IPCC investigates after east London man dies in police custody – The Guardian

“The independent police watchdog is investigating after a father-to-be died in police custody following an apparent altercation at a pub in east London.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th April 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Child abuse trial judge accused of being drunk in court – The Guardian

“The legal watchdog is investigating a crown court judge after he was accused of being ‘influenced by alcohol’ during a trial in which an alleged paedophile was freed.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th April 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Consumers warned over deregulation of legal services – The Guardian

“The legal ombudsman has warned that consumers will need to take even greater care checking the regulatory status of firms offering legal services when the legal world experiences its equivalent of the big bang this autumn.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th April 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Lazy Mexicans’ Top Gear episode cleared by Ofcom – Daily Telegraph

“A Top Gear episode which caused controversy with jokes about Mexicans has been cleared by the broadcasting watchdog.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 4th April 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Frankie Boyle’s Katie Price jokes censured – BBC News

“Media regulator Ofcom has censured comedian Frankie Boyle and Channel 4 for broadcasting ‘offensive’ jokes about Katie Price and her son Harvey.”

Full story

BBC News, 4th April 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Leicestershire police officers criticised in IPCC probe – BBC News

“Two Leicestershire police officers face misconduct proceedings following an investigation into the way they dealt with a victim of harassment.”

Full story

BBC News, 29th March 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Greater Manchester Police criticised over David Askew case – BBC News

“Police have been criticised for their handling of the case of a man with learning difficulties who died after being harassed in Greater Manchester.”

Full story

BBC News, 21st March 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

PCC investigates Melanie Phillips’ Spectator blog – The Guardian

“A Melanie Phillips blogpost on the Spectator website which referred to the ‘moral depravity’ of Arab ‘savages’ is being investigated by the Press Complaints Commission.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th March 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police accused of false arrest at fees protest – The Guardian

“IPCC investigating claims that officer colluded with colleagues to arrest man on false grounds during December protest.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th March 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Mark Saunders inquest: firearms officer cleared of inserting song titles – The Guardian

“Police marksman involved in barrister’s shooting faces misconduct action for ‘crass remark’ after IPCC investigation.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th March 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BSB praised in LSB report – Bar Standards Board

“The regulator of the Bar in England and Wales has been praised by the Legal Services Board in its latest report entitled ‘First-tier complaints handling, Implementation – Progress Review.’”

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 1st March 2011

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

IPCC finds police response to Joanne Butler’s emergency calls was ‘flawed’ – The Guardian

“The way police responded to a woman who made two 999 calls before she was battered to death was ‘wholly inadequate’, according to a report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. It highlighted failings in Leicestershire Constabulary’s response to phone calls they received prior to Joanne Butler’s murder in January 2006.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st March 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Credit and debit card surcharges ‘are excessive’ – BBC News

“A super-complaint is to be launched about the ‘murky practice’ of surcharges levied on customers who pay by debit or credit card.”

Full  story

BBC News, 11th February 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

LSC and consumer bodies call for complaints publication – Law Society’s Gazette

“The Legal Services Commission is pushing to obtain access to ‘detailed information’ about successful complaints made against solicitors, which it will use to assess the performance of its providers.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 31st January 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

IPCC probes Luton park siege shooting case – BBC News

“An independent watchdog is looking into the fatal shooting of a man during a police stand-off at a park in Luton.”

Full story

BBC News, 25th January 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Banks launch PPI challenge in high court – The Guardian

“High street banks will launch a high court challenge today against rules controlling their handling of complaints about payment protection insurance (PPI).”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th January 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Why lawyers who fall foul of the legal watchdog should be named – The Guardian

“Complaints are the legal profession’s achilles heel. It was the Law Society’s failure to deal properly with complaints against solicitors in the late 1990s that helped trigger the reform process that led to the Legal Services Act 2007 – and a key element of the act is the new, independent Legal Ombudsman (LEO) service.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th January 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

PCC to investigate Daily Telegraph’s covert recording of Lib Dem MPs – The Guardian

“The Press Complaints Commission today kicked off an investigation into the Daily Telegraph’s covert recording of Liberal Democrat ministers, following a formal complaint from the party’s president.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th January 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Chancery Lane warns against publication of complaints – Law Society’s Gazette

“Reporting the names of lawyers and law firms who have been the subject of complaints by the public will disproportionately affect sole practitioners and black and minority ethnic (BME) lawyers, according to the Law Society.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 5th January 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

IPCC to oversee investigation into wheelchair protester incident – The Guardian

“The police watchdog will oversee the investigation into allegations that police assaulted a young disabled protester as he took part in a student fees demonstration last week.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th December 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Frankie Boyle’s Katie Price joke sparks Ofcom investigation – The Guardian

“Model and reality TV star accuses controversial comic of being a ‘bully’ towards her disabled son on Channel 4 show.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th December 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Family anger at IPCC and police after failings that led to mother’s murder – The Guardian

“Relatives of Maria Stubbings plan action after Essex force failed to inform mother that her new partner was a convicted killer.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th December 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Deaths in police custody since 1998: 333; officers convicted: none – The Guardian

“A total of 333 people have died in or following police custody over the past 11 years, but no officer has ever been successfully prosecuted, according to a watchdog’s report.”

Full story

The Guardian,

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Fundamental Change in requirement for barristers to notify directly clients of their right to make a complaint – The Bar Council

“The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has recently issued guidance on dealing with complaints made to chambers and sole practitioners.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 25th November 2010

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Dewsbury woman sprayed with CS gas awarded £7,000 – BBC News

“A woman who suffered burns after she was sprayed in the face with CS gas has received £7,000 in compensation from West Yorkshire Police.”

Full story

BBC News, 24th November 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Georgia Jagger’s advert for Rimmel mascara is banned – Daily Telegraph

“An advert for Rimmel mascara featuring the model Georgia May Jagger has been banned by a watchdog for failing to make its use of false eyelashes clear to consumers.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 24th November 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ofcom launches second TalkTalk investigation – The Guardian

“Inquiry follows claims company mis-sold phone service and switched some internet users to its service without their consent”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Mark Saunders inquest officer suspended over inquest ‘song titles’ claim – The Guardian

“The police marksman accused of inserting song titles into his evidence during the inquest into the death of barrister Mark Saunders was suspended today, the Metropolitan police said.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Armed police cleared over Sheffield siege death – BBC News

“Armed officers acted ‘diligently, patiently, professionally and bravely’ during a two-day siege in which a man died, the police watchdog has found.”

Full story

BBC News, 28th October 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

CCTV captures police punching stabbed man in the head – The Guardian

“Police are investigating an incident captured on CCTV which appears to show officers repeatedly punching a restrained man who had been stabbed in the head.”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th October 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

999 call handler sacked after police delay in murder case – The Independent

“A call handler was sacked after an investigation into why police took so long to respond to the 999 calls of a woman who was murdered by an ex-boyfriend.”

Full story

The Independent, 22nd October 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police force censured over ‘inept’ response to rape complaint – The Guardian

“A police force’s handling of a woman’s complaint that she was raped by a known sex offender was ‘so inept that it borders on the unbelievable’, an official report concluded today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st October 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bar regulator introduces monitoring scheme – Bar Standards Board

“The BSB is launching a scheme to monitor all chambers and sole practitioners. This is following a successful pilot scheme that took place in 2008.”

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 18th October 2010

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Gisda Cyf v Barratt – WLR Daily

Gisda Cyf v Barratt [2010] UKSC 41; [2010] WLR (D) 250

“Where dismissal without notice was communicated to an employee in a letter, the contract of employment did not terminate until the employee had actually read the letter or had had a reasonable opportunity of reading it.”

WLR Daily, 13th October 2010

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Judge reprimanded for alleged anti-Israel comments – Daily Telegraph

“Judge George Bathurst-Norman was disciplined following an investigation in to comments made at the end of a trial of seven activists who sabotaged equipment at a Brighton factory they claimed was making parts for Israeli warplanes.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th October 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

High volume of complaints against solicitors as LeO launches – Law Society’s Gazette

“The new Legal Ombudsman handled nearly 500 complaints on its launch day yesterday, taking its first call two minutes after opening at 8.30am while its chief executive was appearing on Radio 4’s Today programme.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 7th October 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

New Legal Ombudsman warns rip-off lawyers – BBC News

“Lawyers who bring the industry into disrepute by charging huge prices for services will no longer get away with it, the new Legal Ombudsman has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 5th October 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Got a legal complaint? Now you can take it to the new legal ombudsman – The Guardian

“People who are dissatisfied with the service they have received from their lawyer can, from this Wednesday, complain to a legal ombudsman. The ombudsman can compel all regulated lawyers to comply with its investigations, and has the power to impose penalties ranging from apologising to a client, through to paying up to £30,000 compensation.”

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd October 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal Ombudsman seeks views on complaints publishing – Law Society’s Gazette

“A discussion paper issued by the Legal Ombudsman today (28 September) is seeking views on whether it should publish the names of firms when it reports details of consumer complaints.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 28th September 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Essex Police ‘dismissed sex attack victim’ – BBC News

“Essex Police failed to investigate sexual assaults because the victim was not believed due to her history of mental illness, a watchdog has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 17th September 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Clare Balding complaint over AA Gill column upheld – The Guardian

“Press watchdog censures writer over Sunday Times column in which he described TV presenter as a ‘dyke on a bike.’ ”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th September 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Derren Brown show investigated over railway stunt – The Guardian

“Ofcom receives complaints that scene featuring hypnotised man chained to train tracks was dangerous.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th September 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Manchester community reacts with anger as police cleared of violence – The Guardian

“Community groups in a formerly troubled area of Manchester have warned of serious damage to relations with the local police after an investigation cleared officers of undue violence at a street fracas.”

Full story

The Guardian, 2nd September 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Advertising Standards Authority gets online power – BBC News

“The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is extending its remit to cover the online realm.”

Full story

BBC News, 1st September 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ex-miners claim injuries were under-compensated – BBC News

“A group of former miners who suffered industrial injuries are claiming they received inadequate compensation from a government scheme.”

Full story

BBC News, 18th August 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Three million in the queue for compensation over PPI mis-selling – The Guardian

“Nearly three million people who took out payment protection insurance (PPI) sold by banks and other lenders could be in line for compensation totalling more than £2bn after the Financial Services Authority today issued new rules on how firms should handle the flood of complaints over mis-selling.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th August 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

IPCC takes no action after girl hit by Taser by mistake – BBC News

“The police watchdog has said it will take no action against officers after a 14-year-old girl was accidentally shot with a Taser in Nottinghamshire.”

Full story

BBC News, 6th August 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Special constable guilty of ‘excessive’ assault – The Independent

“Peter Lightfoot, 40 was today [2nd August] found guilty by a jury of assaulting Lance Corporal Mark Aspinall after they viewed CCTV footage of him pushing his head into the ground and striking him with a police helmet.”

Full story

The Independent, 2nd August 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police cleared over CS spray use in Brentwood – BBC News

“An inquiry into Essex police officers who arrested a man using CS spray has concluded the arrest was lawful.”

Full story

BBC News, 29th July 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Paddy Power’s blind footballers ruled onside by ASA – The Guardian

“With a team of blind footballers who kick a cat into a tree, it seemed to have something to offend everybody. But one of the most complained-about adverts of all time was cleared today by the advertising watchdog.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st July 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Shocking’ London Dungeon ad banned – The Guardian

“A digital poster for the London Dungeon featuring the sudden transformation of Queen Mary into a zombie-like character has been banned by the advertising watchdog watchdog for scaring children.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th July 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Focus of Raoul Moat investigation turns on police – The Observer

“Questions begin over how Northumbria police force handled Moat, his friends, the media and public.”

Full story

The Observer, 11th July 2010

Source: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/

IPCC publishes findings following investigation into Metropolitan Police handling of sexual offences case – Independent Police Complaints Commission

“A Superintendent and two Inspectors are to face a Full Powers Misconduct Panel, following an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) into the Metropolitan Police’s handling of the case of Kirk Reid.”

Full press release and link to full report

Independent Police Complaints Commission, 28th June 2010

Source: www.ipcc.gov.uk

Scotland Yard condemned for serial sex attacker failings – The Guardian

“Three senior Scotland Yard officers could face dismissal after ‘sustained failure’ by police allowed a serial sex attacker to continue stalking lone women in south-west London four years after he was identified as a suspect. In a damning report, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) today described the police investigation into the series of attacks as a ‘shameful chapter’ in the history of the Metropolitan police.”

Full story

The Guardian, 28th June 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Results of Cherie Blair inquiry ‘were covered up’ – The Independent

“The body which investigates complaints against judges has been accused of covering up the full extent of an investigation into Cherie Blair over her decision to hand down a lenient sentence to a convicted man because he was ‘a religious person’.”

Full story

The Independent, 21st June 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk