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Opinion
  • criminal-defence
  • mental-health
  • representation

How Mental Health, Disability and Other Vulnerabilities Affect Criminal Proceedings

People with mental health conditions, learning disabilities, autism or other vulnerabilities often face additional barriers in the criminal justice system. With the right safeguards, such as Appropriate Adults, intermediaries, expert...

June 16, 2026

Talitha Purcell Gilpin

Blog
  • civil-liberties
  • Undercover Policing Inquiry

Undercover Policing Inquiry – Where Are We Now?

Background to UCPI The Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI) was established in 2015 to get to the truth about undercover policing in England and Wales between 1968 and 2007. It was…

June 11, 2026

Aneka Thirurajah

Ailsa McNeil

Opinion
  • criminal-defence

Assault On An Emergency Worker Vs Assault On A Police Officer – What Are The Differences And How Do These Affect Those Charged With These Offences?

Assault on an emergency worker and assault on a police officer are closely related offences, yet they differ significantly in terms of sentencing, available defences, and how cases are heard...

June 3, 2026

Katie McFadden

Anna Williams

Opinion
  • criminal-defence

‘Guilt By Association’ – Joint Enterprise & The Need For Reform

Joint Enterprise allows multiple people to be prosecuted for the same offence, even where their roles differ — a doctrine long criticised for enabling “guilt by association”. Despite the landmark...

May 28, 2026

Amy Coulter

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
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

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