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Terrorism sentences and the Fishmonger Hall attack

Terrorism sentences and the Fishmonger Hall attack. The government recently introduced a package of measures aimed at keeping the public safe from terrorists by imposing longer prison terms. The Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act came into force in April and introduced a new “serious terrorism sentence” and provides a minimum term of 14 years and monitoring for […]

John Goodwin and RSPCA Prosecution

John Goodwin and other members of our team defend those who are charged with Animal Welfare offences by the RSPCA and other private prosecutors. We constantly challenge the legality of warrants issued to seize animals. We believe the whole system of private prosecutions urgently needs reviewing and that those charged are often treated extremely […]

Drivers and mobile phones

Drivers and mobile phones. An announcement from the Department for Transport says that the government will be strengthening road traffic laws to make it illegal to use a mobile phone in most circumstances while driving. Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, made the announcement and said the government aimed to make it easier to prosecute those […]

Environment Agency & The Environment Act

Environment Agency & The Environment Act. With COP26 taking place, the environment and how we care for it is all over the news. New legislation designed to protect and enhance the environment has now passed into UK law. The Environment Act provides legally binding targets to be enforced by a new Independent Office for Environmental Protection, […]

Problem Gambling and Crime

Problem gambling and crime. The Howard League for Penal Reform launched The Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling in 2019, and it is scheduled to end next year. The Commission seeks to answer three questions: What are the links between problem gambling and crime? What impact do these links have on communities and society? What should […]

Regulation of Fireworks

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 licensed traders. […]

Backlog in criminal courts

Backlog in criminal courts. Even before the pandemic, there was a backlog in the criminal courts, which has worsened. The National Audit Office (NAO) has now produced a report on reducing that backlog. The NAO is the independent public spending watchdog; they produce reports examining government expenditure to judge whether value for money has been […]

New government policies and the party conference

New government policies and the party conference. The Tory Party Conference has been taking place in Manchester, with several announcements being made that are relevant to the criminal justice system. Wayne Couzens and violence against women Wayne Couzens, the former police officer who pleaded guilty to the murder of Sarah Everard, was sentenced to a whole […]

The Security Industry Authority, also known as the SIA is the statutory organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK. The Private Security Industry Act 2001 created certain criminal offences that include engaging in licensable conduct without a licence, employing unlicensed persons in licensable conduct, obstructing SIA officials and falsely claiming SIA […]

Prison and Rehabilitation

Prison and rehabilitation. There has always been a great deal of debate surrounding the issues of punishment and rehabilitation and the role of prison sentences in the justice system. Although some people can favour punishment and others rehabilitation, most people would suggest a mix of both. In the past, a former director-general of the Prison Service […]