In a major announcement, the government has signalled a busy year ahead with legislative changes affecting the criminal law. Following on from the recent announcement about the sentencing of domestic abuse offences, the government has announced further reforms. There will be a new definition of domestic abuse making clear that it applies to all relationships...
For many people, facing the prospect of criminal investigation or proceedings is a daunting prospect, one that can often inflict a heavy toll not just on themselves, but also on their loved ones. It is therefore essential that proper professional support mechanisms are in place at an early stage. The Golden...
The unlawful death of a child is always a deeply traumatic act and one that shakes any society to its core. For some parents, it represents not only a deeply personal and tragic loss but the beginning of a nightmare. The reality in most murder and manslaughter cases is that the perpetrator is known, and...
Knife crime is very much on the political agenda, with a number of stabbings having taken place over the last few weeks, resulting in deaths and injury, and no doubt the loss of liberty in due course for those responsible. Attention is now focussed on using deterrent sentences to discourage knife possession. The Sentencing Council,...
A former senior police officer, David Duckenfield, who was in charge on the day of the Hillsborough disaster, will this week find out whether prosecution proceedings against him can continue. Prosecutions against others allegedly involved in the Hillsborough tragedy began in July 2017, but Duckenfield’s case is different as earlier proceedings against him were stayed...
A new domestic abuse sentencing guideline has been published today (22 February), giving courts up to date guidance that emphasises the seriousness of this offending. What is domestic abuse? There is no specific crime of domestic abuse – it can be a feature of many offences, such as assault, sexual offences or harassment. The...
Most people know that if you commit a criminal offence in the UK, the police will record details of that offence and any subsequent sentence so that it is revealed during any future PNC (Police National Computer) check. But what about offending abroad, can that be kept a secret? The answer depends on where...
It is often said that there is no such thing as a dangerous dog, only a dangerous owner. While we often refer to ‘dangerous dogs’ in criminal law, the actual offences relate to dogs ‘dangerously out of control’. Section 10 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 states that: ‘a dog shall be regarded as dangerously...
The government this week announced that West Yorkshire Police has signed up to a new identity checking service. The new service, already being used in a select number of force areas, with a further 20 going live before the end of this year, will remove the need for suspects to be taken to a police...
Many in the medical profession are up in arms following a recent High Court case involving Dr Bawa-Garba (General Medical Council v Bawa-Garba [2018] EWHC 76 (Admin). The case followed on from proceedings before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal which had rules that Bawa-Garba should be suspended from practice for a period of one-year. That ruling...
