Expert Comments

Opinion
  • cybercrime
  • internet-offences

Communications Sent By Social Media – Have I Committed An Offence?

In recent years, social media has transformed from a small distraction for teenagers and students to the primary form of communication for the vast majority of people. The COVID-19 lockdown…

August 19, 2020
Blog

A Step in the Right Direction? The new guideline for sentencing offenders with mental disorders, developmental disorders, or neurological impairments

Following on from a consultation launched last year, on 21 July 2020 the Sentencing Council published the new guideline for sentencing offenders with mental disorders, developmental disorders, or neurological impairments.…

August 10, 2020
Opinion
  • general-crime

Arrested and Interviewed by the Police: Your Rights

If you or someone you know is arrested, it can often be confusing and upsetting for those involved, especially as many people aren’t aware of what happens when someone is…

July 29, 2020
Blog
  • youth-crime

Young people at the police station – an overview

Early legal advice at the police station is especially important for young people under the age of 18 years. Attendance at the police station can be a frightening experience for...

July 24, 2020
Blog
  • knife-crime

Possession of an offensive weapon in a public place – what you should know…

Approximately 25,000 people are arrested a year for carrying knives or offensive weapons in England and Wales according to National Police Chiefs’ Council Guidelines on the Investigation, Cautioning and Charging…

July 6, 2020
Opinion

The trials of Dominic Cummings and Boris Johnson

A week may be a long time in politics, but it is surely premature to close a criminal investigation of the Dominic Cummings affair. By way of reminder, should one...

June 1, 2020
Blog
  • court

A suspect’s right to privacy during criminal investigations

Suspects involved in criminal investigations currently have the right to privacy regarding personal information and details relating to the investigation and from any period prior to being charged with an…

May 29, 2020
Opinion

Facebook’s privacy power-play

“Shining a light through the CLOUD: Facebook’s end to end encryption announcement is a direct challenge to US CLOUD Act and UK Crime Overseas Production Orders Act 2019” The news...

October 4, 2019
Blog

Legal Guidance around confiscation proceedings

Receiving a sentence at the conclusion of criminal proceedings will often feel like the end of a long and distressing process. A defendant may feel that at the very least...

April 5, 2019
Opinion
  • sexual-offences

New Guidance issued by CPS about childlike sex dolls

Importation of Indecent or Obscene Articles The CPS today issued new guidance to help bring charges against importers and sellers of child sex dolls. Since 2016 a total of 230…

March 29, 2019
Opinion

The role of intermediaries in youth crime

Intermediaries are generally qualified Speech and Language Therapists or Psychologists (often Child Psychologists) who are able to assist a suspect or Defendant with communication during a trial and sometimes during...

March 18, 2019
Opinion
  • internet-offences

Why you should be concerned by Amazon potentially hiding Alexa in your internet router- The admissibility in court for the evidence retrieved

Amazon’s smart assistant, Alexa, is witness for the prosecution. Alexa is a smart technology that advances our quality of life: she [it] is a labour-saving device now routinely purchased, installed…

March 5, 2019
Opinion
  • driving-offences

The CPS is right not to prosecute Prince Philip: It is not in the public interest to do so

It is not in the interests of justice to prosecute the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, a man who has served the United Kingdom and Commonwealth realms as the consort…

February 15, 2019
Opinion

P, G & W – A significant step forward, but still a significant way to go

On 30th January 2019 the Supreme Court handed down judgement in the case of P, G & W V Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] UKSC 3 which...

January 31, 2019
Blog
  • appeals
  • court

How can you overturn a criminal conviction?

Despite what many might think, miscarriages of justice do happen and there are probably more unsafe convictions than the criminal justice system is keen to accept. People who experience this...

December 18, 2018
Blog
  • court

How do you challenge a restraining order?

Section 5 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 enables the Court to impose restraining orders following a conviction for any criminal offence when it is considered necessary to protect...

October 5, 2018
Blog

Is Sexting a criminal offence within the new age of digital flirting?

‘Sexting’ can be defined as sending, receiving or forwarding sexual, naked or semi-naked images or videos of oneself or another, or sending sexually explicit messages, via a digital device.

October 5, 2018
Blog
  • crime-investigation

Police powers to enter your home or other private property

The trespass onto your property without invite is a shocking and upsetting phenomena; indeed it is one of the ingredients of the offence of burglary and yet the state represented...

September 28, 2018
Blog
  • court
  • defending-an-allegation
  • representation

What happens when you are charged with a crime?

The decision to prosecute a person for a crime represents the beginning of what can be a challenging and daunting process. It is vital that legal advice is sought as...

September 28, 2018
Blog

Speeding – What you need to know

For many of us the possibility of being banned from driving is a daunting prospect. This may be because we depend on driving to get to work, drive the kids…

September 21, 2018
BACK TO THE TOP