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Live Facial Recognition

Live Facial Recognition. Facial recognition technology is the process by which a person can be identified from a digital facial image. A camera captures an image and produces a biometric template. A system is then used to compare the degree of similarity between two facial templates. Such facial recognition is used in various ways, such as […]

The Thin Blue Line

The Thin Blue Line refers to the concept of the police being the line that prevents society from descending into chaos, the blue referring to the colour of the uniform. The origin of the term came from 1854 when a red uniformed regiment in the Battle of Balaclava formed a long line to halt a […]

Threats to share intimate images

Threats to share intimate images. 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 […]

Trademark offences; sentencing guidelines

Trademark offences; sentencing guidelines. 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 […]

DVLA and Roadside Checks

DVLA and roadside checks. 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 […]

Renationalised Probation Service

Renationalised Probation Service. In 2015 reforms were passed to allow some of the National Probation Service responsibilities to be dealt with by private companies. Known as Community Rehabilitation Companies, or CRCs, the companies were responsible for low to medium risk offenders while probation continued to deal with high-risk offenders. Companies were invited to submit tenders […]

Knife Crime Prevention Orders

Knife Crime Prevention Orders. On the 5th July 2021, certain provisions of the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 come into force in specific areas for a period of 14 months. The area in question is the “metropolitan police district”, which consists of Greater London, excluding the City of London, the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple. The […]

Natural England Prosecutions

Natural England prosecutions. Natural England (and Natural Resources Wales) is the government’s advisor for the natural environment in England and Wales. Established in 2006, its purpose is to help conserve, enhance and manage the natural environment. It enforces the laws that protect wildlife and the environment and state that enforcement is used as a last resort. […]

Rape review

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. The issues Although the number of reported cases […]

Detention of seized cash

Detention of seized cash. 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 […]