Success stories
From 2007 onwards each year’s cases will appear on this page of this website, moving to a downloadable summary as each year passes.
Monday 26 July 2010
Today, in the case of R (Medical Justice) v Secretary of State for the Home Office1, the High Court
quashed the UK Border Agency (UKBA) policy to give less than the standard 72 hours notice of
removal from the UK in certain “exceptions” categories (the “exceptions policy”).
For full judgement click here. For press release click here.
The exceptions policy operated by UKBA since January 2010 has been to give reduced notice, or
no notice, of removal in five categories of case. These categories include vulnerable people who
are at risk of suicide or self-harm and unaccompanied children. This has been on the basis that
the Home Secretary believes that giving the standard notification is not in their best interests.
The Home Secretary justified the policy on the basis that whenever the exceptions policy was
operated certain safeguards were in place, in particular to ensure that those due to be removed
had “effective access to the courts”.
The claim was brought by, Medical Justice, a charity which facilitates the provision of
independent medical and legal advice to immigration detainees
(http:/www.medicaljustice.org.uk) . It is represented by the Public Law Project
For further information please contact Diane Astin on 0207 843 1262.
9 March 2009
Harlow District Council breached its statutory duties towards vulnerable individuals
In an important judgment for the people of Harlow, the High Court has ruled that the council
failed to discharge its duties towards disabled people, women and black and ethnic minority
residents. Mr Justice Davis so held in upholding a claim for judicial review brought by three
local people, Geraldine Meany, Pat Glyn and Greig Sanders, who challenged a decision by the
council to reduce the budget for funding advice on social welfare matters (such as debt,
homelessness, and welfare benefits) by 80%, from £500,000 to £100,000. The Public Law Project
acted for the service users.
For press release click here
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