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NLJ this week: Media storms & police disclosure

31 March 2023
Issue: 8019 / Categories: Legal News , Public , Defamation , Privacy
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‘What personal information can, and should, the police disclose during high-profile investigations,’ such as Nicola Bulley’s disappearance in January? Jeremy Clarke-Williams, partner, and Sophie Taraniuk, paralegal, in the reputation management and privacy team at Penningtons Manches Cooper, address this question, in this week’s NLJ.

The media storm surrounding Ms Bulley’s disappearance prompted ‘baseless speculation’ and attracted amateur sleuths, while Lancashire Constabulary drew widespread criticism for their decision to disclose personal information about the missing person.

What protection is provided by the law? Clarke-Williams and Taraniuk examine the potential for a claim for misuse of private information (MPI), as well as considering privacy and defamation. Ofcom has also raised questions about the conduct of broadcasters. When is private information in the public interest? 

Read this fascinating piece in full here.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
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