News & Advice

The Treasury Committee has published a report on fraud scams and economic crime. The Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of HM Treasury, HMRC and associated public bodies such as the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority.   Why Was The Report Needed? The… Continue reading Fraud, Scams and Economic Crime

A joint report from the Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission has been published. The topic is automated vehicles and makes recommendations for the safe and responsible introduction of self-driving vehicles. The Law Commission is the statutory independent body created to keep the law under review and to recommend reform… Continue reading Automated Vehicles

The government has announced new proposals to address the way schools deal with avoidable absences. They refer to the current system as a postcode lottery with different approaches to sanctions across the country. Some local authorities did not issue any fines at all in the year 2020/21, while others issued over 1,500.   How bad… Continue reading School Absence

The government has announced the recruitment of more than 500 staff to work in Community Payback. The aim is to be able to enable offenders to serve an extra 3 million hours of payback each year. The announcement isn’t clear on the reasoning behind the recruitment, whether there is a backlog that needs clearing, staff… Continue reading Community Payback

The backlog in the criminal courts has been an issue for some time. Although the number of outstanding cases grew during the pandemic, there was already a backlog. The government has considered various ways of dealing with the issue, including temporary courts. The most recent announcement is that the government are to give greater sentencing… Continue reading Court Backlog

The government has introduced a “new world-leading law” to ensure consumers are better protected from hackers on their phones, smart TVs, fitness trackers, tablets and other devices that connect to the internet.    Why? Research has shown that as many as four in five manufacturers in the UK do not put in place appropriate security… Continue reading Cyber Laws

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is seeking views on a proposed update to legal guidance on homicide, to assist prosecutors considering the public interest when dealing with suspects in deaths arising out of failed suicide pacts and so-called ‘mercy killings’. A 12-week consultation began on Friday, 14 January and will end on Friday, 8 April.… Continue reading Suicide Pact Cases and So-Called ‘Mercy Killings’

This week four people were acquitted of criminal damage after admitting to pulling down the Colston Statue in Bristol and throwing it into the Quay. A number of commentators have expressed their outrage at the juries decision and have called for the Attorney General to appeal the acquittal.  In this article, we discuss the legal… Continue reading The Colston Statue – Will The Acquittals Be appealed?

The Government has this week announced further proposed changes to criminal law and procedure. The taking of non-consensual photographs or video recordings of breastfeeding mothers will be made a specific offence punishable by up to two years in prison. It covers situations where the motive is to obtain sexual gratification or to cause humiliation, distress or… Continue reading Breastfeeding Voyeurism and Common Assault & Domestic Abuse

The Justice Secretary, Dominic Raab, has announced an overhaul of human rights law following the publication of the Independent Human Rights Act Review. The Review was set up to consider how the Human Rights Act was working in practice and whether any changes were needed. Two key themes were considered in the Review: The relationship… Continue reading Bill of Rights