Children Deserve Better From Family Justice System

The family justice system needs significant reform to tackle delays and ensure that children and families get the service they deserve, says an independent panel set up to review how the system works. The panel, who publish their interim report this week, have recommended a package of proposals aimed at improving children's and families' experience of the system. A public consultation on these proposals is now underway. During a year of speaking to children, parents and the dedicated people who work in family justice, the panel have found the system isn't working to the full benefit of the children it is designed to help. This is because the system is too complicated, with overlapping structures and a lack of shared goals and objectives. The panel found this was causing harmful delays for vulnerable children and adults. The Family Justice Review panel will make its final recommendations to governments in England and Wales this autumn.

UK Clamps Down On Corruption With New Bribery Act

The UK will reinforce the fight against corruption when the Bribery Act comes into force on July 1, Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke has announced. The Act will ensure the UK is at the forefront of the battle against bribery, allowing the country to clamp down on corruption without being burdensome to business. Guidance on the safeguards businesses can put in place to prevent bribery has been published, following in-depth consultation with non-governmental organisations and business. This will ensure that everyone, from the multinational to the lone trader, can deal with the threat of bribery simply and effectively.

Vaizey Unveils Plans To Enable Wireless Growth

Spectrum is a valuable but scarce resource that is used for wireless communications. It is the basis for everything from mobile phones to radar, from satellite television broadcasts to global positioning systems. The public sector currently holds around half of the most useful spectrum, and the Government is now committed to releasing 500 MHz over the next 10 years in the Comprehensive Spending Review. A new publication, Enabling UK Growth – Releasing public spectrum, sets out how the Government intends to release the spectrum and calls for evidence from industry to inform the plans. Communications Minister Ed Vaizey said: “This is a long-term project to ensure industry is able to meet the growing demand for services that need spectrum. The use of smartphones and mobile broadband is set to increase rapidly. Releasing more spectrum over the next decade will be essential if industry is to meet that growing demand. We must ensure the public sector uses this valuable resource as efficiently as possible. If the public sector does not need it, then it should be released so businesses can use it to grow.” The public sector uses spectrum for a wide range of services including defence, emergency services, transport and science. The release of the 500MHz spectrum will be in addition to the spectrum that Ofcom intends to release, including the 800MHz and 2.6GHz bands which Ofcom intend to auction in 2012.

(BMcN/GK)