Family courts remain paralysed by delays as Law Society calls for urgent action
New data from HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has once again highlighted the devastating delays and backlogs that continue to hamper the family courts. As of September, the backlog is sitting at 110,425 cases – a 2% month-on-month increase. This is also a striking increase of 6.4% from the figure of 103,790 seen in […]
Inquiry launched into honour-based abuse
The Women and Equalities Committee has launched a new inquiry into so-called honour-based abuse in an effort to better understand and prevent violence against women and girls. The Committee will be looking to gather information on the nature and prevalence of abuse committed to protect or defend the so-called honour of an individual, family, or […]
Report calls for “COBRA-style meetings” to solve crisis of teenage harm and violence
The Commission on Young Lives has published its long-awaited report, “Hidden in Plain Sight”, which proposes a “national plan of action” to support vulnerable teenagers and reduce adversity, exploitation, and harm. Formed in September 2021, the Commission has worked to put forward “ambitious, practical, affordable proposals” for the government – one of which being “COBRA-style […]
Children’s Commissioner: We must improve support for asylum seeking children
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza has called for improved support for children seeking asylum in the UK – here’s what she had to say. As Children’s Commissioner for England, it is my statutory duty to promote and protect the rights of all children. This duty includes particular responsibility towards children in the care of […]
Looking back at one year of the Youth Justice Board
Claudia Sturt, Chief Executive of the Youth Justice Board (YJB), looks at the YJB’s activity over the past year. We published our Annual Report and Accounts for 2021 to 2022. This was my first annual report as Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Justice Board (YJB), and I would like to place on record my thanks […]
Conference told of “deep concerns” surrounding gender-based violence in Ukraine
At the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) recent Human Dimension Conference, Eily Craig, UK delegation to the OSCE, voiced the UK’s deep concern about rising reports of gender-based violence in Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine. Global estimates show that one in three women will experience physical and/or sexual violence in […]
The Ombudsman’s Corner: 17th November 2022
Legal Ombudsman’s Scheme Rules April 2023 Aside from a couple of minor amendments and additions made back in 2012, our Scheme Rules have not changed from the date that I started my career at the Legal Ombudsman in January 2011. Last year, we decided to undertake a thorough review of them ahead of a two-stage […]
Cohabiting couples: The legal protections explained
The UK has seen a surge in the number of couples who cohabit, i.e. live together unmarried. According to a recent ONS survey, the number of cohabiting couples has grown by almost 23% in the past decade. And yet, couples who live together without being married have very few rights when it comes to finances, […]
