Businesses facing prosecution for recent or historic bribery and corruption offences need quick, accurate, and practical advice on investigations and self-reporting. Our content offers unique practical insight.
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Private prosecutions are on the rise, as businesses see it as a way to secure justice in financial crime cases. Our bespoke suite supports anyone seeking to bring and challenge private prosecutions.
As the scope and volume of corporate criminal offences increase, keeping track of changes is a constant challenge. Our weekly highlights and trackers keep you up to date with all the latest developments.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has published its annual report and acccounts for 2024–25, covering the period from 1 April 2024–31 March 2025. The...
The Cabinet Office has announced that it has paused debarment investigations into seven organisations criticised by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry,...
Ofcom has published a follow-up discussion paper exploring attribution measures for detecting and labelling deepfakes, such as watermarking,...
Law360, London: Proposals to create a new division of court without juries will not solve the backlog of cases facing the criminal justice system...
Natural England has published an updated version of its enforcement action register, which details civil sanctions, enforcement undertakings and...
Corporate Crime horizon scanner—2025This Practice Note provides a summary of the key legal developments that are expected to impact corporate crime...
Serious crime prevention ordersSerious crime prevention orders (SCPOs) were created by Part 1 of the Serious Crime Act 2007 (SCA 2007) and are civil...
Voluntary bill of indictmentTrials in the Crown Court take place ‘on indictment’ and a defendant ‘tried on indictment’ will be tried before a judge...
Compensation orders in criminal casesThe procedural rules relating to the criminal courts’ powers to make compensation orders are contained in...
The enforcement of trade sanctions breaches in the UKTrade sanctions are measures which restrict the direct or indirect import and export of goods,...
Anti-bribery and corruption policy1Introduction1.1Bribery and corruption remain major issues in world trade, despite the many dedicated efforts to...
Abatement notice for a statutory nuisance made under the section 80 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990[name] [District] [Borough] [City]...
Financial crime prevention—agents, intermediaries, associated persons, etc policy1Introduction1.1We run our business[es] with integrity. All of us...
Internal investigation—investigation reportPrivileged and confidentialNot for onward transmission without reference to [Head of Legal/Name of law...
Sanctions breach response form and action plan1General informationDate[Insert date]Name of person completing this response form and action plan[Insert...
Common assault and batteryThe offences of common assault and batteryTechnically, the offences of assault and battery are separate summary offences. An...
AffrayAffray is an offence created by the Public Order Act 1986 (POA 1986). It can be tried in either the magistrates’ court or the Crown Court. The...
Self defenceSelf defenceSelf defence is an absolute defence based on the evidence which can apply in crimes committed by force. Section 76 of the...
Assault occasioning actual bodily harmThe offence of actual bodily harmThe offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) can be tried in...
Criminal act or omissionFor a person to be found guilty of a criminal offence it must be shown that they:•acted in a particular way, or•failed to act...
Strict liabilityStrict liability applies to offences for which the prosecution is not required to prove mens rea for one or more elements of the...
Recklessness in criminal casesThe subjective test for recklessnessCertain statutory and common law offences allow the prosecution to prove mens rea on...
Involuntary manslaughterInvoluntary manslaughter—introductionManslaughter can be classified as either voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary manslaughter...
Common law offence of false imprisonmentThe offence of false imprisonmentFalse imprisonment is a common law offence but it is more common as a civil...
Entrapment There is no defence of entrapment in English law but it is considered to be an abuse of the process of the court for state agents to lure a...
Causation and intervening acts in criminal casesCriminal offences are generally divided into two categories: •conduct crimes, and •result crimesA...
Causing fear or provocation of violenceThe offence of causing fear or provocation of violenceThe offence of causing fear or provocation of violence...
Wounding or causing grievous bodily harm with intentThe offence of causing grievous bodily harm with intentWounding or causing grievous bodily harm...
Burden and standard of proof in criminal proceedingsThere are two kinds of ‘burden’ in criminal proceedings:•the legal burden, and•the evidential...
Time limits for commencing criminal proceedingsFor information on how criminal prosecutions are commenced in England and Wales, see Practice Notes:...
Specific and basic intentIntention refers to the outcome sought by the defendant. Offences may be described as either ones of ‘basic intent’ or of...
Threats to killThis Practice Note covers the offence of threats to kill. It looks at what the prosecution must prove and explores each of the elements...
AutomatismDefinition of automatismAn act is done in a state of Automatism if it is done by the body without control by the mind, (eg it is a spasm or...
The Theft Act 1968 (TA 1968), s 5, and the Criminal Damage Act 1971, s 10, provide that property shall be regarded as belonging to any person having possession or control of it, or having in it any proprietary right or interest.
An appeal to the High Court against the decision of a magistrates’ court or the Crown Court on the basis that the decision was wrong in law or in excess of the court’s jurisdiction.
The assessment of dangerousness is a statutory part of the law of sentencing for specified offences.