Expert Comments

Opinion

“Sentencing now is a mechanical numbers game, with a much reduced role for judicial discretion and personal circumstances.”

The Age of Unreason is upon us. Brexit and the popularity of Trump and May are simply symptoms of a malaise that I struggle to understand yet fear greatly: Thatcherism…

May 4, 2017

Raj Chada

Opinion

Beware the new early guilty plea sentencing guidelines

Criminal defence practitioners this week will have approached the publishing of the new definitive guideline on reduction in sentence for a guilty plea, which becomes effective in June, with some...

March 9, 2017

Ruth Harris

Opinion

Getting to the heart of knife crime in the UK

Last night three prisoners were stabbed in Pentonville, one fatally, a tragic reminder that something must be done to address the prevalence of knife crime in the UK. That said,...

February 8, 2017

Opinion

Trump card in compliance

Are we about to undergo a fundamental sea change in how to approach anti corrupt practices with arrival of President Trump? As indicated in Bribery: A Compliance Handbook the inspiration...

January 20, 2017

Raj Chada

Opinion

A revolution in criminal law?

If asked what motivates me to do this work, there are two overriding emotion. The first, unsurprisingly as a lawyer, is a deep commitment to the rule of law. Not...

January 13, 2017

Raj Chada

Opinion

Every part of the criminal justice system needs to change – and that includes defence lawyers

The emerging findings from David Lammy MP’s review should make all of us who work in the criminal justice system pause to reflect. It is not that the statistics are...

December 6, 2016

Raj Chada

Opinion

The unintended consequences of bail reform

The Policing and Crime Bill is working its way through Parliament into law. Contained within are radical proposals for dealing with suspects while their cases are under investigation. The proposed...

October 4, 2016

Ruth Harris

Blog

Criminal Record: What you need to know

Being arrested, cautioned or convicted of a crime can be a daunting experience but the long term effects of having a criminal record can make it even worse. Over 10.5...

September 27, 2016

Blog

Raj Chada Column

"Chilcot lays bare a catastrophic error of judgement. That is a damning indictment in history. Whether it is an indictment for a trial is less clear.” "Let justice be done...

September 7, 2016

Raj Chada

Opinion

Decriminalising the sex industry – The Home Affairs Committee finds criminalisation of sex workers must come to an end!

The Home Affairs Committee has published an interim report on prostitution, acknowledging that elements of the present law are unsatisfactory and that the criminalisation of sex workers must come to...

July 4, 2016

Blog

“He knows if he’s guilty or not”

The Sentencing Council is currently consulting on a new guideline that will dictate the level of reduction that a defendant will receive for entering a guilty plea. The guideline will...

June 29, 2016

Opinion

Disclosure – take nothing at face value

It is widely acknowledged that “disclosure” is one of the most important and fundamental issues in the criminal justice system. The Crown Prosecution Service agree that the application of proper...

June 24, 2016

Opinion

The EAW is dead. Long live the EAW – The consequences of “Brexit” for the European Arrest Warrant

Like it or loathe it, the European Arrest Warrant has become firmly established within the UK legal landscape since its introduction into UK law by the Extradition Act 2003 on...

June 21, 2016

Opinion

Motor insurance – are you sure you’re covered?

Motor insurance can be a headache for fleet managers, particularly when it comes to renewal. Specialist commercial fleet insurance is the most obvious cover. But what’s the situation for personnel…

May 27, 2016

Sean Caulfield

Opinion

Safeguards on Sentencing

The Sentencing Guidelines Council’s current consultation on updating guidelines for reduction in sentences for guilty pleas must cause concern for defence practitioners. We have long been concerned about the effect...

April 11, 2016

Ruth Harris

Opinion

general-crime

Proposed changes to pre-charge bail: the good and the bad

The Policing and Crime Bill is working its way through Parliament into law. It follows the lengthy consultation and proposals for legislation released by the Home Office in March 2015.…

April 7, 2016

Michael Ackah

Opinion

Richardson and Clark: Sexual Offences A Practitioner's Guide

Covering the 70+ sexual offences currently on the statute books, each is dealt with individually by addressing the elements the prosecution must prove, potential defences, likely issues, jurisdiction and sentence.

March 9, 2016

Opinion

Credit for guilty pleas – the new proposed guideline and its implications for defendants.

Credit for guilty pleas – the new proposed guideline and its implications for defendants. On 11th February 2016, the Sentencing Guidelines Council (SGC) announced a 12 week consultation on a…

March 4, 2016

Opinion

Restraint orders: Reasonable suspicion and reporting

On 1 June 2015 a number of provisions took effect as a result of the implementation of the Serious Crime Act 2015 (SCA). One of the most notable changes was...

February 11, 2016

Blog

FIFA Corruption Arrests

The news of the arrest of FIFA officials in Switzerland in relation to a bribery investigation by US authorities highlights more than ever the international reach of corruption legislation like…

January 27, 2016

Raj Chada

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