Legislation / Legal

DCLG:  Proposals to strengthen the transparency of the payment mechanisms on park home sites in and have been announced by the Government and the DCLG has also decided that the maximum rate of commission payable on the sale of a park home is to remain at 10%.  The proposals will affect at least 200,000 residents on more than 2,000 park home sites.

In the 1960s, the going rate was about 20%.  With the introduction of the Mobiles Homes Act 1975, the payment was put on the statute book and limited to15%.  This was then reduced again in the Mobile Homes Act 1983 to 10%.
Press release ~ Summary of responses ~ DCLG Park Homes ~ Legislation

Home Office:  The Government is set to remove existing time limitations on key football banning order laws and will introduce tougher penalties to tackle football disorder.  Section 52 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 which comes into force on 6 April 2007 will enshrine on the statute book two banning order measures which were due to expire on 27 August 2007:

The Violent Crime Reduction Act will also increase from three years to five the maximum period of a banning order made following a complaint from the police.  Powers to apply for banning orders will be extended to the Crown Prosecution Service and the British Transport Police.

Ticket touting laws (Section 53) will also be extended next week to cover the sale of unauthorised football match tickets on the internet, leading to a maximum fine of £5,000.  It will also become illegal to advertise the unauthorised sale of match tickets.

Press release ~ Violent Crime Reduction Act ~ Football (Disorder) Act 2000 ~ Home Office – Football disorder

DCA:  Carers who ill-treat or wilfully neglect a person lacking mental capacity will be committing a crime which carries a range of penalties from a fine to a prison sentence of up to five years or both, under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 as from 1 April 2007. 

The new offence will apply to anyone caring for a person who lacks capacity to make decisions for themselves, including family carers, healthcare & social care staff in hospital or care homes and those providing care in a person's home.  Those protected include people with learning disabilities, dementia, or brain injuries. 
Press release ~ DCA – Mental Capacity ~ Useful Links ~ Sutton and Merton report ~ On-going National Audit ~ Valuing People Support Team website ~ National dignity in care campaign ~ DH – Dignity in Care ~ The Dignity Challenge ~ Dignity in Care Practice Guide ~ DH - Vulnerable Adults ~ Action on Elder Abuse ~ General Social Care Council (GSCC) ~ A new ambition for old age, Next steps in implementing the national framework for Older people ~ AEA report: Adult Protection Data Monitoring ~
No secrets: guidance on developing and implementing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse ~ Caring about Carers ~ Commission for Social Care Inspection

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