Autistic woman wrongly locked up in mental health hospital for 45 years – BBC News

‘An autistic woman with a learning disability was wrongly locked up in a mental health hospital for 45 years, starting when she was just seven years old, the BBC has learned.’

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BBC News, 4th March 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Leader of UK’s black police officers under investigation over tweet – The Guardian

‘The leader of Britain’s black and Asian police officers has been placed under investigation over a tweet.’

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The Guardian, 4th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bargain Hunt auctioneer Charles Hanson cleared of abusing wife – The Independent

Posted March 4th, 2025 in coercive & controlling behaviour, domestic violence, families, news by tracey

‘A jury unanimously acquitted the television auctioneer of controlling or coercive behaviour, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault by beating.’

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The Independent, 28th February 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Guidance on citation of judgments as ‘authorities’ – Transparency Project

Posted March 3rd, 2025 in family courts, judgments, news by sally

‘Not all judgments are created equal. Some, by more senior judges or courts (essentially High Court judges or above), may be regarded as primary or binding ‘authority’ for the propositions of law which they contain. They lay down the law, which lesser courts and judges must follow. Courts of the same or equivalent standing must think twice before departing from those rulings, but more senior courts can, and sometimes do, decide differently and may even ‘over-rule’ them. In such a case, it will be the higher court’s ruling, or precedent, that takes precedence.’

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Transparency Project, 28th February 2025

Source: transparencyproject.org.uk

Does the Court of Protection have jurisdiction over children? Answer yes – up to a point (even when they have moved abroad) – Mental Capacity Law and Policy

‘In Irwin Mitchell Trust Corporation Ltd v KS & Ors [2025] EWCOP 7 (T2), Senior Judge Hilder had to grapple with a question that had not been the subject of a previous reported decision: what can the Court of Protection do in respect of a child, whose property and affairs (including assets in England & Wales) are subject to deputyship, but who is no longer habitually resident in England & Wales? The Official Solicitor argued that the court no longer had jurisdiction to determine the deputy’s request for authorities in respect of expenditure from her funds. The deputy sought to argue that it did, either by virtue of the operation of s.47 MCA 2005 (importing the powers, rights and privileges of the High Court), or on a pragmatic basis.’

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Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 1st March 2025

Source: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk

Revealed: at least 25 UK ‘spy cops’ had sex with deceived members of public – The Guardian

Posted March 3rd, 2025 in deceit, families, inquiries, news, police, sexual offences, spying by sally

‘At least 25 undercover police officers who infiltrated political groups formed sexual relationships with members of the public without disclosing their true identity to them, the Guardian can disclose.’

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The Guardian, 2nd March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Woman loses £400k injury claim after being filmed walking ‘strong’ husky – The Independent

Posted March 3rd, 2025 in accidents, damages, deceit, disabled persons, news, personal injuries by sally

‘A doggy daycare boss who sued for over £400,000 after injuring her arm in a fall from a horse has lost her case after being videoed holding a “big, strong” husky tugging at the lead and playing sports.’

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The Independent, 3rd March 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Addiction and divorce: challenges for the client and the adviser – Kingsley Napley Family Law Blog

‘As family lawyers, we are used to meeting our clients at a time when they are at their most vulnerable. This is intensified when addiction is present within a family. Divorce or separation places an added burden upon everyone involved and those individuals are likely to have experienced or still be experiencing the destruction that addiction can cause, some of it obvious and some of it less so.’

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Kingsley Napley Family Law Blog, 14th February 2025

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

Centuries-old leasehold system to be abolished in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted March 3rd, 2025 in bills, government departments, housing, leases, news, service charges by sally

‘The housing minister has promised to abolish the centuries-old leasehold system in England and Wales before the end of this parliament, as the government takes the next steps towards an outright ban on new leasehold developments.’

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The Guardian, 3rd March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Case notes in passing – adverse possession rules, sale and rent-back, and the evidential burden in service charge disputes – Nearly Legal

‘The Supreme Court considered para 5(4) to Schedule 6 Land Registration Act 2002 on the requirements for an application for registered title through adverse possession of land adjoining the applicant’s land.’

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Nearly Legal, 2nd March 2025

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Millionaire’s £18m ‘promise’ made to ex over lavish lunch not legally binding – The Independent

Posted March 3rd, 2025 in families, family courts, financial provision, news, trusts by sally

‘A multi-millionaire’s ex who claimed she was promised half their £18m family house during “lunch on a snowcapped mountain” has lost her court fight after a judge found the meeting was an “elaborate performance” to keep her happy when he failed to marry her.’

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The Independent, 3rd March 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

What is the right approach to Care Act assessments? – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 28th, 2025 in care homes, disabled persons, duty of care, housing, local government, news by Lily

‘In a judgment giving guidance on the approach to be taken to Care Act 2014 assessments, the High Court has distinguished between “provision of care and support for which a home is needed” and “provision which a home would need so as to be equipped for the relevant person”, holding that the former can trigger a duty to accommodate under the Care Act 2014 whereas the latter cannot.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th February 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

“Time to review” selection and return to practice of salaried judges – Legal Futures

‘A report for the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has called for a review of the selection process used by the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) for salaried judges. It also called for new guidance from the MoJ on whether salaried judges should be allowed to return to practice after leaving the bench.’

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Legal Futures, 28th February 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Distressed assets and the Building Safety Act – Tanfield Chambers

‘Numerous lenders and other stakeholders have found themselves in the position of having lent to or invested in a party owning a relevant building under the Building Safety Act 2022, only to find themselves tied to an asset with ever-reducing value as a result of relevant defects being discovered but not corrected.’

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Tanfield Chambers, 30th January 2025

Source: tanfieldchambers.co.uk

Family President publishes guidance for judges on writing to children in family court proceedings – Local Government Lawyer

‘The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has issued guidance for family judges on when, how and why to write to children in family court proceedings.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th February 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

The new DVLA rules coming into force for drivers this week – The Independent

Posted February 27th, 2025 in fines, HM Revenue & Customs, news, road traffic, taxation by sally

‘Drivers in the UK have been warned it could soon become more expensive to travel as a slate of new rules and costs take effect later this week.’

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The Independent, 27th February 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

“Keeping us ahead of the world” – Arbitration Act receives Royal Assent – Legal Futures

Posted February 27th, 2025 in arbitration, Law Commission, London, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘The Arbitration Act received Royal Assent yesterday, with the government declaring it would keep the UK “ahead of the rest”.’

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Legal Futures, 25th February 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Ban pornography depicting strangulation, review urges UK ministers – The Guardian

‘Pornography depicting strangulation should be made illegal along with other kinds of “legal but harmful” sexual material, according to an independent government review.’

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The Guardian, 27th February 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court of Appeal provides helpful guidance in first statutory UK tax residence decision – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 27th, 2025 in appeals, HM Revenue & Customs, interpretation, news, taxation by sally

‘The Court of Appeal’s guidance on the meaning of “prevention” and “exceptional circumstances” in terms of statutory residency is helpful for UK taxpayers, reinstating a more favourable position than had been previously adopted, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 25th February 2025

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Judicial review claims by councils rise but permissions drop, says report – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 27th, 2025 in judicial review, law firms, local government, news, reports, statistics by sally

‘The number of judicial review claims brought by local authorities has risen steadily since 2021, but permissions have fallen, a report from law firm Burges Salmon has found.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th February 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk