Is “Posting Annoying Tweets” a Criminal Offence? The impact of R v Scottow
The recent High Court decision stressed that the Article 10 right to freedom of speech includes the right to cause offence. Is “being mildly rude on the internet” an offence?… Read more
Mental Incapacity and Consent to Sexual Activity: a Case Study
Sexual offences against a person with a mental disorder: at what point will a “mental disorder” mean a person lacks capacity to consent to sexual activity? Where do we draw… Read more
Is “Advance Consent to Sexual Activity” a Defence?
Can consent to sexual activity be given in advance? Will “advance consent” be a defence for sexual activity with a person who is asleep or unconscious? Can a sleeping… Read more
The Sentencing Code 2020
The Sentencing Code 2020 The Sentencing Act 2020 or ‘the Sentencing Code’, as it is often referred to, came into force on 1 December 2020 and applies to all those… Read more
Video Hearings and Disabled Defendants – A Review of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Interim Report
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has published a paper entitled ‘Inclusive Justice: a system designed for all’. Whilst the EHRC was already conducting an inquiry into the fair treatment… Read more
Legal Advice Regarding Coronavirus Offences
The current Coronavirus pandemic has presented all of us with unprecedented challenges, especially whilst under lockdown. As a direct response, emergency legislation has been passed to ensure compliance with new… Read more
Impact of the Coronavirus on the Criminal Justice System
The COVID19 pandemic has meant that every aspect of society, including the Criminal Justice System, has had to adapt to the many new challenges that we face. With much criminal… Read more
Autism and Vulnerable Client Specialist Advocacy
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which encompasses Asperger’s Syndrome and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). Autism is also a spectrum condition meaning that the level of impairment ranges from being… Read more
The Importance of Receiving Good Legal Advice in the Police Station
We were called to the police station recently to represent a client who had been arrested in relation to an allegation of murder. The police told us that during… Read more
Better Case Management
New rules and guidance have been published (for both Magistrates and Crown Court cases) Everyone must adhere to these rules. The Transforming Summary Justice and Better Case Management initiatives are… Read more