Posts By: pareekc

There have been some startling statistics set out a CPS Inspectorate report into the prosecution of Rape cases.  The report simply confirms what we already know, that the investigative and prosecution process in Rape cases is broken.  Although the report focuses on the reduction in prosecutions of Rape cases, we should not forget that the… Read more »

When people think about drink driving, they are usually thinking about what happens when people leave the pub at night and are stopped by the police.  Just as often though, the real stories which give rise to a drink driving convictions are quite different. It is often a minor road accident – just a shunt… Read more »

Two high profile examples that have been before the courts recently show the dangers of being “innocent and angry” in terms of your comments relating to being caught up in the criminal justice system – however, unfair you think that might be. Because of the ease of such statements being amplified through social media, this… Read more »

Making false insurance claims can result in criminal prosecution with serious consequences.  Often people think that making a claim arising from sickness on holiday might be an easy way to make some money.   However, Karl & Laura Hughes recently found out the serious downside of making false insurance claims in a recent case before the… Read more »

With a General Election coming up on 12 December 2019 and with there being some very polarised views on important issues of the day – it is worth remembering that there are a number of criminal offences relating to elections.  The case law makes clear that offences arising from the General Election will be treated… Read more »

Recent cases suggest there is a much tougher approach being taken against companies, but more importantly directors of those companies, when it comes to breaches of Health & Safety law.  One company director, Robert Harvey, was imprisoned for ten months after a fellow worker was crushed to death by an excavator.  The prosecution proved that… Read more »

Stop and search has always been controversial and now it is being used more due to rising public and political concern about knife crime. Increasingly the police are using a power under s60 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. This allows for stop and search powers to be exercised across a particular area, for… Read more »

In the latest revision to the sentencing guidelines, new guidelines for public order offences come in to force for adults sentenced on or after 1 January 2020. Although most public order offences are not considered to be amongst the most serious crimes, they do occupy a lot of court time with 18,600 offenders sentenced for… Read more »

The Conservatives have signalled that they want to increase the severity the current sentencing regime, particularly for offenders who commit some of the most serious offences.  Automatic release at the half-way point of some sentences is likely to be removed. Government statistics for 2018 show that for serious sexual and violent offences the following sentence… Read more »

In most cases it is necessary for witnesses to give live evidence in Court.  However, there may be reasons as to why that is not possible.  The prosecution will often use the rules relating to witnesses who cannot be available to give live evidence in the context of evidence of police officers.  But the rules… Read more »