New Health and Safety Offences Act becomes law and possibility of imprisonment increases

After being presented and rejected four times in the House of Commons, the Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008 (the “2008 Act”) successfully passed through Parliament on 16 October, and will come into force in January 2009.

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Staff Nurse at Broadmoor Hospital Secures £21,500 Compensation

Lucia Johnson, a staff nurse at Broadmoor Hospital, West London Mental Health NHS Trust, has secured £21,500 compensation following two assaults by a patient. The assaults took place in December 2002 and July 2003. During the first assault, Lucia Johnson's nose and left hand were injured when the patient threw objects at her. He was known to have a tendency to throw things at members of staff but objects had not been either removed from his room, locked away or fixed into position.

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Teacher Wins Biggest Ever Compensation Payout After Attack

A teacher from Staffordshire who suffered such a serious back injury in an assault at a secure unit that she could not work again has been awarded £402,000 from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority which is thought to be the biggest in the union's history...

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