News & Advice

In a truly tragic case, Samantha Ford drowned her 23-month-old twins in the bath. Appearing at the Old Bailey for sentence, the Judge, Mr Justice Edis, handed down a 10-year sentence, causing widespread outrage. Longer sentences are routinely handed down for drug dealing and other crimes. To understand more about this case, we need to… Continue reading Ten years for a double killing – look behind the headlines

By law, every parent must ensure that any child under 14 wears a seatbelt when being a passenger in their car. Those older than 14 are responsible for wearing a seatbelt themselves. Any passenger over 14 and not wearing a seatbelt in a moving vehicle could receive up to a £500 fine The Law and… Continue reading Child Car Seats and The Law

The Government has published new plans to make the roads safer for everyone. The plans include several changes for people at every stage of life, and also for more specialised drivers like HGV drivers and motorcycle riders. Children The Department for Transport has granted funding of £225,000 to Good Egg Safety to develop a training… Continue reading Road Safety Review – More New Laws?

Registering a lasting power of attorney means that you give someone you trust the power to make decisions related to money, finances and property or health and care on your behalf. If you wish to make a lasting power of attorney that can handle both aspects related to your finances and health and care, you… Continue reading Your Guide To Lasting Powers of Attorney

We have all read newspaper articles reporting that a drug dealer or fraudster made hundreds of thousands from their offending but was ordered to pay back a much smaller amount. That is not always the end of the matter. What are the proceeds of crime? If a defendant is determined to have had a ‘criminal… Continue reading Proceeds of Crime – when does it all end?

Today the Sentencing Council published new guidelines covering arson and criminal damage of all kinds, as well as threats to destroy property. There were existing guidelines, but they were thought to be very limited and only covered the Magistrates Court, there were no guidelines for the Crown Court, which deals with the more serious offences.… Continue reading Sentencing Council Guidlines

The press has recently reported that children who were victims of serious sexual abuse have received paltry sums, £20 for example, as compensation from the courts. The court has a duty to consider making a compensation order in any case where personal injury, loss, or damage has resulted from the offence. If it does not… Continue reading What is a Criminal Compensation Order?

Recently, three men from Halifax were convicted after one of them was found to have run a company whilst disqualified. The other two were convicted of assisting him. If you’re thinking of trying to evade a director’s ban, be aware that it can lead to a criminal conviction and even prison. Why Was he Disqualified?… Continue reading Disqualified Directors

A question on many people’s lips since the former Justice Secretary admitted to using cocaine several times earlier in his career. So, Could he Face the Legal Consequences of This? Cocaine is a Class A drug, the most serious category. Drug offences are governed by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and whilst buying a… Continue reading Why Hasn’t Michael Gove Been Arrested?

Justice, the renowned human rights organisation, has published a significant report that examines the prosecution of sexual offences, and in some areas calls for a radical overhaul. Among the authors of the report is Judge Peter Rook QC, a senior Judge at the Central Criminal Court (‘Old Bailey’) and considered an expert authority on this… Continue reading Prosecuting Sexual Offences – Time for a rethink?