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NLJ this week: The important role of public inquiries and why online may not cut it

14 May 2021
Issue: 7932 / Categories: Legal News , Covid-19 , Public
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Public inquiries are a crucial element of the UK’s democratic system, Helen Stone and Eleanor Cornish, civil litigation solicitors at Hickman & Rose, write in this week’s NLJ

They look at the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on ongoing inquiries, as well as the benefits of technological advances. They note that, in their experience of representing core participants in inquiries, ‘the importance for some of being able to physically attend a hearing cannot be overstated’.

They highlight how important it is that public inquiries be accessible and accountable, to ensure that the public are informed and empowered to hold those inquiries to account.

Issue: 7932 / Categories: Legal News , Covid-19 , Public
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NEWS
Tech companies will be legally required to prevent material that encourages or assists serious self-harm appearing on their platforms, under Online Safety Act 2023 regulations due to come into force in the autumn
Commercial leasehold, the defence of insanity and ‘consent’ in the criminal law are among the next tranche of projects for the Law Commission
The Bar has a culture of ‘impunity’ and ‘collusive bystanding’ in which making a complaint is deemed career-ending due to a ‘cohort of untouchables’ at the top, Baroness Harriet Harman KC has found
Lawyers have broadly welcomed plans to electronically tag up to 22,000 more offenders, scrap most prison terms below a year and make prisoners ‘earn’ early release
David Lammy, Ellie Reeves and Baroness Levitt have taken up office at the Ministry of Justice, following the cabinet reshuffle
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