DWP tribunal criticises Labour MP Jess Phillips for ‘showing too much affection and friendship’ – The Independent

‘A Labour MP has been criticised by a judge at a tribunal for showing too much affection and friendship towards a constituent on disability benefits. ‘

Full story

The Independent, 3rd April 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Jean Charles de Menezes ruling due in European court of human rights – The Guardian

‘A ruling on whether British police officers should have been charged for the fatal shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes at a London tube station in 2005 is to be delivered by the European court of human rights on Wednesday.’

Full story

The Guardian, 30th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Magistrate sacked for opposing same-sex adoption is suspended by NHS – The Guardian

‘A Christian magistrate who was sacked after voicing his opposition to adoption by same-sex parents has been suspended as a non-executive director by an NHS trust.’

Full story

The Guardian, 27th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Former PCSO who raped child jailed for 11 years – The Guardian

‘A former police community support officer has been jailed for 11 years and four months after admitting raping a child and a bestiality offence.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Poppi Worthington’s father faces intimidation every day, coroner told – The Guardian

‘A father who was identified by a high court judge as having probably sexually assaulted his baby daughter shortly before she died may be allowed to give evidence from a secret location after facing daily intimidation, a pre-inquest hearing has heard.’

Full story

The Guardian, 18th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police guilty of misconduct over woman who died in cell – The Guardian

‘Two police officers and two members of police staff were found to have committed misconduct over the way they dealt with a “very vulnerable” woman who was found dead in a police cell.’

Full story

The Guardian, 18th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bar regulator launches consultation on the Professional Statement threshold standard and competences, seeks input from all – Bar Standards Board

Posted March 17th, 2016 in barristers, consultations, professional conduct by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today launched its consultation on the Professional Statement threshold standard and competences.’

Full consultation

Bar Standards Board, 14th March 2016

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Battlelines drawn as shaken baby syndrome controversy set to run – The Guardian

‘Shaken baby syndrome is back in the news. Monday’s BBC Panorama programme focused on this most contentious of subjects and was itself prompted by the General Medical Council’s prosecution of Dr Waney Squier, a consultant neuropathologist who used to give evidence against those charged with injuring their baby but now provides expert evidence in their defence. On Friday she was found guilty by the GMC of giving “expert opinion evidence outside your field of expertise” in several cases that came before the criminal or family courts, and could be struck off the medical register as a result.’

Full story

The Guardian, 15th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MPs break the rules ‘because they do not agree with them’, says standards watchdog Kathryn Hudson – Daily Telegraph

‘The comments will add further pressure on MPs to beef up the watchdog which polices their work, perhaps by giving members of the public a vote over decisions whether or not to reprimand errant MPs.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th March 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ministry of Justice officials ‘helped private firms win government contracts’ – The Guardian

‘Ministers have ordered an immediate inquiry into allegations that former senior civil servants from the Ministry of Justice have used their Whitehall knowledge and contacts to help private companies secure government contracts worth millions.’

Full story

The Guardian, 14th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

This shaken baby syndrome case is a dark day for science – and for justice – The Guardian

‘A leading doctor faces being struck off for challenging the theory about the infant condition. It’s like Galileo all over again.’

Full story

The Guardian, 14th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Inquest criticises care of woman who killed herself in police cell – The Guardian

‘An inquest jury has criticised failings in the care of a woman who killed herself in a police cell, saying that insufficient steps had been taken to protect her welfare.’

Full story

The Guardian, 11th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Doctor who doubted shaken baby syndrome misled courts, panel rules – The Guardian

‘A Leading doctor who cast doubt on claims that parents had shaken their babies to death has been found guilty of misleading the courts.’

Full story

The Guardian, 11th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Commons sleaze watchdog in crisis as QC rubbishes legal arguments against reform – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 11th, 2016 in news, parliament, professional conduct, standards by tracey

‘Sir Kevin Barron steps aside from chairmanship of Standards Committee, as Lord Lester describes attempts to stop lay members from being given a vote as “absurd.” ‘

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 10th March 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police officer sacked for having sex with prostitutes on duty – The Guardian

Posted March 4th, 2016 in disciplinary procedures, news, police, professional conduct, prostitution by tracey

‘A police officer has been sacked for meeting prostitutes for sex in hotels while on duty, but his identity has been kept secret.’

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Curbs on ‘shameless’ armed forces claims within weeks – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Measures to curb legal claims against members of the armed forces are likely to be introduced this month.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd March 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Sole practitioner who overcharged client by 500% is struck off – Legal Futures

‘A sole practitioner who overcharged by 500% for private client work has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).’

Full story

Legal Futures, 2nd March 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Operation Elveden: The investigation into ‘chequebook journalism’ – BBC News

‘It cost £15m and took five years but what did Operation Elveden – the police investigation into inappropriate payments to police and public officials by journalists – aim to achieve?’

Full story

BBC News, 26th February 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

SRA: We want to be accountable to Parliament, not the Law Society – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has asked the House of Commons’ justice select committee to assume responsibility for holding it to account once independence from the Law Society has been achieved.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 26th February 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bradford dental nurse struck off for performing facelift – BBC News

‘A dental nurse who gave her friend a facelift despite not being qualified to do so has been struck off.’

Full story

BBC News, 15 February 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk