Category: Latest News

A new draft sentencing guideline for the offence of importing prohibited or restricted firearms has been published for consultation. There are no current guidelines in respect of these offences, although there are eight current guidelines for offences under the Firearms Act 1968. Sentencing guidelines set the range for sentences and are intended to reflect current… Continue reading Unlawful Importation of Firearms Offences

The Government’s End-to-End Review of the Criminal Justice System Response began in 2019. The purpose was to look at evidence across the system, from reporting rape to the police through to court outcomes, to understand what was happening in cases of adult rape.  Although the number of reported cases has not really changed, the number… Continue reading Rape Review

You may have heard the name Daniel Morgan being mentioned in the media recently.  Daniel was a private investigator who would carry out extensive work for the News of the World. He was found murdered in 1987 in a car park with an axe embedded in his head, with no conviction regarding his death. An… Continue reading Who is Daniel Morgan?

Natural England is the government’s advisor for the natural environment in England and Wales. Established in 2006, its purpose is to help conserve, enhance and manage the natural environment. It enforces the laws that protect wildlife and the environment and state that enforcement is used as a last resort. Natural England has responsibility for sites… Continue reading Natural England Prosecutions

An evidence-based practice team from HM Prison and Probation Services have produced a report entitled “An evaluation of a brief intervention to reduce re-offending among women serving short sentences.” Over 12 months, a study was made of 255 women who were in the last 6-8 weeks of their sentence where that sentence had been less… Continue reading Women on Short-Term Sentences

In 2006 the Association of Chief Police Officers, known as ACPO, founded a Criminal Records Office, now known as ACRO. The intention was for ACRO to organise the management of criminal record information and improve links between the records and biometric information. ACRO’s principal functions are providing police certificates, international child protection certificates and responses… Continue reading Deletion of Police Records

A recent Court of Appeal case has ruled on the appropriateness of protective orders when a life sentence is in place. In GD’s case, the Court imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) alongside an indeterminate life sentence.  On appeal, the question was whether making the SHPO was wrong in principle. GD had committed several… Continue reading Life Sentences with Further Orders

Draft revised sentencing guidelines have been produced to reflect recent Court of Appeal judgments. The guidelines clarify sentencing guidance for cases where no sexual activity occurs or where the targeted child does not exist. The revised guidelines are subject to consultation, which will close on 13th August 2021. The main revisions apply to offences of:… Continue reading Child Sexual Offences

More prosecution casework is carried out locally by prosecutors based in regional hubs. For some cases, the position is entirely different, and a specialised team of prosecutors takes over.    Specialist Casework – Criteria The Crown Prosecution Service produces national guidance that specifies the criteria for casework that must be referred to Complex Casework Units (CCUs).… Continue reading ‘Complex Casework’ – Inside The Crown Prosecution Service