‘Romeo and Juliet’ clause added to child abuse reporting bill to avoid ‘unintended consequences’
A new “Romeo and Juliet” clause has been introduced into the Crime and Policing Bill, which sets out a legal requirement for professionals such as teachers and GPs to report concerns about child sexual abuse – or face potential criminal charges. The move follows one of the 20 recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child […]
Police vetting reforms to boost officer standards
Police chiefs will automatically sack officers who fail background checks, allowing them to root out those who are unfit to serve and clean up their forces. As part of major government reforms to improve confidence in policing, the new measures laid in Parliament today mean that passing background checks will become a legal requirement for […]
Starmer faces backlash over U-turn on trans rights following Supreme Court ruling
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing internal dissent and public criticism after clarifying that he no longer believes trans women are women – a reversal from his 2022 position, as reported by The Times. Downing Street confirmed the shift following last week’s landmark Supreme Court ruling that reinforced protections for single-sex spaces based on […]
High Court overturns overnight contact order in domestic abuse case
A High Court judge has overturned a family court’s decision allowing a father overnight contact with his child, ruling the original order was a mistake given the serious domestic abuse findings made against him, as reported by The Law Society Gazette. In the case of V v V & Anor, the child’s mother successfully appealed […]
Wirral families still waiting for SEND support improvements, inspectors warn
Parents, carers, and professionals supporting young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Wirral are being left “frustrated and helpless,” according to a recent inspection. A joint report by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found that both Wirral Council and the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board are continuing to […]
Policy priorities set out in LSB business plan 2025/26
In its business plan for 2025/26, published, the Legal Services Board (LSB) has outlined its priorities, aimed at improving outcomes for consumers and the public. These priorities include work to improve ethical standards within the profession, as well as work to protect the public from risks emerging from market developments. Alongside its policy work, the […]
Who Gets the Dog? The Changing Role of Pets in Divorce Settlements
When couples separate, much of the focus tends to be on dividing financial assets and property. But one issue is increasingly taking centre stage in divorce cases: who gets to keep the family pet? Historically, English and Welsh law has treated pets as “chattels” – in the same legal category as a piece of furniture […]
