Category: Latest News

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

The offence of controlling and coercive behaviour has been on the statute books for a few years now but has recently hit the headlines.  Ruth Dodsworth is an ITV Wales presenter who met her ex-husband, Jonathan Wignall, in 2001. She became the primary income earner when his business started to collapse, and his alcohol intake… Continue reading Coercive and Controlling Behaviour

The Criminal Cases Review Commission began its work on 31 March 1997. It was created by the Criminal Appeal Act 1995, 25 years ago. It came into being after some appalling miscarriages of justice under the previous system of consideration by Home Office ministers. That system was clearly not working in the interests of justice… Continue reading Criminal Cases Review Commission – Improvement Needed?

Sometimes you can commit an offence without doing very much at all. Harbouring an escapee is one of those offences. The offence is committed if you harbour a person who has escaped from prison or assisting an escapee by giving that person any assistance with intent to prevent, hinder or interfere with him being taken… Continue reading Harbouring an Escapee

The government has announced that there will be new legislation designed to cut “crime and build safer communities”. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill is intended to give the police: “the powers and tools they need to protect themselves and the public”.  The measures include: Positions of Trust  Existing legislation will be widened to include sports… Continue reading Cutting Crime and Building Safer Communities?

At the moment, profoundly deaf people rarely sit as jurors. There are strict laws that prevent anyone other than the twelve jurors from entering the deliberation room. This means that a sign language interpreter cannot enter the room. The purpose of the legislation preventing a “13th person” is to prevent any outside influence in the… Continue reading Deaf Jurors

What is good character? As far as the criminal courts are concerned, a person of good character is usually someone without convictions or cautions recorded against them. It is of particular relevance in a trial situation as the court will consider good character in assessing the likelihood of you committing the offence and also your… Continue reading Good Character as Mitigation

The government recently announced a range of proposals regarding immigration, but how does this affect criminal law? Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, said it was the introduction of the most significant overhaul of the system in decades. The aim appears to be to prevent illegal entry into the UK, especially when people smugglers or trafficking… Continue reading New Proposals

Very often in criminal cases, several witnesses give similar and sometimes almost identical evidence. At first, blush, if all the witnesses were at the same place, at the same time and witnessing the same event, surely that is to be expected? But if we pause for a moment and consider a group of football fans… Continue reading Witness Independence – Too Much Of A Coincidence?