Posts By: Jim Meyer

The NSPCC’s How Safe Are Your Children Report, published on 17th June 2015, provides a record of the number of children in the UK reporting abuse or neglect over 2013-2014. It was written because it is thought that only by recording these numbers can it be accurately assessed whether the current measures employed to protect… Read more »

Every few years, usually following freedom of information requests, the General Medical Council (GMC) publishes figures on the number of doctors with criminal convictions that continue to practise. The most recently reported request, made by the MailOnline, shows that as of 28th August last year, 1,025 registered doctors found guilty of serious offences, such as… Read more »

It is understandable that those charged with a serious sexual offence such as sexual assault, historical allegations or rape, will want to ensure that they have the best defence possible – whether resulting in being found not guilty, an acquittal or in obtaining the least possible sentence by highlighting the appropriate mitigating circumstances. This usually… Read more »

In a new guide, we provide an overview of the law relating to the offence of failing to comply with a request to provide an evidential specimen and a case study demonstrating how special reasons can be advanced to mitigate the consequences of committing the offence. Read Jim Meyer’s briefing in full here: Drink Driving… Read more »

Following a seven-week trial, John Allen has been convicted of 33 offences of serious sexual abuse against 19 children. Despite maintaining his innocence, Allan, 73, was found to have abused children at care homes he ran from the 1960s to 1990s. He has been sentenced to life and will have to spend at least 11… Read more »

Greater Manchester Police have announced the arrest of eleven people, aged between 19 and 38, suspected of sexually exploiting children. The arrests were made under Operation Heliodor, an ongoing investigation that forms part of Project Phoenix. Read Richard Egan’s article on the latest developments at Operation Heliodor: Child Sexual Exploitation Arrests.

Action is now being taken by police forces and criminal justice agencies in the UK in relation to information uncovered by an international police operation into child pornography and exploitation. Project Spade, which originated in Canada, has led to investigations concerning the online purchasing of child abuse images in more than 50 countries, including the… Read more »

New article published by leading criminal defence solicitor Jim Meyer entitled  “A New Vision for Victims, But Are Defendants Being Left Out in the Cold?”:- UK Criminal Justice System Increasingly Victim-Centric The criminal justice system in the UK is increasingly victim-centric, aptly demonstrated by Justice Secretary Grayling’s new proposals to provide greater protection and support to… Read more »

Although the law protects the identity of a complainant in sexual offence cases from the public, whether or not there is a conviction, the identity of an accused will only be protected in very exceptional circumstances. In a new briefing, Richard Egan considers the current law relating to anonymity in relation to those accused of… Read more »

Despite a high acquittal rate, the social stigma attached to unfounded allegations of sexual abuse is particular damaging. Although the law protects the identity of a complainant in sexual offence cases from the public, whether or not there is a conviction, the identity of an accused will only be protected in very exceptional circumstances. The… Read more »