Legal Updates

In the recent case of Mengiste and another v Endowment Fund for The Rehabilitation of Tigray and others [2013] EWHC 857, the High Court Judge, Peter Smith J, refused to recuse himself from hearing an application for wasted costs on the grounds that his previous criticisms prevented him from trying the issue objectively. 

In a decision published on 24 April 2013 the High Court took the “highly exceptional” step of ordering the CPS to review its decision not to prosecute in a case involving an allegation of rape.

The Home Office has announced that it is expected that Croatia will join the European Union (EU) on 1 July 2013. It has stated its commitment to applying transitional restrictions on labour market access to nationals of any future Member States of the EU as a matter of course and therefore restrictions will be applied to nationals of Croatia. This update looks at some of the frequently asked questions, which cover the proposed transitional arrangements governing Croatian nationals’ access to the labour market.

• Professional registration for Healthcare assistants? - Healthcare assistants would like to see stricter regulation of their profession. 
• General Medical Council - Following the Mid Staffordshire Report, the GMC have been focusing on putting patients at the centre of healthcare. 

• General Dental Council - A recent consultation on CPD at the GDC has revealed some concerns about the quality of CPD available to dental professionals. 

• Health and Care Professions Council - A consultation into the standards of proficiency for Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) was launched on 5 April 2013.

• Security Industry Authority - On 2 April 2013, the SIA celebrated their tenth anniversary as the UK regulator of the private security industry.

• Bar Standards Board - A new Strategic Plan has been published by the BSB, setting out the organisation’s vision for the next three years.