Criminal Law

Latest posts

New Sentencing Guidelines for Perverting the Course of Justice

Posted: 23 August

In a constant effort to maintain the integrity of the Justice System, in August 2023 the Sentencing Council published new guidelines for Perverting the Course of Justice. These will come into effect on 1st October 2023 in England and...

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Revised Sentencing Guidelines for Motoring Offences:

Posted: 18 August

In June 2023, the Sentencing Guidelines for Motoring Offences were revised and updated in England and Wales. Six of the existing guidelines were revised following the introduction of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. These are as...

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How to apply to vary or remove restraining order made in the Magistrates Court

Posted: 10 July

To vary or remove a restraining order made in the Magistrates’ Court you must be a prosecutor, defendant, or any other person in the order. In addition, you must fill out an application and must have a persuasive case...

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Serious Violence Reduction Orders (Pilot Scheme 2023)

Posted: 25 May

April 2023 was the start of the Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVRO) pilot program. This included four forces: Thames Valley, West Midlands, Merseyside and Sussex. This program will trial the new stop and search powers to target those who...

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New rules for IDVAs & ISVAs

Posted: 24 April

Practice Guidance has been issued in relation to new rules on the attendance of Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs) and Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (ISVAs) at Hearings in the Family Court, which came into force on 6 April 2023....

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Overview of the Appeal process

Posted: 07 March

Appeal against a conviction in the Magistrates’ Court: If someone has a Trial or/and Sentence in the Magistrates’ court and they disagree with the verdict, an appeal can be made against the decision of the Magistrates’. How to make...

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What happens if I find money that is not mine?

Posted: 01 March

If you find money or other property in a public place and did not see where it came from or who had dropped it, you should take it into your local police station. When you arrive, you are to...

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Pre-charge Bail

Posted: 22 February

Since the presumption against pre-charge bail was removed in October 2022 (read about this here) we have seen an increase in the number of suspects subject to pre-charge bail. This blog discusses pre-charge police bail, the conditions you can...

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A brief outline of the Single Justice Procedure

Posted: 05 January

What is the Single Justice Procedure? A Single Justice Procedure relates to minor summary- only offences that cannot result in a custodial sentence. For example, driving without insurance, low value shoplifting or speeding. It allows the case to be...

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Planning for Your Blended Family’s Future

Blended families are now more common than ever. Many people are starting new relationships,...

- 30 June 2025

Navigating the Ban on Single-Use Vapes

Legal Guidance for UK Businesses The UK government’s ban on single-use vapes marks a...

- 12 June 2025

Intermediate Courts: Backlog Solution

The answer to the Crown Court backlog crisis? With the Crown Court backlog at...

- 23 May 2025