Criminal Law Articles
As one of the North West’s leading Criminal Solicitors, this section has all the useful articles we have collated which relate to criminal law. In this section you will find out about new laws, amendments to existing laws and precedents set – as well as opinion and lot’s of great advice from our award-winning crime team.
Recent Criminal Cases Involving MPs.
There have been two entirely different crime stories in the news this week, but both will challenge the court to consider sentencing guidelines and how they ought to be applied.
The Real Cost Of Unqualified Legal Advice
If you were to use a McKenzie Friend, or any other unqualified person, in conducting a criminal appeal, the consequences can be worse than just a financial loss. The Court of Appeal has the power to order, in appeals without merit, that some time already served should not count towards your sentence. You may also face a substantial claim for prosecution costs.
A Spike In Youth Knife Crime. Solutions?
After analysing Freedom of Information request responses from 29 out of 43 police forces, Channel 4 discovered that the number of police-recorded offenders aged under 18 using a knife or sharp instrument to commit homicide rose by the worryingly high figure of 77% from 26 to 46 from 2016 to 2018.
What Is The Penalty For Having Counterfeit Money?
Here we look at the impact and cases surrounding the possession and/or use of counterfeit money – including the sentencing – which may shock some people!
Is Using Modern Slavery As A Defence For Drug Dealing Or Other Offences Permitted?
Can Modern Slavery be used as a defence for drugs offences or other offences for that matter? Well the answer is maybe – depending on the circumstances and the offence committed. Here we look at using modern slavery as a defence.
Could You End Up Having Your Location Monitored?
The tags capture and record information on an individual’s location at all times. After receiving location signals from satellites, the tag then communicates location data via a mobile phone network then through to a case management system.
The Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019
The Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 has completed its parliamentary journey and will, in the main, come in to effect over the next few months. Here, we look at what the new changes mean and how it will impact on both sentencing and access to data.
New Drug Detection Technology In Prisons
The government has announced the introduction of drug detection scanners at ten of the country’s “most challenging” prisons. The scanners will be able to detect drugs on clothes, paper and mail. The technology will be able to detect minute traces of substances that would have otherwise been invisible. This would include drugs which have been soaked into clothes or letters as a way to bypass normal security.
End of the Road For Short Prison Sentences?
It may have slipped under the Brexit-filled radar but the “other” big news story recently was the surprising news that the Prisons Minister is considering whether to abolish the power to impose short prison sentences, those of 6 months or less….
Review Of The Psychoactive Substances Act
The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 has recently undergone a review to see how effective it is proving. Here we look at the findings of the review and the implications.
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