Non-practising barrister fined for calling herself “barrister-at-law” – Legal Futures

‘A non-practising barrister has been reprimanded and for describing herself as a “barrister-at-law” on emails, telling a client she could represent her and taking money to submit an immigration application.’

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Legal Futures, 6th October 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Sarah Everard murder: Met to launch review of standards and internal culture – The Guardian

‘The Metropolitan police is launching a review of professional standards and internal culture within the force, led by a high-profile anti-sleaze adviser, following the rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer.’

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The Guardian, 4th October 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sarah Everard: Female officers ‘fear reporting male colleagues’ – BBC News

‘Female police officers fear reporting male colleagues as they worry they will be abandoned if they need help on duty, says a former senior officer. Ex-Met Ch Supt Parm Sandhu said female officers fear being “kicked in” while dealing with street violence. And a police watchdog inspector has admitted she would be concerned to approach a lone male officer at night.’

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BBC News, 30th September 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Deceived activist Kate Wilson wins tribunal against Met Police – BBC News

‘An activist who was deceived into a relationship with an undercover police officer has won a tribunal case for breaches of her human rights.’

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BBC News, 30th September 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

30% of barristers have faced bullying, harassment and discrimination – Legal Futures

‘Nearly one in three barristers have personal experience of bullying, harassment and/or discrimination (BHD) in the past two years, Bar Council research has revealed.’

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Legal Futures, 28th September 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Police watchdog probes case of Black man, 70, left in hospital after being stopped for faulty brake light – The Independent

Posted September 17th, 2021 in assault, news, ombudsmen, police, professional conduct, racism by sally

‘An incident in which an elderly Black man needed hospital treatment for serious facial injuries after being stopped by officers over a faulty brake light has been referred to the police watchdog.’

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The Independent, 17th September 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘Scandalous’ SRA delays in investigation of disciplinary cases – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A renowned authority on regulating solicitors has today condemned “scandalous” delays in the investigation of disciplinary cases by the SRA. Greg Treverton-Jones QC, long-time co-author of The Solicitor’s Handbook, says solicitors can wait years for their cases to conclude, even where they are exonerated or only suffer a rebuke. In the meantime, they face the “appalling ordeal” of placing their professional lives on hold and in some cases can find themselves unemployable.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 13th September 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Declan Jones: Community welcomes jailing of former police officer following attacks on Black men – The Independent

‘Campaigners have welcomed the jailing of a police officer who assaulted two Black people – including a child – as a positive step towards justice.’

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The Independent, 11th September 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Rapist paramedic Andrew Wheeler faced investigation in 2010 – BBC News

‘A paramedic convicted of raping a patient had been reported to police by an ambulance service nearly a decade before he was charged.’

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BBC News, 13th September 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Treat personal mitigation “with caution” in cases of sexual misconduct – Legal Futures

‘Personal mitigation needs to be treated with “caution” in the context of sexual misconduct, discrimination and harassment, draft new guidance on disciplining barristers warns.’

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Legal Futures, 10th September 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Post Office scandal inquiry urged to put more focus on the lawyers – Legal Futures

‘The inquiry into the Post Office Horizon scandal has been urged to put more focus on the role of lawyers in perpetuating the organisation’s intransigence over the IT system’s problems.’

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Legal Futures, 10th September 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Former CPS solicitor rebuked for offensive Facebook posts – Legal Futures

‘ A solicitor who shared a petition from far-right group Britain First on her Facebook page while working for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

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Legal Futures, 7th September 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Misconduct in public office – ECtHR reviews foreseeability of common law offence – UK Human Rights Blog

‘On 6 July 2021 the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) published its judgment in the case of Norman v UK (Application no. 41387/17). The case concerned Mr Robert Norman, an officer at Belmarsh prison, who in 2015 was convicted of misconduct in public office for passing a variety of information to a tabloid journalist in exchange for money. The ECtHR found that, in Mr Norman’s case, the offence itself did not constitute a breach of Article 7 ECHR (no punishment without law): Mr Norman’s conduct was sufficiently serious for it to have been foreseeable that it would constitute a criminal offence. The ECtHR also found that the newspaper’s disclosure of Mr Norman’s activities to the police, and his subsequent prosecution and conviction, did not breach his rights under Article 10 ECtHR (freedom of expression).’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 6th September 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

‘I’m still traumatised’: UK music industry blighted by sexual harassment and abuse, report finds – The Independent

‘A damning new report has highlighted the ongoing prevalence of sexual harassment and abuse in the music industry, as the UK begins to see the return of live music.’

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The Independent, 3rd September 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New training needed for police after children and mentally ill people Tasered, watchdog warns – The Independent

‘Police must be trained to use Tasers only when “absolutely necessary”, a watchdog has said after a review found the weapons were being used against children and mentally ill people.’

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The Independent, 26th August 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Costs judge rejects “regrettable” overcharging allegations – Legal Futures

Posted August 23rd, 2021 in asylum, costs, fees, immigration, law firms, news, professional conduct, solicitors by sally

‘A judge has rejected claims by the wife of a convicted Kazakh businessman that she was overcharged by a London law firm for her asylum application and described the allegations of misconduct she levelled as “regrettable”.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd August 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Ex-police officer who sexually exploited domestic abuse victims sentenced – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A former police officer who used his position to groom and sexually exploit vulnerable women has been sentenced.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 20th August 2021

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Cressida Dick referred to police watchdog over ‘defence of officer facing criminal trial’ – The Independent

‘Dame Cressida Dick has been referred to the police watchdog after publicly supporting a senior officer who faces a criminal trial in relation to a bullying probe.’

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The Independent, 22nd August 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police officer keeps job after sharing offensive George Floyd meme – The Guardian

‘A police officer who sent an offensive meme depicting the arrest of George Floyd to a WhatsApp group of colleagues has avoided losing his job.’

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The Guardian, August 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Kevin Clarke death: police watchdog reopens investigation – The Guardian

‘The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has reopened its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Kevin Clarke, a mentally ill black man who could be heard saying the words “I can’t breathe” while he was being restrained by police shortly before he died.’

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The Guardian, 16th August 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com