Government & Parliament Speaking to a NACRO conference on 9 February 2006 the Housing Minister (Baroness Andrews) said: "ODPM is working with the Home Office to ensure that the revised homelessness code of guidance to local authorities makes clear – first, the role of local authorities in working to prevent homelessness among returning prisoners, and, […]
Government and Parliament The Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill had its report stage in the House of Lords on 7 February. The Bill proposed removal of appeal rights – including in-country variation appeals, appeals against refusal of entry clearance (except in defined circumstances), and modifying appeal rights against national security deportation; a new employers’ liability […]
As many of you will be aware we have been notified that the LSC intend to withdraw the funding for all your Specialist Support Services from July 2006.
Over the years we have received very positive feedback from those using the services who have indicat
Human trafficking is a truly appalling crime where people are treated as commodities and traded for profit. It is big business, often controlled by organised crime groups who seek the maximum return for their investment at the expense of the health and we
Government & Parliament Travellers On 2 February 2006 the ODPM issued new guidance in relation to gypsies and other travellers. It includes:- * Planning Circular 01/2006: Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites, replacing Circular 01/1994: Gypsy Sites and Planning. Click here for more information. * Draft practice guidance for local authorities: Gypsy and Traveller […]
Garden Court Chambers is shocked by the Legal Services Commission's decision to end it's specialist support services in July 2006 and feels that the Commission is making a disastrous mistake which will have a huge impact on the most needy members of the c
Garden Court announces eight new members
Garden Court Chambers is pleased to announce six new members of the crime team: David Spens QC, Mark Muller, Michael Ivers, Hossein Zahir, Roy Ledgister and Brenda Campbell, Andrew Eaton a new member of the housi
The launch of 'The Gurkhas: The Forgotten Veterans'
by barristers Ian Macdonald QC, Hannah Rought-Brooks and Rebekah Wilson
A report written by barristers Ian Macdonald QC, Hannah Rought-Brooks and Rebekah Wilson was launched at the Houses of Parliament
A damning verdict
The jury returned a damning verdict in the three week inquest of Andrew Jordan.
At the end of the three week inquest the jury concluded that:
a contributory factory in Mr Jordan's death was the lack of communication between all servi
Radical set's grand style is the envy of the Bar
Garden Court Chambers says that it is sticking to its social ethos - despite its £9 million makeover.
This is the title of the profile of Garden Court Chambers featured in The Times Law Section on Tuesday
Government & Parliament The Government’s Police & Justice Bill [Bill 119] was published on 25 January 2006. Part 3 contains a complete replacement for HA 1996 s153A (anti social behaviour injunctions) and provisions allowing social landlords to apply for parenting orders in possession claims and other county court proceedings. For more information Click Here On […]
Jurisdiction Serco v Lawson [2006] UKHL 3 Since the repeal of s196 Employment Rights Act 1996, territorial limits on the right to claim unfair dismissal, with limited exceptions, are to be implied by the courts when appropriate. However the House of Lords found that historical principles, such as whether an employee ordinarily works in Great […]
Government & Parliament Specialist Support with Housing Cases: on 19 January 2006 the Legal Services Commission gave 6 months notice of withdrawal of funding for the Specialist Support contracts in Housing Law. Until then free housing law advice remains available to: · Those holding a LSC General Civil Contract · Those holding a Specialist Quality […]
A new regular employment bulletin service has been launched by Garden Court Chambers in conjunction with the Legal Services Commission.
A link to the bulletin is emailed to those who have registered to receive e-updates and to LSC contract holders when
Court cases Statutory procedures Shergold v Fieldway Medical Centre UKEAT/0487/05/ZT In order to comply with requirements of the standard grievance procedure under s32 and Schedule 2 Employment Act 2002 the general nature of the written grievance only needs to be substantially the same as the content of subsequent proceedings. It does not have to mention […]
A new weekly bulletin service has been launched by Garden Court Chambers in conjunction with the Legal Services Commission.
Government & Parliament More on anti-social behaviour: the Government’s Respect Action Plan published on 10 January 2006 proposes: (1) housing officers should be able to apply for ‘parenting orders’ against tenants; (2) financial penalties including ‘housing benefit measures’ for evicted families who ‘refuse to take up offers of help’ in addressing behaviour; (3) a new […]
Rick Scannell and Nicola Rogers - the authors of "Free Movement of Persons in the Enlarged European Union" - will present a seminar (available on two different dates - 31st May 2006 and 13th June 2006 from 4.00 - 7.00 pm) for all practitioners o
The House of Lords has found that the Secretary of State for the Home Office's practice of refusing accommodation or food to those asylum seekers who fail to claim asylum promptly on arrival in the country, is inhuman and degrading and as such a breach of
Leslie Thomas, barrister at Two Garden Court Chambers, together with INQUEST, acting on behalf of the family of Paul Day, a vulnerable inmate who took his own life in a high security segregation unit, secured a verdict from the jury that indicated that Pa
