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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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 Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has imposed asset freezes and travel bans on four Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanders,...
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has fined Nationwide Building Society £44m for inadequate anti-financial crime systems and controls between...
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published policy statement PS25/23: Tackling non‑financial misconduct in financial services—Guidance in the...
The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has amended General Licence INT/2022/1839676 to include JSC Siberia Airlines. It has also been...
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has fined LastPass UK Ltd £1.2m following a 2022 data breach that compromised personal information of up...
Corporate Crime bills tracker—2025This Practice Note tracks the progress of government bills relevant to the field of corporate crime which have been...
Dangerous drivingFor detailed guidance on dangerous driving in cases involving a fatality, see Practice Note: Death by dangerous driving.The offence...
Fire safety developments following the Grenfell Tower fireThis Practice Note sets out key developments in relation to fire safety following the...
What happens after an incident on site?The immediate aftermath of an incidentDepending on the nature of the incident, first thoughts should, of...
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (the Regulations) came into force on 6...
Product safety teamsheet1Internal teamPerson in charge of Product Safety[Name and contact details of person in the organisation with overall...
Product safety incident plan (PSIP)1Management commitmentPerson with responsibility for the Product Safety Incident Plan (PSIP)[Insert name and...
Product recall notice (or corrective announcement)IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNING—PRODUCT [RECALL OR [ insert details of alternate corrective action (eg...
Judicial review—letter before claim[Insert the name and address of the proposed defendant]Dear [insert organisation name]Letter before claim in...
Financial sanctions breach report formPlease supply as much information as possible about this suspected breach.If you require any help to complete...
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...
Dishonesty is to be determined according to the current standards of ordinary, decent people.
Intent to defraud means with intent to practise fraud.
A magistrate including a lay magistrate or a District Judge sitting in the magistrates’ court.