When a road traffic offence is suspected to have been committed and the driver of the vehicle is not stopped at the scene of the incident to be spoken to, it is the registered keeper of the vehicle who will receive an initial letter from the Camera, Tickets & Collision Unit of the Police Constabulary […]
The importance of understanding disclosure in the criminal process
The disclosure of prosecution material has never been a more high profile and hotly-debated topic than it is at the present time. There can be little doubt that both the adversarial system itself and the fundamental premise upon which our justice system has for centuries survived, namely that the prosecution shall bear the burden in […]
The police have asked me for my phone PIN, do I have to give it to them?
The chances are that you are reading this article (unless out of pure curiosity) because: You have already been interviewed by the police and you have been asked to hand over your PIN number so that they can access the content of your phone, or You have been invited in for an interview and you are worried […]
Voluntary interviews – Your rights and entitlements
Have you been asked to attend the police station for a voluntary interview? Then you should know that the police have information which suggests that you may have committed a criminal offence and they need to ask you questions about this. Do I need representation? You can attend the police station for interview without a […]
What is the law regarding indecent images?
Last year, there were over 20,000 recorded indecent child image incidents across all on-line and social media platforms. The NSPCC have stated that this equates to one incident image being recorded every 23 minutes. Almost two-thirds of those cases related to taking, making or distributing indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children while a quarter involved […]
Pleading guilty by post – ‘The Single Justice Procedure’
It is becoming frequently more common for certain perceived minor offences to be dealt with under new procedure called the ‘Single Justice Procedure.’ The system permits individuals facing prosecution and who receive a Single Justice Procedure Notice to avoid having to go to court. What is sort of cases does the Single Justice Procedure apply […]
Criminal Prosecutions and the Prosecution Disclosure of Evidence
Why disclosure of evidence in the news? There has never been a time when the disclosure of evidence in criminal trials has so much adverse media attention. The arrest, prosecution and in some cases conviction of men and women who had been falsely accused but later exonerated has put the disclosure of evidence very much […]
How are drink driving fines calculated?
We frequently represent clients facing prosecution for driving with excess alcohol, more usually known as drink-driving, and are often asked: ‘How are drink driving fines calculated?’ Upon conviction for an offence of drink-driving, a period of disqualification will almost always be imposed. A period of disqualification is mandatory in all such cases unless the court […]
My child has been arrested – what should I do?
If your child has been arrested and/or charged to go to court, or if they have been released under investigation by the police, you should consult solicitors who possess the necessary experience in representing children and young persons. Similarly, if your child has been asked by the police to attend for a voluntary interview under […]
What is extradition and how can you appeal it?
Extradition takes place when someone who is accused or has been convicted of a criminal offence is returned from one country to another to be tried, to receive a sentence or to serve a sentence of imprisonment. Extradition is a form of international cooperation on matters of criminal justice and relies on each country accepting […]
