The welcome news that the Court of Appeal has quashed the conviction of Sam Hallam after a determined campaign by family, friends and supporters brings with it some sobering reminders. At the age of 17, Mr Hallam had been convicted in 2005 of the murder of...
A new pilot service provided by ‘BMA Doctors for Doctors’ was launched on 14 May 2012 which will last 12 months. The aim of the service, which is entirely independent from the General Medical Council, is to provide emotional support to doctors...
Dr Renjith Nair, a General Practitioner, was accused of failing to fully examine a seventeen day old baby after he had died at the Royal Preston Hospital in 2009 the following day. Dr Nair was cleared of all allegations at a Fitness to Practice hearing held...
A recent report from The Guardian newspaper sets out some worrying statistics which affect some of the most vulnerable people in our society. The key points from the article are: The number of vulnerable older and disabled people who had home care...
A senior doctor appeared before the General Medical Council after being wrongly accused of several allegations that he had “breached his position of trust by behaving in a sexually motivated way in several instances towards patients and a...
The Guardian has recently reported on the Royal and Liverpool Broadgreen University Trust’s plans to install thirty surveillance cameras within their Intensive Care Unit, Kidney Dialysis Department and in one of their Operating Theatres. The cameras...
I was saddened to learn how a motorcyclist died after a collision involving a car in Tyldesley. The article, reported by the Leigh Journal, described how Keith Haydock, 47, of Tyldesley, was travelling up Hough Lane in the direction of the Manchester...
The first private company to run an NHS hospital has signed a deal which will see it take the first £2 million in profits, despite the hospital being £40 million in debt. In February 2012, Circle Healthcare got the go ahead to take over...
It has been reported in the Financial Times that late payment has become an epidemic that is threatening many small companies according to the Forum for Private Business lobby group (“the FPB”). A survey conducted by the FPB of 500...
I was pleased to learn that the Food Standards Agency (FSA), in partnership with local authorities, has introduced the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The scheme has been developed to assess premises which provide...
In the first quarter of 2012, according to the Insolvency Service, there were 4,303 liquidations in total in England and Wales. This is an increase of 0.2% on the previous quarter and an increase of 4.3% in the same period in 2011. There was a reduction in...
In this tough economic climate, managing cash flow is vital. The saying “cash is king” could not be more true in times such as these. Businesses with a healthy cash flow are those more likely to survive periods of economic downturn. After all,...
It happens to thousands of people every year, can cost them a lot of money and there is very little that can be done to stop it happening. Gazumping is a term used for the situation when a property seller accepts an offer from one potential buyer, but then...
The Telegraph has reported in the last few weeks that the myth that removing the tonsils does not work has led to a 40 per cent rise in the number of children admitted to A & E in the last decade suffering from painful tonsillitis. Tonsillitis is...
A recent General Medical Council (GMC) report has revealed that GPs are making too many errors when prescribing medication to patients. Estimates have suggested that the numbers involved could be as high as 1 error in every 6 patients receiving prescription...
An inquest last month heard that Harry Connolly, aged just 19 months, was a “victim of basic errors by medics”. These errors cost Harry his life, he died in April 2011. A post-mortem examination revealed he died of dehydration and acute kidney...
Some experienced commercial landlords may be familiar with the Dilapidations Protocol, it has been around for a number of years and those involved in dilapidations whether they be landlords, surveyors or solicitors have followed the protocol as a guide....
Joanne Green, a mother from Urmston, has recently been raising awareness regarding the infection of Group B Streptococcus, which cost the lives of her unborn twins who tragically were stillborn at 36 weeks. The NHS Direct website says that “... Group...
Figures released recently suggest that almost 8,000 NHS patients a week are sent home from hospital in the middle of the night, amid claims the practice is being used to relieve pressure within the Health Service. The figures obtained by the Times, under...
The Daily Mail has reported that in the last 3 years 13 soldiers have brought clinical negligence claims against a hospital in Birmingham, which cares for soldiers who are brought home injured from the frontline (i.e. from Afghanistan or Iraq). It is...
Motorists are being warned not to increase their motor insurance policy voluntary excess to unaffordable levels. High voluntary excess levels have left some policy holders unable to pay car repair bills due to having a voluntary excess on their policy...
The government will set out a series of new measures in a bid to cut what they consider to be an excessive number of whiplash claims, often referring to the UK as "the whiplash capital of Europe". The Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke and Transport...
I was reading some recent research which has revealed 33% of Brits have injured themselves whilst on a night out and that 70% of those injuries were caused by too much alcohol. The research was commissioned to highlight the dangers that drunken nights out...
Sir Paul Coleridge, a High Court Judge since 2000 and a family specialist barrister before that, has launched a foundation to promote marriage. He is backed by other members of the Judiciary and some religious institutions. Their aim as quoted in The Times...
A case has caught my eye this morning as I’m a mum myself to two small children, aged 6 and 4. Like most mums, the move from a child car seat to a booster seat is a great relief. It allows more flexibility and comfort. However, the case of Hughes v...
For someone still fighting to overturn their conviction after an unsuccessful appeal, the Criminal Cases Review Commission is their last chance. Established as an independent body to consider suspected miscarriages, it is the last mechanism in England,...
I was astounded to hear on the regional news yesterday evening that a local mother had been refused car insurance after she moved a few doors down the lane from where she had lived for years. Clare Blackwell says she was told it was because she was now...
Attending conferences and training courses is a fundamental part of my job, but it does involve time away from the office and home, and I often have to weigh up the pros and cons of attending such events. Having just come back from attending the APIL...
The Criminal Appeal Lawyers Association held its annual conference last weekend. The theme of the event was “Miscarriages of justice, who cares? The association was formed in 2002 with a view to promoting better representation for those persons...
The law in relation to unmarried couples remains very different to that of married couples. The Law Commission recently reported on recommendations to provide some level of equality for unmarried couples but to date these have not been instituted and the law...
The BBC consumer programme "Watchdog" has spoken out against insurers who hike policyholders renewal costs whilst simultaneously offering cheaper deals online. A practice was uncovered of insurers increasing renewal premiums for their existing...
Today sees the start of a test case, which will push the limits of car insurance policies further than ever before and which has insurers nervously awaiting it’s outcome. The case involves eight of the victims of John Worboys, the notorious London...
Ten years ago, Stephensons’ consultant Campbell Malone, along with a number of other leading specialist criminal appeal lawyers, helped establish the Criminal Appeal Lawyers Association. One of the reasons for doing so was a feeling at the time that...
It is amazing to think that nearly 12 years have elapsed since the publication of the first edition of Taylor on Criminal Appeals. That edition has always been one of the most thumbed works of reference amongst my own criminal appeal colleagues and the...
For many years it was believed by accident investigators that if there was no damage to a vehicle in a car accident, it was extremely unlikely that anyone in either of the cars would have suffered any personal injury. However, this was refuted by many people...
Arbitration isn’t a new concept. It has been used successfully in commercial disputes for some time. However, commercial disputes are often funded by a company and not by individual’s earnings after tax. Family disputes are often unexpected and...
I received some tragic news this weekend about a very good school friend of mine, who sadly died in a fatal accident on the A666 road to Blackburn. The A666 road, also know as 'Devil's Highway' or 'Devils Road' has claimed yet another...
Earlier this month, the launch of a series of essays entitled "Wrongly accused: Who is responsible for investigating miscarriages of justice?" was held at the College of Law. It is the fourth publication in the JusticeGap series (published by...
I was saddened to learn that the body of a walker from the Greater Manchester area had been found on the morning of Wednesday 11th April 2012 in a gulley approximately 2,800ft on Mount Snowdon. I understand that Mr Tyrer had failed to return from the...
To mark Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, last month, the organisation that represents doctors accused of negligence, the Medical Defence Union (MDU), has carried out research into doctors’ failure to diagnose ovarian cancer in women. The MDU...
David Cameron’s latest policy will allow approximately two million social tenants to buy their properties with a discount of up to £75,000. The £75,000 discount will be a quadrupled figure discount in London and a trebling in the...
A major safety crackdown has been launched this week by Greater Manchester Police, following a huge increase in the number of deaths on the region’s roads. “Operation Dice” is a new crackdown on motorists putting lives at risk by flouting...
Being an avid skier, I have for many years never worn a helmet, preferring to feel the rush of the wind through my hair whilst hurtling (on occasion) down the mountain side. This year however was different. Having never skied in Italy before, friends...
We all know that money is tight, and the Government is not immune to these feelings. Cuts are being made to what seems like every integral part of our community. Does it seem fair though that these cuts once again hit those who are most vulnerable ...No, so...
News reports have emerged of concerns over the effectiveness of the Care Quality Commission, the government watchdog charged with ensuring that health and social care quality is improved nationally. The Public Accounts Committee announced today that the CQC...
On the 20 March 2012 the SRA amended its consultation paper on trainee solicitor salaries having received advice that trainees would be classed as apprentices within the terms of the National Minimum Wage Regulations. As a result of this advice, the SRA has...
The Court of Appeal has today handed down its first judgement in a civil partnership case. The case concerns Peter Lawrence a city banker and his civil partner Donald Gallagher, an actor who recently starred in Priscilla Queen of the Desert. The parties...
Today, news reports have emerged of significant funding being made available from Central Government to tackle the increasing difficulties that people face who have a form of dementia. David Cameron has taken the issue as a personal priority as part of his...
The number of law firms is now at a record level of 11,182, figures from the Solicitors Regulation Authority have shown. The figure from last month represents a 2.3% rise on 2011, and a 21% increase on a decade ago, when there were 9,231 private practice...
Most landlords will remember the introduction of the rent deposit schemes in 2004. The rules are about to change. From 6th April 2012 landlords have 30 days rather than 14 in which to protect their rent deposits. This may sound beneficial and whilst it...
There has been further debate in the House of Lords on LASPO. Two further defeats for the Government brings the total to nine. The two most recent defeats concern asbestos disease cases which will now be exempt from the reforms to Conditional Fee Agreements....
If you don’t know by now that the 2012 Olympic Games will be held in London then surely you have been living under a rock for the last few years. This much publicised event will be taking place 27th July to 12th August under a global spotlight and...
When looking to buy a home, the first thing most people will, or perhaps should do, is contact their lender to work out how much they can afford to borrow. However, what they may not consider at the outset is what restrictions the lender may place on the...
How many times are we faced with clients who believe their spouse has assets but they are unable to provide any detail. There is of course a duty on all parties to produce what is called full and frank disclosure of their assets but many spouses will still...
A report by the Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL) has warned that one of the impacts of the legal aid cuts will be that MPs surgeries will become overwhelmed with the volume of requests for advice from people who would have relied upon publicly-funded legal...
A report from Which?, the consumer organisation, highlights enormous difficulties and problems facing the estimated 500,000 or more older and disabled people, many of whom are faced with substandard home care services, according to the report. The...
News from the USA this week provides a worrying insight into the ethics of companies looking to make a quick buck. A New York advertising agency is currently using 13 street homeless people in Austin, Texas as Wi-Fi antennas and has termed the project...
I was getting ready for work early yesterday morning (Wednesday 14th March) when I heard the terrible news on the radio of the Swiss coach crash, which has left 28 people dead, including 22 children. I could hardly believe what I was hearing – such a...
It has been reported in the last few days that a hotel in Bath was fined £10,000 following a fall by a two year old girl from a first floor window. The child suffered a fractured skull and spent 5 days in a specialist hospital head injuries unit,...
When it comes to personal injury claims , as legal practitioners, we are fully aware of the range of injuries and events which could result in a claim for compensation. But, with such an abundance of television adverts promoting claims following 'a...
The controversy continues with the Catholic Church resisting the redefining of marriage to include gay couples whilst the government is due to introduce the consultation. The government seems to have indicated that the question is how the change will be...
A recent case heard at Bolton Crown Court saw a tenant imprisoned for fraudulently selling his landlord’s property. The tenant used his landlord’s identity to sell the property to an innocent purchaser and in doing so duped two sets of...
Network Rail has been mentioned in the press after indicating it would plead guilty to breaches of health and safety over the Grayrigg rail crash in Cumbria in 2007. A woman died and more than 80 people were injured. The Virgin train derailed on the west...
Welcome news in the protection of victims of harassment and intimidation is David Cameron’s announcement that stalking will become a criminal offence for the first time with offenders potentially facing unlimited fines and up to five years in prison....
This week a rally is being organised to lobby parliament by the Care & Support Alliance, which represents over 60 charities and organisations. Older and disabled people, their carers and families will travel from all over England to convene on...
From 6 April 2012, employers will only have to report injuries that lead to a worker being incapacitated for more than seven consecutive days as the result of an occupational accident or injury. RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous...
The 'Clare’s Law' scheme will give people the right to ask police about their partner’s past. The father of Clare Wood, Michael Brown, has been campaigning to change the law after his daughter was killed by her boyfriend, George...
It has been reported by the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia that marriage has been strengthened by the recession. In part it may be that people’s commitment to marriage has deepened and it also may be that the financial strain...
We are all aware of what are deemed "hazardous" occupations: firemen and people who have worked with asbestos for example, but would you ever think that a beauty salon nail technician would fit into this category? There has been mention in the...
It has been confirmed that the much debated Welfare Reform Bill has now completed its final journey through Parliament in what has been referred to by David Cameron as ‘a historic step in the biggest welfare revolution in over 60 years’. The...
The world is moving fast and the law is being accessed differently. People have choices as to how they wish to settle their disputes. The options are becoming greater as to how disputes are settled. Mediation allows you to take control of your own future;...
Under English Law, a person is free to leave by Will his estate to whomever he wishes to, including leaving everything to charity. In a recent case, an elderly mother left her estate of £500,000 jointly between two charities. She was widowed, and...
The courts have confirmed that a person’s domicile of origin is not easily displaced. Domicile is an important concept in Wills and Probate and issues often arise in contentious probate cases and claims under the Inheritance Act 1975. The default...
Throughout the course of a day we meet clients who are concerned about the prospect of spending their life savings on paying for their care in their old age thus leaving little or no inheritance for their families. Even though leaving an inheritance may...
Despite being an important legal activity, the business of Will writing is completely unrestricted and anyone can set up in business to provide a Will writing service - even if they have no formal legal qualifications or training. Given the social,...
It’s recently been highlighted in the press that there are significant shortfalls in the Court of Protection system which ironically should work to protect the affairs of vulnerable people. It’s usually the onset of a mentally incapacitating...
February 29th 2012 – a leap year. Tradition dictates that a woman can ask a man for his hand in marriage. Historically it has never been seen to be appropriate for a woman to propose. In fact public humiliation could be faced if it is rebuffed. There...
Amendments to the Legal Aid system are never far from the minds of any high street lawyer. We have all been caught up in the lobbying, arguing and worrying about what is going to happen and the potential destruction of access to justice. After the initial...
Getting involved in a deeply entrenched emotional divorce means that the recovery will be so much slower and more painful. Not only that it can lead to financial and professional ruin. Only this week a Consultant haematologist appeared before Southwark...
It has been reported this week that tenants who rent from private sector landlords are living in poor conditions and that the condition of privately rented accommodation has deteriorated. This is at a time when more reliance than ever is placed on private...
More than 600 people have died throughout Europe recently as a result of the cold snap we have been experiencing. Clearly this is having an effect on the 3 million people currently sleeping rough in Europe. According to statistics, the number of...
The Court of Appeal handed down their ruling in the case of Marley v Rawlings [2012] EWCA Civ 61 last week confirming that where couples sign the wrong Wills by mistake, those Wills are not valid and cannot be rectified by the Court. The case involved an...
Three breaches of health and safety laws have been admitted this month by Network Rail following the deaths of two teenage girls in Essex in December 2005. Charlotte Thompson, 13, and Olivia Bazlinton, 14, were hit by a train as they walked over tracks at...
The Welfare Reform Bill has returned to the House of Commons this week for MPs to vote on the various proposals. The Government’s aim by introducing these proposals was to cut the annual housing benefit bill by £500 million a year. The...
When parents separate or divorce it often brings pain not only for the parties themselves but for the children. It is well know that divorce, if managed badly, can be very negative for children. Much research has been undertaken about children and those...
A record number of applications to remove children into care was announced today. Is this the result of a dramatic decline in the standard of parenting across the country? Is it a reflection of over-caution by social workers? Is it a symptom of deeper...
According to the Insolvency Service’s figures, personal insolvencies in England and Wales dropped 11.3% in 2011 compared to 2010 figures. Bankruptcies registered the steepest drop plummeting by 29.3% from the previous year and Individual...
It has been reported that UK retailers suffered their second worse January since the British Retail Consortium’s (“BRC”) survey began in 1995. Overall like for like sales were down 0.3% compared to 2011 and the 2.1% increase in total sales...
The government announced today that it will introduce a legally binding presumption of shared parental for fathers and mothers after separation. Australia introduced a similar law giving shared parental rights several years ago resulting in an avalanche of...
Holidays are a time most of us look forward to - some for many months, but for some they turn out to be a nightmare rather than the rest and relaxation they were hoping for. When we holiday abroad, we have a right to expect the hotel we are staying in to...
We have entered a new era in the last week when we found that not only are jobs not for life but nor are knighthoods! Fred Goodwin was stripped of his knighthood which he received for banking services in 2004. He does of course get to keep his pension. He...
Is this an example of a growing compensation culture or an example of why we must ensure that health and safety regulations protecting employees must stay? I read an article in the Daily Mail online which in my opinion shows an example of why health and...
I listened with interest to a news item on BBC Radio 2 this week about plans to “overhaul” the existing Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme – due to the fact that running costs are spiralling out of control, having trebled since 1997 to...
A scheme which has helped rough sleepers in London is to be launched in Liverpool and the surrounding area on 2nd February 2012. ‘No second night out’ is a government backed scheme which tries to ensure that rough sleepers spend no more than one...
My heart goes out to the family of the young girl savagely attacked whilst playing in the park last weekend. It is reported that her injuries are extremely severe, including the loss of part of an ear and that she is going to require reconstructive surgery...
It is a fresh start to the New Year and the Prime Minister, Mr David Cameron, has already outlined where he will be leading our Country over the next 12 months. One aspect of his speech yesterday particularly caught my attention; his fixation on the...
I was horrified to read in the news that a 3 year old girl had been picked up by her mother from nursery looking like she had been ‘attacked by a dog’. If you have seen the pictures on the news it is a heart wrenching sight – she...
The BBC reported on it’s website recently about a new form of fraud, which takes advantage of the fact the car insurance costs have significantly risen recently, the fact that young drivers are particularly hard hit by these costs and the “gotta...
Last week, the Government revealed proposed plans to change the inheritance rules, so that cohabiting couples may have the right to inherit from each other’s estates, if they die without making a Will. The current rules, called the ‘intestacy...
A recent study by experts from University of London and at the Anna Freud Centre suggest that children living in homes where violence takes place may actually have their brains affected by their home life situation, in a similar way to soldiers in combat....
Following the House of Lords European Union (EU) sub-committee’s report on the mobility of healthcare professionals, it appears likely that there will be some major changes in the way that EU doctors are treated while practising in the UK. Under the...
Most of us have, at some stage or another had a bad experience at the hairdressers; be it a dodgy haircut or an unflattering dye job. But what happens when the result is more extreme than simply an unfortunate haircut? What recourse do customers have when a...
Twenty years following the introduction of the Dangerous Dogs Act to the UK, Judges have now published the first-ever proposed sentencing guidelines in respect of offences committed under the 1991 Act. The move, by the Sentencing Council for England...
The cards are being written, presents wrapped, and a decorating and shopping frenzy is taking place across the country, in the run up to Christmas. However, Christmas can also be a time of hazards and accidents waiting to happen. The Royal Society for the...
It is not uncommon for victims of serious accidents to fail to report their accident or fail to secure evidence at the earliest opportunity after an accident. Here are 10 steps which should be taken when you have suffered an accident: 1. ...
According to figures published by the Office for National Statistics this week, less than half the adult population in England and Wales are now married. Cohabitation amongst couples appears to have become the norm, and I must say, also applies to...
A Scottish mother of two has had a slice of luck after being involved in a horrific crash last week, but walking away with only cuts and bruises. Liz Douglas, 51, was on her way home from a shopping trip in Glasgow when her car flipped onto its roof after...
A Court of Appeal decision in LONDON TARA HOTEL LTD v KENSINGTON CLOSE HOTEL LTD [2011] EWCA Civ 1356 confirmed that a right of way could be obtained through reliance on third parties use of the land. Clients often approach me with queries regarding rights...
The new EU Consumer Rights Directive was adopted by Member States in the Council on 10/10/11 having been approved in the EU Parliament on 23/6/11. It is required to be translated into national law by the end of 2013. With current government rhetoric...
I’ve read this week that, Mrs Brooks, a cleaner at my former high school St Josephs RC High School and Sports College, has been killed after being hit by a lorry at Armstrongs Environmental Services Ltd, Horwich. It has been reported that Mrs Brooks...
A survey by Which? has discovered that over 3 million people suffer with problem neighbours. As a solicitor specialising in neighbour disputes this comes as no big surprise to me. There are an astonishing number of issues that someone can have with their...
The legal world has now had time to reflect on the Judgment in Jones v Kernott which was handed down by the Supreme Court on 9 November 2011. I found the 30 page judgment a little repetitive in that a large portion of it set out the facts and findings of...
Last month, multinational cement firm CEMEX Operations UK Ltd was fined £200,000 after one of its workers died in an explosion at its premises in Rugby. 28-year old Peter Reynolds died in January 2008. He had been treating waste cement dust and whilst...
In Great Britain, on average 50 people are killed every year as a result of a fall from height, with almost 9,000 seriously injured. The roofing industry is one particular sector in which falls from height are prevalent. In Oldham, shocking images emerged...
The plight of first time buyers is back in the news as the Government has launched yet another new initiative aimed at helping them get onto the ladder. The Prime Minister David Cameron has announced a scheme that is aimed at helping around 100,000 first...
Last year, a BBC2 programme uncovered a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 which has led to a Cambridgeshire company recently being prosecuted over failure to prevent exposure to dust in the workplace. Mastercrafts, presented by Monty Don,...
Last Friday, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) welcomed a Tribunal's decision to strike out appeals submitted by the UK's biggest logbook loan business, Nine Regions Limited and Log Book Loans Limited, who trade under the name Log Book Loans. In...
Over the last couple of weeks there have featured in the news, tragic stories about women who have either died, or been left fighting for their lives as a result of doing what so many of us do on a regular basis and that is dying our hair. Tabatha McCourt,...
Most of us would know Kris Marshall better from the BT advertising campaign that he has long been the star of, yet on this occasion the news has featured Mr Marshall for an appearance at the Magistrates Court theatre. The actor was charged and bailed to...
According to a study by consumer champions Which? this week, high street stores are dismissing customers who have legitimate complaints and denying them their legal statutory rights’ to have faulty goods fixed. Its researchers apparently visited 60...
It pays to recruit good staff but what happens if things go wrong? How would you manage a sickness absence? How effective is your performance management? How would you respond to a grievance or a claim? These are some of the challenges you could face as an...
Back in July we discussed a case in one of our blogs which involved an employee pursuing her employer for £1 million after she suffered a serious fall at work which left her facing a future confined to a wheelchair. Sylvia Cheung experienced spinal...
When a motorcyclist takes a pillion passenger on a journey, he has certain responsibilities. First and foremost, he must be legally permitted to travel with a pillion passenger. Motorcyclists who do not possess a full licence or do not have a vehicle with a...
There has been a development in the law following the Supreme Court Judgment delivered yesterday in the case of Kernott v Jones. The judgment has clarified the previous case of Stack v Dowden and has provided assistance in clarifying ambiguous terms from...
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 call for any electrical equipment with the potential to cause injury to be safely maintained. Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is the name given to the testing and visual examination of electrical equipment and...
After reading a parliamentary report released today, I was astonished at figures that show that British consumers are being conned out of nearly £7 billion a year. The report claimed that consumer law is being abused regionally and nationally, while...
Over the five year period between 2004 and 2009, according to the European Commission, the number of products notified to the EU Recall Registration System (RAPEX) increased from 468 to 1,993. 60 per cent of products recalled in 2009 originated from China...
Most people will be aware of the fact it is possible to make a claim against a previous employer for asbestos related illness compensation, where it can be proved that the employer was at fault. But fewer know it is possible to claim against more than one...
Accidents on demolition sites are common; these are hazardous places to work or to be in the vicinity of, and for this reason the Health and Safety Executive dedicates an entire section of their website to the laws surrounding demolition, dismantling and...
I was travelling down to the West Country with my family on the M5 on the evening of 4th November and we count ourselves extremely lucky to have missed one of the worst crashes in UK motorway history by about 30 minutes. If we had been half an hour earlier...
The whole idea of a beauty treatment is to make you look and feel better and I myself am not adverse to the odd trip to the beauty salon for a treatment or two, and love a manicure, or even a pedicure. But so far I’ve never been brave enough to try a...
Much is being said and written in the media about the outcome of the Family Justice Review. However there is a greater problem on the horizon for parents who fall into disputes about their children which they are unable to resolve between themselves. That is...
My family and I braved the wet weather on Friday evening and thoroughly enjoyed the fantastic firework display put on by Bolton Council at Leverhulme Park. However, I read today that emergency crews in our region have worked tremendously hard over the...
After a hard day at work, there is always an urge to get home as quickly as possible so we can put our feet up. It is something we are all guilty of, particularly as the evenings get colder and the nights longer. With this in mind, it is also important to...
It was in the press this week that mobile disco owners have to pay the highest amount for their car insurance compared to a worker in any other profession, according to research. Comparison site confused.com found that mobile disco owners will pay a huge...
This weekend I managed to spend some time in the newly extended local Tesco (Middlebrook) and was amazed to see the extent of goods and services they are now offering. There is a hairdressing salon in there – offering not just cuts, but tans and...
We all go to bars, pubs and nightclubs to have a good time and let go of our inhibitions. We fully expect them to be busy and the atmosphere to be somewhat boisterous but, whilst we are busy having a good time, do we ever stop to think about the safety of...
The Family Justice Review has recently published its final report making a range of recommendations aimed at improving the family justice system and minimising delay. The Review says "no legislation should be introduced that creates, or risks creating,...
A Wigan factory worker has lost two of her fingers following an accident at work involving a machine used to punch handles in plastic bags. 53 year old Karen Schoelzel from Golborne was working for Arrow Flexible Packaging Ltd when the accident took place...
My last blog was about legal aid reform and without wishing to be repetitive I feel the need to blog again on the same subject as I feel so strongly in my opposition to the proposals for legal aid cuts. The Law Society called for a pause in the passage...
How many of you remember the road safety advertisement with the little girl who comes back to life after she's been knocked down and killed? Road safety laws are there for a good reason, yet at least eight children are killed every day as a result of...
Last year, a one-year old child was injured when part of a streetlight was dropped onto her pram from above, striking her head. The incident, which happened in Hackney, east London, was recently the subject of a prosecution by the Health and Safety...
More than five incidents involving falls from height in the construction industry are recorded every day, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). During 2010-2011, 50 construction workers died in accidents at work. Because this industry...
When we select food from shops or supermarkets, we immediately put our faith in the labelling. We trust that it will give us a true statement of the ingredients and nutritional information of what we’re about to eat. One vitally important piece of...
Albeit it’s only November, I have already seen the beginning of the inevitable Christmas shopping promotions. As everyone is supposed to know, Christmas is all about spending time with one another’s families, however that can be a particularly...
My commute to work is very tame compared to that endured by a number of commuters on a double decker-bus in Bristol during morning rush hour last week. Six of the passengers suffered head injuries when the top of the double-decker bus they were travelling in...
Research has shown that the number of people killed or seriously injured on Wigan roads has dropped by 36% in 2010. Figures released by the Department for Transport has shown that there were 62 people killed or seriously injured on the boroughs roads in...
England footballers are never too far away from the news and it would appear that this observation applies equally to former players as it does to current ones. Mr Paul Merson has again made the news recently with a serious incident that occurred on the M40...
