In Brief

ABUSE FIGURES

Prosecutions for racially aggravated offences increased by more than a fifth last year, with 7,694 defendants being prosecuted. However, religiously aggravated cases fell by 37%, with 22 defendants facing prosecution. The director of public prosecutions, Sir Ken Macdonald QC, says the Crown Prosecution Service regards racist and religiously aggravated crimes as “particularly serious because victims are targeted solely because of their identity or beliefs”. “These crimes don’t just affect individual victims and their families but whole communities,” he adds.

HOMOPHOBIC BANTER

The Employment Appeal Tribunal has found that homophobic workplace banter is not covered under the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/1661). The claimant in English v Thomas Sanderson Blinds Ltd, a heterosexual man, brought the claim after being subjected to sexual innuendo based on the fact that he had attended boarding school and lived in Brighton. The Employment Appeal Tribunal found that because the innuendo was not based on a perception or an assumption that the claimant was gay, it did not fall within the scope of the sexual orientation regulations. The judge referred the case to the Court of Appeal after describing the current position as unsatisfactory.

TRANSFER REVIEW

The Qualified Lawyers Transfer Regulations are to be reviewed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The review aims to ensure that anyone who qualifies under the regulations has the knowledge and skills required to practise as a solicitor in England and Wales. The review will also provide assurances about fitness for purpose, standards and integrity of the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test. New guidance for applicants and those who determine applications is also being reviewed to ensure applications made under the current transfer regulations are treated fairly and consistently.