News Essentials: 7th August 2021

A brief summary of the essential family law news and cases from the last week: 

NEWS

European Convention on Human Rights protocol no. 15 comes into force
On 1 August 2021 Protocol no. 15 to the European Convention on Human Rights came into force, following its ratification by all 47 State Parties. Full story: Family Law Week.

Domestic Abuse Act: statutory guidance consultation launched
The Home Office has issued a consultation seeking views on draft domestic abuse statutory guidance which will support the implementation of the definition of domestic abuse at sections 1 to 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. Full story: Family Law Week.

Report recommendations for divorce and dissolution costs
The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 comes into force in April 2022. Ahead of this, there is new analysis from the Finding Fault study, led by Professor Liz Trinder and funded by the Nuffield Foundation. Full story: The Law Society.

Judge raps NHS England and mental health trusts over failure to provide medium secure bed for 15-year-old girl
A Family Division judge has strongly criticised NHS England and two NHS mental health trusts over the failure to accommodate a 15-year-old girl ‘M’ with complex needs through a medium secure tier 4 bed. Full story: Local Government Lawyer.

Alta Fixsler: European court rejects appeal over Jewish girl's life support
The parents of a brain-damaged Jewish toddler have lost their appeal at a European court to stop a hospital withdrawing her life-support treatment. Full story: BBC News.

MoJ seeks views on expanding mediation
The government issued a call for evidence today on how to settle disputes away from court, in a bid to put technology and dispute resolution ‘at the heart of the future system’. Full story: Law Society Gazette.

Council did not have reasonable system in place to respond to police requests for accommodation for detained juveniles: Court of Appeal
The London Borough of Waltham Forest was in breach of its duty to have a reasonable system in place to respond to requests by the police for secure accommodation for juveniles at risk of being detained in police cells overnight, the Court of Appeal has ruled. Full story: Local Government Lawyer.

CASES

Dorset Council v M & Ors [2021] EWFC B43 (06 August 2021)
Hearing of care proceedings concerning four children. Interim orders made. Full report: Bailii.

MGJ v JE [2021] EWFC 67 (05 July 2021)
Sentencing remarks in relation to committal applications made by mother in connection with breaches by father of children orders, including order restraining him from removing children from mother's care. Full report: Bailii.

A, B and Bourn Hall Clinic [2021] EWHC 1750 (Fam) (25 March 2021)
Application by unmarried same-sex couple for a declaration of parentage in respect of their son, conceived through artificial insemination. Full report: Bailii.

BSA v NVT [2021] EWHC 2202 (Fam) (23 April 2021)
Application by mother for Hadkinson order, in relation to appeals made by father in family proceedings. Full report: Bailii.

F-S (A Child: Placement Order) [2021] EWCA Civ 1212 (02 August 2021)
Appeal by mother from placement order made in relation to a boy now approaching his sixth birthday. Appeal dismissed. Full report: Bailii.