Category: Latest News

Custody time limits seek to regulate the maximum period that a person can be held in custody before their trial commencing. Broadly speaking, that period is one of six months. To extend the period beyond six months, the prosecution must have acted with all due diligence and expedition, and there must be good and sufficient… Continue reading Barrister Strikes and Custody Time Limits

Several offences, such as those involving offensive weapons and blades, have minimum sentencing provisions, resulting in imprisonment for at least six months for many offenders.   A question arose as to whether such prison sentences could lawfully be suspended.   In the case of Whyte Whyte [2018] EWCA Crim 2437 the court held:   “Although… Continue reading Clarity on Suspended Sentences

Former footballer Ryan Giggs is on trial for a number of offences including “using controlling and coercive behaviour”. We of course would never comment on an ongoing trial, but in this article, we explore further the elements of this offence. So, what is the offence? Controlling or coercive behaviour does not relate to a single… Continue reading The Ryan Giggs Trial

Sections 63 and 64 of The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 came in to force on 1st August 2022. It created two new offences of trespass with intent to pursue hares (s.63 PCSCA 2022) and being equipped to search for or pursue hares (s.64 PCSCA 2022). The s 63 offence (Trespass with intent… Continue reading New Hunting Offences

Victims, members of the public and the media will be able to ask for a parole hearing to be heard in public for the first time, following law changes.  From 21 July 2022, anyone including prisoners, victims, members of the public or the media will be able to ask the Board to hold a hearing… Continue reading Parole Hearings To Be Heard In Public For The First Time

From the 1st of July 2022, new rules on the use of self-driving vehicles in Great Britain have come into force. The changes are included in a new section in The Highway Code. Currently only vehicles with advanced driver assistance systems are available in the UK. No vehicles in Great Britain have been classed as… Continue reading A new section for self-driving vehicles has been added to the Highway Code

It has been a busy week for new policy announcements, with these coming from the Ministry of Justice in the last few days.         Prison leavers tagged to cut alcohol-fuelled crime Prison leavers will be ordered to wear a sobriety tag, which monitors alcohol levels in sweat, if their probation officer thinks… Continue reading New Criminal Justice Initiatives

Over the last two years, over 70 X-ray body scanners have been installed in all closed male prisons, producing high-quality images of concealed contraband so that prison officers can easily find and stop dangerous items from entering jails. These scanners have prevented over 19000 attempts to smuggle contraband into prison wings, including one substantial haul… Continue reading New airport-style security in prisons sees record level of drug seizures