Category: proportionality

Tom Hickman: Eight ways to reinforce and revise the lockdown law – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted April 16th, 2020 in constitutional law, coronavirus, emergency powers, enforcement, freedom of movement, government departments, human rights, limitations, news, parliament, proportionality, time limits by sally

‘The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 and the counterpart regulations in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, impose the most drastic restrictions on liberty ever seen in the United Kingdom. On 16 April 2020 they reach their first review point and it is a clear that they will be continued, probably initially for a further period of three weeks and thereafter quite likely for a much longer period either in their current form or in modified form.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 16th April 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Government changes how outdoor exercise guidance applies to people with specific health needs – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 15th, 2020 in autism, coronavirus, disabled persons, emergency powers, enforcement, freedom of movement, government departments, judicial review, learning difficulties, news, pre-action conduct, proportionality by sally

‘The Government has changed its leaving home guidance to permit people with specific health needs to exercise outside more than once a day and to travel to do so where necessary, following the threat of a judicial review challenge.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th April 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Why did government not use the Civil Contingencies Act? – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 6th, 2020 in constitutional law, coronavirus, emergency powers, news, parliament, proportionality by sally

‘The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (‘CCA’) represents a legal landmark. It updated and consolidated laws which enabled public authorities to prepare for, and respond effectively to, emergencies, replacing the Emergency Powers Act 1920 with a more comprehensive and consensual design. While it was motivated by domestic and global crises, it was not enacted in haste but benefited from a prolonged consultation period led by a special parliamentary joint committee. The final draft systematically furnished the executive with all conceivable powers, yet contained vital legal and parliamentary oversight to avert disproportionate action. The CCA addressed the widest range of possible eventualities: terrorist attacks, protests, environmental events – and human and animal disease pandemics. In other words, there already existed legislation designed to tackle the circumstances of coronavirus which indubitably qualifies as an emergency. Yet, rather than utilise this framework, the government has resorted to fresh legislation in the Coronavirus Act 2020. Why?’

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Law Society's Gazette, 2nd April 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Families of disabled children threaten legal challenge over government limit on outdoor exercise – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 2nd, 2020 in autism, children, coronavirus, disability discrimination, disabled persons, emergency powers, families, freedom of movement, government departments, human rights, news, proportionality by sally

‘A pre-action protocol letter has been sent to the Government calling on it to reconsider the policy that all citizens are only permitted to leave the house for exercise once per day.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st April 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Jeff King: The Lockdown is Lawful: Part II – UK Constitutional Law Associaiton

Posted April 2nd, 2020 in constitutional law, coronavirus, emergency powers, freedom of movement, health, human rights, news, proportionality, statutory interpretation by sally

‘In the post published yesterday, I explained that under Part 2A of the Public Health (Control of Diseases) Act 1984, UK and Welsh ministers can make regulations to protect public health that can impose ‘special restrictions’ on persons, things and premises. They can impose such restrictions in the same way that Justices of the Peace may do against individuals and groups. However, there are four exceptions to that general rule (section 45D(3)). The general regulation-making powers cannot be used to force a person to (a) submit to medical examination; be (b) removed to or (c) detained in a hospital or similar establishment, or, and mostly notably, (d) ‘be kept in isolation or quarantine.’ The rationale for the exclusions seems to be that these highly invasive things must be done on a case-by-case (i.e. person or group) instead of community-wide basis.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 2nd April 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Coronavirus and detention under the Mental Health Act – Doughty Street Chambers

Posted April 1st, 2020 in chambers articles, consent, coronavirus, detention, medical treatment, mental health, news, proportionality, statutory interpretation, time limits, Wales by sally

‘The Coronavirus Act 2020 (CA 2020) has now been passed. However not all the provisions have yet come into force. Many of the provisions (including the amendments to the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA) and to the Care Act 2014) will come into force on a day appointed by a Minister according to regulations. Once in force, a part of the Act could also be suspended and revived. For further details on this, see our earlier post here.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 30th March 2020

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

CPS failed to tell inspectors of internal review revealing rape case failings – The Guardian

Posted March 16th, 2020 in Crown Prosecution Service, disclosure, evidence, inquiries, news, proportionality, prosecutions, rape, sexual offences, statistics, telecommunications, victims by sally

‘The Crown Prosecution Service conducted a secret internal review that exposed its failings in rape cases – but failed to share it with inspectors who were conducting an official inquiry for a major government investigation into rape, the Guardian can reveal.’

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The Guardian, 15th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Failure to spend budget “not a good reason to depart” – Litigation Futures

Posted March 9th, 2020 in budgets, costs, news, proportionality by tracey

‘A failure to spend the totality of a budgeted figure for a phase because of settlement is not in itself a good reason to depart from a costs budget, a regional costs judge has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 6th March 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Patents – Conversant Wireless Licensing v Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd and Others – NIPC Law

Posted February 24th, 2020 in case management, costs, disclosure, licensing, news, patents, proportionality by sally

‘This was an application by the claimant, Conversant Wireless Licensing SARL for disclosure of the licence agreements and assignments relating to 3G and 4G patents that had been entered by the defendants, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd., ZTE (UK) Limited and their British subsidiaries. Substantially the same application had been made to His Honour Judge Hacon at the case management conference in the action which took place in July 2019. The later application was heard by Mr Justice Birss who delivered judgment in Conversant Wireless Licensing SARL v Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd and others [2020] EWHC 256 (Pat) on 10 Feb 2020. The reference to the CMC in the transcript of Mr Justice Birss’s judgment is [2009] EWHC 1982 (Pat) but I think that must be a misprint for [2019].’

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NIPC Law, 22nd February 2020

Source: nipclaw.blogspot.com

Court of Appeal provides guidance on “borough-wide” injunctions – No. 5 Chambers

Posted February 19th, 2020 in appeals, equality, housing, human rights, injunctions, local government, news, proportionality, travellers, waste by sally

‘Bromley LBC had secured a without notice interim injunction in the High Court which prohibited encampment and entry/occupation in relation to all accessible public spaces in the Borough except cemeteries and highways. These amounted to 139 parks, recreation grounds or open spaces, and 32 public car parks. Although the injunction was against “persons unknown”, it was widely understood that the injunction was aimed at the Gypsy and Traveller community.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 12th February 2020

Source: www.no5.com

Impact on rape victims of police phone seizures to be reviewed – The Guardian

Posted February 17th, 2020 in Crown Prosecution Service, disclosure, evidence, inquiries, investigatory powers, news, pilot schemes, police, privacy, proportionality, rape, sexual offences, statistics, telecommunications, victims by sally

‘The impact on rape victims of police seizures of their mobile phones is to be examined as the Metropolitan police begin piloting a data inspection system designed to limit invasion of privacy.’

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The Guardian, 16th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Gypsies and Travellers – time for a rethink – Nearly Legal

Posted January 27th, 2020 in appeals, equality, human rights, injunctions, local government, news, proportionality, travellers, trespass by sally

‘Over the last few years, there has been a real growth in “all borough” injunctions against anticipated trespass by gypsies and travellers. As far as the Court of Appeal could tell, there seem to be 38 presently in force. For obvious reasons, once one authority obtains such an injunction, the pressure builds on other authorities to do likewise. Moreover, because the injunctions are usually sought against “persons unknown” there are rarely, if ever, any represented defendants.’

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Nearly Legal, 26th January 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Court of Appeal rejects council bid for borough-wide injunction, issues guidance on tackling unauthorised encampments – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 22nd, 2020 in appeals, equality, human rights, injunctions, local government, news, proportionality, travellers, waste by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by the London Borough of Bromley over a High Court judge’s refusal to grant a borough-wide injunction on encampment at all accessible public spaces in the council’s area.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st January 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Victory’ For Traveller Communities Against Blanket Council Bans – Each Other

Posted January 22nd, 2020 in appeals, equality, human rights, injunctions, local government, news, proportionality, travellers, waste by sally

‘Local authorities who attempt to ban Travellers and Gypsies from vast swathes of public land risk breaching their “enshrined freedom” to roam the country, a court has ruled.’

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Each Other, 21st January 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Immigration and Article 8: what did we learn in 2019? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted January 20th, 2020 in appeals, deportation, families, human rights, immigration, news, privacy, proportionality by sally

‘As in previous years, the courts in 2019 were particularly concerned with Theresa May’s attempts as Home Secretary to codify the Article 8 proportionality exercise into legislation. Those changes have had a significant impact on the approach of tribunals to appeals against deportation and removal on grounds of private and family life. Judges now have to apply a series of prescribed tests under the immigration rules, before going on to consider whether there are exceptional circumstances requiring a grant of leave.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 17th January 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Home Office overhauls police complaints and discipline process – Home Office

Posted January 13th, 2020 in complaints, disciplinary procedures, government departments, police, press releases, professional conduct, proportionality by tracey

‘Today (Friday 10 January) the Home Office is introducing legislation that will shake up how complaints made against the police are handled and improve the discipline system for officers.’

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Home Office, 10th January 2020

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

“The Red line: Assessing “Proportionality” in Article 8 ECHR Family Rights” – Church Court Chambers

Posted December 4th, 2019 in citizenship, families, human rights, immigration, news, proportionality by sally

‘Islam Khan discusses a recent Court Of Appeal case in an immigration matter shifting the test on proportionality on Human Rights cases.’

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Church Court Chambers, 3rd December 2019

Source: churchcourtchambers.co.uk

Court of Appeal allows appeal over care and placement orders over failure by judge to give adequately reasoned judgment – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 20th, 2019 in adoption, appeals, care orders, local government, news, placement orders, proportionality, reasons by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal brought by a great-aunt from care and placement orders made by a judge at the conclusion of proceedings concerning a two-year-old boy, J.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th November 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

EPA prosecutions and costs – Nearly Legal

Posted November 1st, 2019 in compensation, costs, damages, environmental health, health & safety, housing, judicial review, jurisdiction, landlord & tenant, news, proportionality by sally

‘This was a judicial review of a costs order made by Camberwell Green Magistrates on a settled Environmental Protection Act 1990 s.82 prosecution. The Magistrates had refused to state a case for the consideration of the High Court.’

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Nearly Legal, 31st October 2019

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Proportionality – Compared with what? And how to assess – No. 5 Chambers

Posted October 30th, 2019 in appeals, civil procedure rules, costs, hospitals, insurance, negligence, news, proportionality by sally

‘Proportionality has been the watchword in costs for such a length of time that one might have been tempted into thinking that ‘new learning’ on the topic was unlikely. The Court of Appeal’s decision in West v. Stockport NHS Foundation Trust/Demouilpied v. Stockport NHS Foundation Trust [2019] EWCA Civ 1220 (hereinafter “West”) provides fresh insight, however, in relation to both the matters that will be considered by a judge assessing the proportionality of costs, and also the procedure to be adopted.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 10th October 2019

Source: www.no5.com