header-logo header-logo

Power to the people

08 September 2011 / Angus Nurse
Issue: 7480 / Categories: Features , Judicial review , Public
printer mail-detail

Angus Nurse welcomes proposals to reform the public services ombudsmen

If implemented, the Law Commission’s new proposals to reform the public services ombudsmen make a significant contribution to access to justice. Their potential impact is to make the ombudsmen’s services a real alternative to judicial review for certain types of complaint and significantly improve access to the ombudsmen.

Representatives of the people

Ombudsmen are independent complaints investigators who investigate maladministration and where this is found and a complainant has been caused injustice, recommend a remedy to resolve the complaint. The service is usually free to use and remedies can include requiring an organisation to provide a service, pay compensation, change its policies and procedures and consider whether it also needs to provide recompense to others.

There are a range of public services ombudsmen and practices vary across the jurisdictions. The proposals, published in July, attempt to harmonise and modernise practice among all five public services ombudsmen in England and Wales. The proposals should be seen in the context of the Open

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

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
back-to-top-scroll