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When The Prosecution alleges a client is in possession of illegal substances there is pressure at court accept that its true. When our client was arrested, police found a small quantity of white powder in his pocket. Our client who pleaded guilty to other offences always maintained that the powder was not an illegal substance as … Continued

The Sexual offences legislation was introduced to protect children not criminalise them for inter-peer relationships. Sexual offence legislation was introduced to protect young people. It is an offence to possess or make indecent images of children and young persons. The law, which predated much of the current digital technology, is not flexible enough to consider situations … Continued

BSB Barrister Rabia Mir secures acquittal of the client at Wood Green Crown Court. Rabia Mir secured an acquittal for the Defendant charged with possession of an offensive weapon (large kitchen knife) in a public place. The Defendant was alleged to have threatened the complainant with the kitchen knife on the street. This altercation was witnessed … Continued

The new offence of Controlling or Coercive behaviour came into force on 29th December 2015. It differs from other relevant offences already in law because it is primarily (although not exclusively) aimed at couples in ongoing relationships. And is important to note that the net has considerably widened in terms of the type of behaviour … Continued

Jim Skelsey recently wrote for the Justice Gap, about a case involving an imitation firearm. Here he sets out the law and how he secured the acquittal of his client.   THE LAW S57(4) describes an “imitation firearm” as being “anything which has the appearance of being a firearm whether or not it is capable … Continued

Jonathan Black comments on the recent national police operation targeting internet child porn users. The recent wave of arrests of individuals suspected of accessing indecent images of children is nothing new. A decade ago, Operation Ore traced through credit card purchases of those who were attempting to actively purchase such images from online suppliers. These images are now … Continued

The Government has decided to make khat an illegal Class C drug. The ban on khat will come into effect on 24 June 2014. BSB Partner Jonathan Black considers the impact of the new change in the law. What will happen if you use khat from 24 June in England and Wales? From 24 June … Continued

BSB partner Jonathan Black writes for the Lawyer magazine. With 12 months to go before the Magna Carta’s 800th anniversary, Jonathan Black makes the case for justice. Read the article here.or below; To the general public, the word solicitor can have a tendency to conjure up an image of a Dickensian Tulkinghorn, sat stiffly behind the … Continued

When BSB Partner Jonathan Black met him, 15-year old J had never seen the inside of a courtroom let alone a prison cell. When BSB Partner met him, 15-year old J had never seen the inside of a courtroom let alone a prison cell. A few days earlier he had just completed his final GCSE when he … Continued