Expert Comments

Opinion

court
criminal-defence

Risks Of Using AI In Your Criminal Proceedings

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how information is created and shared, but its use in criminal proceedings carries significant risks. Generative AI tools—such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Meta AI can...

May 13, 2026

Sean Caulfield

Jiawen Guo

Blog

criminal-defence
extradition

Extradition Explained – Part 2: What Happens at a Final Extradition Hearing?

If you contest extradition following your initial hearing, your case will proceed to a Final Extradition Hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. This article explains what happens during the hearing, the...

May 11, 2026

Shyan MacTavish

Opinion

criminal-defence

What Are Suspended Sentences and How Are They Changing In 2026

Suspended sentences allow offenders to serve a custodial sentence in the community under strict conditions. With new changes coming into force in 2026, courts will have greater powers to suspend...

March 25, 2026

Sean Caulfield

Darcey Hayes

Opinion

criminal-defence
youth-crime

National Child Exploitation Awareness Day

Child Exploitation Awareness Day highlights the hidden impact of exploitation on young people. Learn the signs, understand the risks, and take action to support and protect vulnerable children.

March 18, 2026

Caroline Liggins

Emily Cope

Opinion

criminal-defence

Peter Mandleson & Misconduct in Public Office. What exactly is Misconduct ?

Misconduct in public office is a rarely charged but highly serious common law offence, reserved for cases where a public office holder is alleged to have deliberately abused their position...

February 5, 2026

Sean Caulfield

Grace Gentle

Blog

criminal-defence
representation

What Is A Football Banning Order?

Football banning orders are increasingly being imposed, often for relatively minor offences. This article explains what a football banning order is, how long it can last, the restrictions it can...

December 22, 2025

Sean Caulfield

Eliza Bell

Luke Collins

Blog

crime
criminal-defence

Deepfakes or Deception. The Law on AI Generated Images

AI-generated images and deepfakes have become powerful tools for deception, fraud, and harm. Recent changes to UK legislation mean that creating or sharing such content can now amount to a...

November 10, 2025

Opinion

Celebrating And Remembering Black Lawyers in The UK

HJA’s Criminal Law team marks Black History Month by honouring Courtenay Griffiths KC and other trailblazing black lawyers who shaped UK legal history.

October 2, 2025

Darrell Ennis-Gayle

Blog

criminal-defence
driving-offences

Understanding Penalty Points and Driving Offences

If you are convicted of a driving offence at court, penalty points are added to your driving licence. This is ancillary (as well as) a fine or other punishment. Each…

September 30, 2025

Sean Caulfield

Opinion

criminal-defence
extradition

Extradition Proceedings and the Role of Article 8 Rights

Article 8 is often in the news in the context of immigration law and there have recently been calls from politicians and others to limit its use. It is sometimes…

September 24, 2025

Katy O’Mara

Blog

crime
criminal-defence
representation

‘Voluntary’ Interviews With The Police – What To Expect

If you are contacted by the police to attend the police station for a voluntary interview, it can be very unsettling. The police may only provide you with very limited,...

September 3, 2025

Sarah Moulange

Blog

criminal-defence
representation

How Can I Challenge Conditions Imposed As Part Of Pre-Charge Bail?

Legal framework After arrest, a person who is being released from custody but who remains under investigation will be either released under investigation (RUI) or released on pre-charge bail and…

September 1, 2025

Kit Gamble

Francesca Cociani

Opinion

crime
criminal-defence

Cuckooing in Law: Understanding the New Offence in the Crime and Policing Bill 2025

The new criminal offence targeting “cuckooing” is set to enter the statute books under the Crime and Policing Bill 20251. Framed as a move to protect vulnerable people from exploitation,…

August 20, 2025

Louisa Reddin

Sean Caulfield

Opinion

appeals
crime
miscarriages-of-justice

Unanswered Appeals: Reform of the Criminal Cases Review Commission

Miscarriages of Justice Dame Vera Baird DBE KC was appointed interim chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) in June 2025, stepping into a role fraught by years of…

August 15, 2025

Sean Caulfield

Tabea Wilkes

Blog

criminal-defence
deletion-of-criminal-records
representation

Wrongly Accused: How We Can Help Get Your Case Dropped

I have been charged with a criminal offence and believe I should not be. I want my case dropped, how can I do this? If you have been charged with…

July 24, 2025

Ghislaine Sandoval

Opinion

civil-liberties
human-rights
Post Office
Post Office Horizon Inquiry
Sir Wyn Williams

Volume 1 of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry’s Report

Yesterday saw the publication of Volume 1 of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry’s Report. This Inquiry, which was established in September 2020, has held 226 days of hearings, heard…

July 9, 2025

Anna Williams

Aneka Thirurajah

Blog

criminal-defence

Understanding The New Legislative Proposals On State Threat Activity

Insights from the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism and State Threat Legislation’s May 2025 report, ‘State Threats and Terrorism’ In May 2025, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism and State Threat Legislation (IRTL),…

June 23, 2025

Laura O’Brien

Ben Follows

Opinion

criminal-defence

Criminalisation of Rough Sleeping to End with Vagrancy Act Repeal

Finally, there will be a repeal of the vagrancy act 1824. Progress, after just 201 years of criminalising the homeless Last week marked a major win for rough sleeping campaigns…

June 17, 2025

Sean Caulfield

Tabea Wilkes

Opinion

crime
fraud

Fraud Crackdown: What The Serious Fraud Office Funding Boost Means For Those Facing Fraud Allegations

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is a prosecuting authority as part of the UK’s criminal justice system, responsible for investigating and prosecuting serious or complex fraud, including bribery and corruption.…

December 9, 2024

Bethany Gerrard

Blog

crime
general-crime

Understanding Spiking: Current Laws and Labour’s Proposed Changes

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has recently reiterated labour’s plans to coordinate action against spiking. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) he stated: “Spiking will be made a criminal…

November 27, 2024

Sean Caulfield

Scarlett Roberts