Category Archives: News

On 27 May 2016 the Public Accounts Committee reported on the efficiency of the criminal justice system. The Committee’s report describes the system as “bedevilled by long standing poor performance including delays and inefficiencies, and costs are being shunted from one part of the system to another”.

It concludes the system is not good enough at supporting victims and witnesses and timely access to justice is too dependent on where victims and witnesses live.

The Committee is concerned the Ministry of Justice “has been too slow to recognise where the system is under stress, and to take action to deal with it”.

Our team is well aware of the short-comings in the system but we will do all we can to help you avoid any of the problems set out by the Committee.

The full report can be found here:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmpubacc/72/7202.htm

Category Archives: News

The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 came into force on 26 May 2016. This seeks to prevent the supply of psychoactive substances, previously known as ‘legal highs’. Although the Home Office Guidance to retailers can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/psychoactive-substances-act-guidance-for-retailers/psychoactive-substances-act-2016-guidance-for-retailers the Home Office recognises that it cannot give legal advice. If you are a retailer and wish advice or clarification please contact your nearest office and one of our team of specialist criminal lawyers will be happy to provide the advice you need.

Category Archives: News

One of our prison law specialists Irene Tolley is pursuing appeals on behalf of two clients as a result of the recent Supreme Court decision of R v Jogee; Ruddock v The Queen [2016] UKSC 8 and [2016] UKPC 7 on joint enterprise. The link to the case can be found here https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/docs/uksc-2015-0015-judgment.pdf Should you wish to discuss such an appeal or any other aspect of prison law then please contact Irene at the Nottingham office on 0115 9599550.

Category Archives: News

Proceedings brought under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 following conviction for possession of a controlled drug.

Proceedings withdrawn after we served a skeleton argument outlining the disparity between the basis upon which the case was prosecuted and the basis of the Proceeds of Crime action. Proceeds of Crime matters withdrawn against our client.

Category Archives: News

We represented a young man charged with assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty.

It was immediately obvious to us that the police officer had been well outside of his lawful powers when detaining our client in the street and holding him in the police car prior to arresting him. Our client was advised to plead not guilty on this basis and the case was listed for a trial. The court ordered written legal arguments before the trial and the CPS discontinued the case on receipt of our legal argument pointing out that it was the police officer who had acted unlawfully, not our client.

Category Archives: News

Private Hire taxi drivers who pick up passengers without a pre-booking are prosecuted for illegally Plying for Hire. Hackney Taxi drivers are also prosecuted for Plying for Hire if they pick up passengers out of their licensed area.

In both cases, drivers are also routinely prosecuted for using the vehicle without insurance. Whether they are guilty of this or not depends on the terms of their insurance policy.

We see a large number of these cases, usually as a result of the local Taxi Licencing authorities and police undertaking undercover operations. We have had considerable success in getting these cases dropped after having obtained proof from the insurance companies that the use was covered under the policy. This is particularly for Hackney Carriage drivers who pick up out of their licenced area.

For a taxi driver, it is very important that they are not convicted of the insurance offence as this carries 6-8 penalty points or an immediate disqualification from driving.

If you’re a taxi driver who has been caught by an undercover operation or are being prosecuted call us straight away to discuss your case. We will give free initial advice.