Regulation of fireworks As fireworks are explosives, there are strict laws governing the sale, possession and use of them. The House of Commons Library has published a briefing paper, providing a detailed overview of the current provisions. In brief Since January 2005, the sale of fireworks to the public has been prohibited, except from … Continued
New government policies and the party conference – Part 1 The Tory Party Conference has been taking place in Manchester, with several announcements being made that are relevant to the criminal justice system. Its taken Wayne Couzens to address violence against women Wayne Couzens, the former police officer who pleaded guilty to the murder of … Continued
The Justice Committee has just published a report looking at those imprisoned with mental health issues. The report concluded that the Government must establish viable alternatives so that prisons are no longer used as a “place of safety” under the Mental Health Act. What is the problem? In 2005 the NHS took over the responsibility … Continued
Convenience-culture and heightened environmental awareness have ushered in the era of zero-carbon electric scooters. Department of Transport sanctioned trial rental schemes started in 2020 and are running in selected areas across country. The fleets of branded e-scooters zipping across British cities and towns reflect the significant shift away from public transport to ensure social distancing, … Continued
The Sentencing Council has the responsibility of developing and monitoring sentencing guidelines. The aim is to promote consistency in sentencing while maintaining the independence of the judiciary. Following a consultation period, the Council has published sentencing guidelines for offences under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The guidelines apply to adult offenders and cover the following … Continued
The Domestic Abuse Bill introduced a new offence which came into effect on 29th June 2021. Section 69 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 creates a new offence of threatening to disclose a private sexual photograph or film in which another individual appears, and by doing so, the person intends to cause distress to that … Continued
The Sentencing Council produces guidelines on sentencing for the judiciary and criminal justice professionals. The aim is to promote greater consistency in sentencing whilst maintaining the independence of the judiciary. The guidelines set sentencing ranges within the maximum for the offence and must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would not be … Continued
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill was introduced in the House of Lords in early July and awaits a second reading. The Bill is formed of thirteen parts, including provisions to: introduce measures for the protection of the police; introduce legislation for the prevention, investigation and prosecution of crime; make changes to the policing … Continued
Technology has been developed by the DVLA and the Home Office for police officers to use at the roadside to confirm the identity of a driver. The technology allows instant access to a photograph of the driver. The picture is held on the DVLA driver’s database, and immediate access is provided to officers dealing … Continued
Your son or daughter, demob happy having finished school, lockdown restrictions lifted and carried by the elation of England’s progress in Euro 2021 has joined a group of friends to enjoy the spectacle in a pub or park. There have been so few opportunities to enjoy a shared crowd experience, they are not going to … Continued
Rape review The Government’s End to End Review of the Criminal Justice System Response began in 2019. The purpose was to look at evidence across the system, from reporting rape to the police through to court outcomes, to understand what was happening in cases of adult rape. Although the number of reported cases has not … Continued
HMRC seized £35,000 cash in plastic carrier bags from a Mr Mann as it was suspected he was fraudulently evading excise duty. Boxes of vodka worth around £220,000 had also been found on the premises. Once cash is seized, it can be held for up to 48 hours, after which time an application must be … Continued
