, complaints, internet, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘Social media influencer Molly Mae Hague has become the latest in a string of reality stars to have a complaint upheld against her by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).’

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BBC News, 8th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Council rapped over treatment of pregnant woman who was made homeless – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 8th, 2020 in duty of care, homelessness, housing, local government, news, ombudsmen, pregnancy by sally

‘The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has agreed to consider service resources and “the changes it needs to make to work in line with the law” after a Local Government and Social Ombudsman investigation into how a pregnant woman, who approached the council for help when she was made homeless, was left in an unfurnished flat, miles from her support network.’

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Local Government Lawyer, January 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk