Social media giants ‘shamefully far’ from tackling illegal content – BBC News
‘Social media firms are “shamefully far” from tackling illegal and dangerous content, says a parliamentary report.’
BBC News, 1st May 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: reports
Fall in decisions for adoption orders halted but local variation remains: report – Local Government Lawyer
‘The fall in decisions for adoption and placement orders seems to have halted but this masks a high degree of variation in decision-making at a local and regional level, data collected by the Adoption Leadership Board has suggested.’
Local Government Lawyer, 24th April 2017
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Anthony McSweeney case: Abuse priest failings found – BBC News
‘Concerns raised about a Catholic priest later jailed for sexual assault were not acted upon or taken seriously by the Church, a review has found.’
BBC News, 23rd April 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Child victims of sexual abuse in families let down by system: report – The Guardian
‘Child victims of sexual abuse within families are being let down by the system, the children’s commissioner for England has said.’
The Guardian, 20th April 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
FCA to review investment platform market – OUT-LAW.com
‘The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will carry out an investment platforms market study in the coming year, it has announced.’
OUT-LAW.com, 20th April 2017
Source: www.out-law.com
Prisons violence is ‘out of control’, report warns – BBC News
‘Violence is “spiralling out of control” in UK prisons and incidents are being under-reported, according to a European watchdog.’
BBC News, 19th April 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
£40,000 worth of drugs discovered at ‘unsafe’ Lancashire prison – The Guardian
‘More than 80 prisoners in fear of their safety have sought sanctuary in a special unit in a Lancashire jail inspectors say is the most violent they have visited in recent times.’
The Guardian, 19th April 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Violence soars by 76% at Government’s flagship prison that models itself on academy schools – The Independent
‘Violent incidents have soared by 76 per cent in one of the government’s flagship ‘reform prisons’, which were designed to reduce violence and place a greater emphasis on education and rehabilitation.’
The Independent, 17th April 2017
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Blair prosecution opposed by attorney general, says paper – BBC News
‘The attorney general hopes to block a private prosecution against Tony Blair over the Iraq war, a report says.’
BBC News, 17th April 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Shared legal service terminated after requirements of partner councils change – Local Government Lawyer
‘The shared legal service between Spelthorne Borough Council and Reigate & Banstead Borough Council came to an end last month after three years, it has emerged.’
Local Government Lawyer, 11th April 2017
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
The government’s ‘English votes for English laws’ review: an assessment – UCL Constitution Unit
‘Last Thursday the government published its technical review of the operation of the “English votes for English laws” (EVEL) procedures in the House of Commons. The review concluded against making “any substantive changes”. Daniel Gover and Michael Kenny argue that this is a missed opportunity. The decision to close down this chance for parliament to engage in meaningful debate about the EVEL system is regrettable, and may prove to be short-sighted.’
UCL Constitution Unit, 5th April 2017
Source: www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit
Child sex exploitation report suggests taxi driver database – BBC News
‘A national database of licensed taxi drivers should be introduced to make it easier to spot those with a criminal past, according to a review into child sex exploitation. The serious case review examined all the reports of child sex exploitation in Buckinghamshire since 1998.’
BBC News, 7th April 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Tribunal fees ‘barrier to justice’, rights committee says – Law Society’s Gazette
‘Employment tribunal fees create impunity to bosses abusing human rights, parliamentarians have said, accusing the Ministry of Justice of complacency on some of the barriers faced by people seeking access to justice.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 6th April 2017
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Truss’s plan to increase probate fees may not be legally enforceable – The Guardian
‘Government plans to raise £300m by increasing probate fees – payable when claiming inheritances – may not be legally enforceable, a parliamentary committee has said. A report by the joint committee on statutory instruments has suggested that the Ministry of Justice may not have the authority to introduce the charges of up to £20,000 per estate.’
The Guardian, 6th April 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Gender pay gap reporting: Government’s new rules will not tackle financial inequality, critics warn – The Independent
‘Experts, including employment lawyers, HR professionals and campaigners, are warning that the Government’s new rules on gender pay reporting won’t do enough to tackle considerable financial inequality still overshadowing a multitude of industries.’
The Independent, 5th April 2017
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Freedom of speech, the Prevent duty and higher education – Law & Religion UK
‘S 43 Education (No. 2) Act 1986 (Freedom of speech in universities, polytechnics and colleges) requires “Every individual and body of persons concerned in the government” of further and higher education institutions to “take such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure that freedom of speech within the law is secured” for staff, students and visiting speakers. The institutions must ensure, “so far as is reasonably practicable”, that use of the premises is not denied to anyone on any ground connected with their beliefs, views, policy or objectives. On the other hand, the Prevent duty in s 26 Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 requires specified authorities – including relevant higher education bodies – to have due regard in the exercise of their functions to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.’
Law & Religion UK, 5th April 2017
Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com
One in three councils targeting rough sleepers with enforcement measures: Crisis – Local Government Lawyer
‘More than one in three councils (36%) are targeting rough sleepers with enforcement measures such as Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) and Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs), research by national homelessness charity Crisis has suggested.’
Local Government Lawyer, 4th April 2017
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Licensing Act review committee calls for ‘radical comprehensive overhaul’ – OUT-LAW.com
‘Licensing laws in England and Wales should be changed to give local planning authorities responsibility for determining the rights of businesses to sell alcohol on their premises, according to a House of Lords committee.’
OUT-LAW.com, 4th April 2017
Source: www.out-law.com
Rule committee backs moves to increase take-up of expert ‘hot-tubbing’ – Litigation Futures
‘Expert witnesses giving concurrent evidence – or ‘hot-tubbing’ – should be the default position in the Mercantile Court and Technology and Construction Court (TCC), the Civil Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) has suggested.’
Litigation Futures, 4th April 2017
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
UK should follow minimum alcohol price, say Lords – BBC News
‘Minimum unit pricing for alcohol should be rolled out across the UK if Scotland’s scheme is successful, a Lords committee says.’
BBC News, 4th April 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
