Government releases 1,100 more prisoners early to ease overcrowding crisis
The UK government has released 1,100 additional prisoners early as part of its ongoing emergency plan to address severe overcrowding in jails across England and Wales. Under the scheme, offenders serving sentences longer than five years are being released on licence after serving 40% of their sentence. However, those convicted of serious violent crimes, sex […]
Government to review Law Commission’s proposals on surrogacy reform, cites parliamentary time constraints
The UK government is set to review the Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission’s report on surrogacy reform, titled “Building Families Through Surrogacy: A New Law,” which was published on 28 March 2023. The report, which includes draft legislation, outlines a new regulatory framework aimed at providing clarity, safeguards, and […]
Modern slavery victims to be supported in fresh measures
For the first time, the government has pledged to eradicate the backlog of decisions on modern slavery cases within 2 years, giving thousands of women, men and children who may have suffered traumatic sexual, physical and economic abuse the clarity needed to assist with their recovery. Currently, many victims face long delays in having […]
The autumn Budget ‘must work’ for single parents – Gingerbread
Gingerbread are asking for some key changes to improve the lives of the UK’s 2 million single-parent households, many of whom are struggling financially, in the new government’s first Budget on the 30th October. The Budget is an opportunity for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, to update Parliament and the public on the […]
New legislation is a ‘generational opportunity’ for building effective kinship care support, says national charity
Family Rights Group is calling on the Government to transform the lives of children who cannot live at home with their parents, by putting kinship care provisions in the Children’s Wellbeing Bill, and into new employment rights legislation. With record numbers of looked-after children, the charity says it’s time to build a child welfare system […]
Extra support for jurors due to launch of pioneering scheme
In a new pilot launched earlier this month, jurors in 14 Crown Courts across the country will be able to self-refer themselves for six free counselling sessions with specially trained counsellors, as well as access a 24/7 helpline for support, advice and information. Crown Courts from across the country taking part in the test scheme […]
A surrogate’s right to be involved in the child’s life? Where does Re Z (Surrogacy: Step-parent Adoption) leave us?
The case of Re Z is a detailed examination of the complexities of the sensitive area of surrogacy law and the difficulty in determining an appropriate legal framework to protect the individuals involved including, most importantly, the child that is born from the process. The focus at the outset of the surrogacy process is often, understandably, the […]
QualitySolicitors – The next chapter
As one of the disruptors in the wake of the Legal Services Act 2007 QualitySolicitors (QS) was launched in 2009 with the ambition to help the high street fight back against the anticipated onslaught of major brands entering the legal market – so-called ‘Tesco Law.’ QS grew rapidly, with firms up and down the country […]