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Assault Sentencing Guidelines
Assault sentencing guidelines. The existing assault guidelines came into effect in January 2012; at the same time, the attempt murder guideline was revised. Following an “extensive and complex project”, new sentencing guidelines have been announced for certain violent offences, including new guidance for assaults on emergency workers. Sentencing guidelines are referred to by any sentencing tribunal […]
Coercive and Controlling Behaviour
Coercive and controlling behaviour. The offence of controlling and coercive behaviour has been on the statute books for a few years now but has recently hit the headlines. Ruth Dodsworth is an ITV Wales presenter who met her ex-husband, Jonathan Wignall, in 2001. She became the primary income earner when his business started to collapse, […]
Child Sexual Offences
Child sexual offences. Draft revised sentencing guidelines have been produced to reflect recent Court of Appeal judgments. The guidelines clarify sentencing guidance for cases where no sexual activity occurs or where the targeted child does not exist. The revised guidelines are subject to consultation, which will close on 13th August 2021. The main revisions apply to […]
Life sentences with further orders
Life sentences with further orders. A recent Court of Appeal case has ruled on the appropriateness of protective orders when a life sentence is in place. In GD’s case, the Court imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) alongside an indeterminate life sentence. On appeal, the question was whether making the SHPO was wrong in […]
Covid 19 – fixed penalty notices
Covid 19 – fixed penalty notices. More than 85,000 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) have been issued for breaches of the Covid restrictions in England since March 2020. What is a fixed penalty notice? An FPN allows a penalty to be paid instead of being prosecuted and risking a criminal conviction. Fast payment is incentivised by reducing […]