‘Public safety is at risk as huge workloads and staff shortages continue to place the probation sector under pressure, inspectors have said, while officers lack the “professional curiosity” needed to spot potentially dangerous behaviour among offenders managed in the community.’
The Guardian, 14th January 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The corrupt leaders of Russia are manipulating courts and tribunals around the world – with a particular focus on the UK – with “blatant lies, forged documents, and utterly implausible explanations”, it was claimed today.’
Litigation Futures, 13th January 2020
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
‘In 2015, Peter Ball, the former Bishop of Lewes and Gloucester, was jailed at the Old Bailey for sexual offences against 18 young men over three decades, the circumstances of which have been the subject of inquiries within the Church of England and externally. BBC2 has scheduled a documentary, Exposed: The Church’s Dark Secret, on the Peter Ball case for 13 and 14 January 2020. This post reviews the legal issues that have arisen in the case of Peter Ball, and comments on related ongoing enquiries and the legal implications for the Church.’
Law & Religion UK, 13th January 2020
Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com
‘Police and social workers investigating child sex exploitation in Manchester knew children were suffering “the most profound abuse… but did not protect them”, a report has found.’
BBC News, 14th January 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A shortage of prosecutors and experienced police officers has left investigators “struggling to cope” with obligations to disclose key evidence to defendants in criminal trials, according to a critical inspectorate report.’
The Guardian, 9th January 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has been too slow to learn lessons from the Grenfell tragedy, with “wasteful” practices, insufficiently trained staff and failure to follow national guidance still being a problem in the organisation two and a half years on, a watchdog has warned.’
The Independent, 17th December 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Children at a scandal-hit jail set to close in three months are still being subjected to pain-inflicting techniques during physical restraints, despite repeated warnings against using what inspectors have called “unacceptable” practice.’
The Guardian, 16th December 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A review of record low rape conviction rates has found a justice system “close to breaking point” because of cuts. The Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (CPSI) said a “damning” number of cases are lost during “under-resourced” police investigations. But it rejected claims that prosecutors are unfairly selective about cases they charge.’
BBC News, 17th December 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Newborns could be diverted from care proceedings if more time is given to pre-birth assessments where there are safeguarding concerns, according to a review published today.’
Law Society's Gazette, 11th December 2019
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The official report into the police shooting of a man whose death sparked the 2011 riots is facing a new challenge from human rights investigators who say a virtual model of the shooting shows its main conclusion is wrong.’
The Guardian, 5th December 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The Cabinet Office has defied a court order to release a secret government report on the UK’s fracking industry. Officials were expected to hand over the report on Monday, days before Britain’s first general election leaders’ debate on the climate crisis, after the information tribunal ruled it was in the public interest to disclose its findings in full.’
The Guardian, 28th November 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Hundreds of families whose babies died or have been left with brain damage after maternity care treatment at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust are now being informed they are part of a major investigation into the largest scandal of its type ever to hit the NHS, following a report by The Independent.’
The Independent, 21st November 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The Morecambe Bay Investigation (the Kirkup Report) was an inquiry into the deaths of mothers and babies at Furness General Hospital midwifery unit between 2004 and 2012. It found ten stillbirths, six neonatal deaths, and three maternal deaths were part of a pattern of failures in care at every level within the unit. There was an inability to confront the endemic poor practice that linked the incidents, and a defensive approach amongst the midwifery team. This pattern of failures was not identified or acted on for several years.’
2 Hare Court, 15th November 2019
Source: www.2harecourt.com
‘Only 19% of home buyers use online conveyancers, despite the dominance of online searches as a way of finding property, a report has found.’
Legal Futures, 19th November 2019
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘A new report has called for reform of the process by which schools permanently exclude students after suggesting that school teachers have an inconsistent understanding of their Equality Act duties and that Independent Review Panels (IRPs) lack the power to remedy unlawful exclusions.’
Local Government Lawyer, 8th November 2019
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘The government’s court modernisation programme may not be completed by the deadline of 2023, the House of Commons public accounts committee (PAC) has warned in its latest report on the project.’
- Legal Futures, 6th November 2019
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘The Lord Chief Justice has warned of “a very worrying shortfall” in the recruitment of salaried members to the District Bench this year, saying that it will have adverse consequences for the family and civil jurisdictions.’
Local Government Lawyer, 5th November 2019
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘Court users with limited access to computers, poor literacy or limited understanding of how the law works could be disadvantaged and potentially left going through a case with no legal advice as a result of the courts and tribunals modernisation programme, MPs have said.’
Local Government Lawyer, 1st November 2019
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘The most vulnerable in society are at risk of being excluded from access to justice due to poor digital skills, lack of legal advice, court closures and “dilapidated” courthouses, MPs have warned in a damning critique of the government’s modernisation programmes.’
The Guardian, 31st October 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
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