News
No Returns From 25 May 2018
As part of the ongoing AGFS dispute, the Criminal Bar Association has recommended that barristers operate a "no returns" policy from 25 May 2018.
A helpful explanation of "no returns" has been published by The Secret Barrister here.
Proposed Guidelines for Public Order Offences
Today, the Sentencing Council has published proposed new guidelines covering public order offences sentenced in England and Wales.
The guidelines cover offences within the Public Order Act 1986:
- Riot
- Violent disorder
- Affray
- Section 4 - Threatening or provocation of violence
- Section 4A - Disorderly behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress
- Section 5 - Disorderly behaviour causing or likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress
Forensic Failures at Met Police
More than 30 criminal investigations including 21 sex attacks are being reviewed after a forensic scientist apparently botched examinations. Scotland Yard said a member of staff from its Forensic Services allegedly failed to carry out tests and lied to investigators about progress.
A total of 33 inquiries between 2012 and 2017 are affected - 21 rapes and sexual assaults and 12 violent and drug-related crimes and burglaries. An internal review is under way.
Other
Speech by Sir Geoffrey Vos, Chancellor of the High Court: The Future of Law
There will, of course, still be criminals and criminal cases, even if the crimes will be different once the digital revolution is complete. Cyber-crime and sex crime is likely to be the most prevalent, but I doubt that even in 30 years’ time, society will accept the digital determination of guilt in contested criminal cases. Computers will probably not replace juries, even if the jury’s decision-making will be very greatly assisted by a range of digital processes. I heard the other day, however, that lie detection is a very inexact science. Apparently, it depends on how much the person taking the lie detection test is acclimatised to lying. Good liars pass such tests and bad liars fail.
Obscurity
Possessing an Immigration Stamp
Possessing a real or replica immigration stamp (the ones used to stamp passports at the border) without reasonable excuse is contrary to section 26B of the Immigration Act 1971.