Blog

Uncategorized / 27.11.2020

  Did you know that e-scooters fall within the definition of a motor vehicle? You would not be alone if you said no. Due to the growing popularity of e-scooters and general ignorance in respect of the laws governing them, the Metropolitan Police have issued an...

Uncategorized / 20.11.2020

  It is an offence to "ply for hire" without a licence. The offence comes from the Town and Police Clauses Act 1847, section 45 states it is an offence for a person to allow a vehicle (referred to as a carriage) to be used as...

Uncategorized / 19.11.2020

  If the Attorney General believes that a sentence is "unduly lenient", or too soft as the newspapers may say, she can ask for the case to be referred back to court to be reconsidered.   This is what happened to Taha Amin. He pleaded guilty to several...

Uncategorized / 13.11.2020

  It is often the case that a defendant does not dispute that a crime has been committed but denies any participation.   In such cases, it will be not only essential to challenge any evidence that points to the defendant as being guilty but also look for...

Uncategorized / 29.10.2020

    Human trafficking as a defence    In a recent case an appellant, referred to only as “V” pleaded guilty to producing cannabis and was sentenced to 26 months' detention. He appealed against his conviction.   The first issue you may think of is that he pleaded guilty, so how...

Uncategorized / 14.10.2020

Encrypted electronic communications   'Encrochat' provided an encrypted telephone network that was said to be popular with criminals for its encrypted messaging.   Recent joint police operations in Europe allowed officers to hack into the software resulting in the arrest of 746 suspected criminals in the UK. Across Europe,...

Uncategorized / 23.09.2020

      The government has recently approved a proposal to reform the disclosure of criminal records.   A review of the sentencing system found that a critical element in reducing offending was having access to employment. Having unspent convictions can be a barrier to gaining employment, so the proposal...

Uncategorized / 16.09.2020

  This is the name of the paper presented to Parliament that proposes changes to the sentencing and release frameworks in the criminal justice system.   The paper sets out the "problems" they have identified in the system as being automatic release, improving confidence and addressing the causes...