News & Advice

Much has been written this week on government plans to “ban” machetes and zombie knives, and claims that possession would be made “illegal”. The government said: “Machetes and zombie-style knives with no practical use will be banned and police will have more powers to seize them in a bid to crack down on their use… Continue reading Government Bans Machetes and Zombie Knives

Appeals in relation to the removal of firearms licenses are heard in the Crown Court and the practice and procedure surrounding such hearings has been settled for many decades. In a recent case the question arose as to whether a Crown Court has the power to receive evidence in secret.   The Facts   Trevor… Continue reading Firearms Licensing – Court Authorises Secret Evidence

Fans are being warned they face being banned from football matches – and next year’s Men’s European Championships – if they commit tragedy-related abuse as prosecutors publish additional guidance this week. The Crown Prosecution Service has updated its prosecution guidance on football related offences which reconfirms that tragedy-related abuse can be prosecuted as a public… Continue reading Prosecutors Crack Down on Football Tragedy Abuse

A public consultation invites views on the operational impact and workability of the newly drafted Code of Practice for the statutory two-tier framework of Out of Court Disposals, as set out in The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Act 2022. Out of Court Disposals (OOCDs) is the term used for a range of pre-charge… Continue reading Out of Court Disposals – Government Consults on Changes

In the early hours of 17 October 2022 Morgan Trowland, who is now 40 years old, and Marcus Decker, who is now 34 years old, scaled the Queen Elizabeth II bridge on the M25 carriageway.  They hoisted a “Just Stop Oil” banner across the bridge, and suspended themselves in hammocks. There they remained until arrested… Continue reading Bridge Protestors Get No Sympathy From Court of Appeal

The Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 received Royal Assent on 20th July 2023 and will come into force in 6 months’ time. The purpose of the Act is to prevent the theft of All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) such as quad bikes.  The Act allows the Secretary of State to make regulations requiring immobilisers and forensic marking… Continue reading Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023

The Law Commission is the statutory independent body created by the Law Commissions Act 1965 to keep the law of England and Wales under review and to recommend reform where it is needed. The aim of the Commission is to ensure that the law is: fair modern simple cost-effective   This week the Law Commission… Continue reading Law Commission to Investigate the Criminal Appeals System

Homicide is the killing of one person by another. It accounts for a very small proportion of deaths each year in England and Wales; for the most recent five years of mortality data, from 2017 to 2021, homicides accounted for one in every 800 deaths. Historical data on recorded homicides in England and Wales is… Continue reading Homicide – What Do the Figures Show?

Up to 12,000 prisoners in England and Wales at risk of being released homeless will be offered temporary housing for up to 12 weeks as part of the Community Accommodation Service scheme. In 2019/20 (the last pre-COVID performance publication), there were approximately 12,000 prisoners (16%) released either rough sleeping or homeless. The Community Accommodation Scheme… Continue reading New Housing Initiative for Released Prisoners

In a recent case, the Court of Appeal dealt with an appeal concerning an ex-police officer who served on a jury. When the prospective juror was summoned for jury service, he wrote to the court in the following terms: “After discussing my forthcoming juror duty with my wife, I realise that I was deluded in… Continue reading Declared Bias – Nothing to See Here, According to the Court of Appeal