Category: Latest News

It’s that time of year when most, if not all, police forces bring out a campaign against drink driving. This article aims to cover all questions you may have about this offence.   Breath tests The police can request a breath test, initially at the roadside, if they think you have been driving, that you… Continue reading Drink Driving

The government has announced a 7% increase to the policing budget, up to £1.1billion. This represents up to £16.9 billion in total for the financial year 2022/23. The increase is said to help support the delivery of the Beating Crime Plan which sets out the government’s strategic approach to cutting crime. The plan gives the… Continue reading Police Funding

The Law Commission has announced a project to review how evidence is used in rape prosecutions to counter rape myths. The Law Commission is the statutory independent body created by the Law Commissions Act 1965 to keep the law under review and recommend appropriate reform. The Commission aims to make sure the law is fair,… Continue reading Rape Prosecutions

The government has published a new plan called “The Prisons Strategy White Paper”, the aim being to provide a prison building programme to create conditions conducive to the reform and rehabilitation of prisoners. The modern jails will apparently cut reoffending and protect the public by providing the opportunity in prison for education, skills and addiction… Continue reading Prison and Rehabilitation

A consultation has been launched into a new ‘Victims’ Law’ that the Justice Secretary says would guarantee greater consultation with victims during the criminal justice process. The Crown Prosecution Service, police and courts would have to properly account for the service they provide to victims and make sure their voices are properly heard.    Who… Continue reading Victims’ Law

The Commissioner for the Retention and Use of Biometric Material, Fraser Sampson, has published his annual report for 2020.    What are biometrics? The report provides a working definition of biometrics that is based on the four features that researchers say are essential for a biometric personal identifier to be reliable: the element can be… Continue reading DNA and Biometric Evidence

Tony Hudgell was left severely disabled after he was abused by his birth parents who were sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment. His adoptive parents, Paula and Mark Hudgell, campaigned for longer sentences for these crimes and “Tony’s law” is now to be introduced.   The current law Under the current law, the maximum sentence for… Continue reading Tony’s Law

The government had announced a plan to change the law relating to the towing of a trailer or caravan. At the moment, any driver with a driving licence awarded after 1997 needs to take a B+E car and trailer test before they are allowed to pull a heavy trailer behind a car. A change was… Continue reading Driving Licences and Towing

The Sentencing Council has published a new sentencing guideline for the unlawful importation of firearms. The Council is an independent body, accountable to Parliament, responsible for developing sentencing guidelines for the use of the judiciary and criminal justice professionals. They monitor the use of the guidelines and assess and review decisions relating to sentencing. Sentencing… Continue reading Importation of Firearms – New Sentencing Guideline

The government recently introduced a package of measures aimed at keeping the public safe from terrorists by imposing longer prison terms. The Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act came into force in April and introduced a new “serious terrorism sentence” and provides a minimum term of 14 years and monitoring for up to 25 years after release.… Continue reading Terrorism sentences and the Fishmonger Hall attack