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The European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) has published its Annual Report 2024, detailing a 60% increase in case workload...
Dispute Resolution analysis: a solicitor and publicity and media manager at a large law firm have been found to be in contempt of court following the...
Spotlight on Corruption has published analysis showing that the misconduct in public office (MIPO) offence is predominantly used against junior police...
Law360: In a major policy address delivered on 12 May 2025 at the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association's Anti-Money Laundering and...
Trading Standards Officers from Swansea Council, supported by multiple local authorities and police forces, conducted raids on four warehouse...
Admissibility of hearsay in criminal proceedings—unavailable witnessesThe statutory conditionsSection 116 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (CJA 2003)...
Enforcement of the Consumer Protection Act 1987Powers exercised by the Secretary of State/enforcement authorities under the Consumer Protection Act...
Misleading statements under the Financial Services Act 2012Offences relating to financial servicesThe Financial Services Act 2012 (FSA 2012) creates...
Privilege—loss or waiver of privilegeThis Practice Note looks at loss of privilege in civil litigation in the context of legal professional privilege...
Licences and exceptions in trade sanctionsTrade sanctions are controls on the:•import, export, transfer, movement, making available and acquisition of...
Notice of appeal pursuant to section 80(3) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 against an abatement notice for a statutory nuisance[name, address...
Abatement notice for a statutory nuisance made under the section 80 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990[name] [District] [Borough] [City]...
Private action for a statutory nuisance—complaint to the magistrates’ court—section 82 of Environmental Protection Act 1990In the [insert name]...
Private action for a statutory nuisance—notice under section 82(6) of Environmental Protection Act 1990[insert address of claimant's instructing...
Judicial review—letter before claim[Insert the name and address of the proposed defendant]Dear [insert organisation name]Letter before claim in...
Common assault and batteryThe offences of common assault and batteryTechnically, the offences of assault and battery are separate summary offences. An...
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...
Assault occasioning actual bodily harmThe offence of actual bodily harmThe offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) can be tried in...
Involuntary manslaughterInvoluntary manslaughter—introductionManslaughter can be classified as either voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary manslaughter...
Causation and intervening acts in criminal casesCriminal offences are generally divided into two categories: •conduct crimes, and •result crimesA...
Threats to killThe offence of threats to killThe offence of threats to kill is an offence which can be tried in the magistrates' court or the Crown...
Recklessness in criminal casesThe subjective test for recklessnessCertain statutory and common law offences allow the prosecution to prove mens rea on...
Fraud by false representationThis Practice Note covers the offence of fraud by false representation. You may also be interested in the following...
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...
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...
Perverting the course of justiceElements of the offence of perverting the course of justicePerverting the course of justice is a common law offence...
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...
Criminal damageGeneralSimple criminal damage is triable either way unless the value of the alleged damage is £5,000 or less, in which case the offence...
PerjuryPerjury in judicial proceedings The offence of perjury is triable only on indictment and carries a maximum penalty of seven years and/or a...
Wounding or causing grievous bodily harm with intentThe offence of causing grievous bodily harm with intentWounding or causing grievous bodily harm...
Specific and basic intentIntention refers to the outcome sought by the defendant. Offences may be described as either ones of ‘basic intent’ or of...
Money laundering offences—tipping off and prejudicing an investigationTipping off and prejudicing an investigationIt would undermine the benefit to...
An attempt may be prosecuted where the defendant has taken steps towards to committing an indictable offence, and those steps are more than merely preparatory to the commission of the offence.
Defined in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA 2002), s 340 as conduct which constitutes a criminal offence in any part of the UK or would do so if it occurred there.
A criminal offence which is normally tried in a magistrates’ court and which is generally considered to be less serious than other types of offences. The sentencing powers for summary only matters are more limited although there are some which are punishable by way of imprisonment and/or unlimited fines. There are also time limits for commencing summary only proceedings.