Blog
Kingsley Napley’s Medical Negligence Team ‘walks together’ with the Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity
Sharon Burkill
18 February 2016
Joint enterprise: Supreme Court decision a welcome and just clarification
Today (18 February) the Supreme Court has handed down its landmark decision in R v Jogee (Appellant). Judgment was delivered following a hearing 27 – 29 October 2015. This was the first time that the highly contentious common law doctrine of joint enterprise has been looked at by the Supreme Court. Sandra Paul examines the issues involved.
11 February 2016
Reducing sentences for guilty pleas – a new proposed Guideline
The Sentencing Council on 11 February issued a Consultation on Reduction in Sentence for Guilty Pleas. The Consultation closes on 5 May 2016. This topic is already garnering media interest and there is likely to be further criticism similar to that expressed in the recent Daily Mail article: “Sentences could be slashed for early guilty plea even if overwhelming evidence” (11 February 2016) – so why should sentences be reduced for those who plead guilty to criminal offences?
11 February 2016
Getting back on the right path - Cameron proposes the greatest reform of prisons since the Victorian era
David Cameron proposed the ‘biggest shake-up of prisons since the Victorian era’ in a speech given on 8 February . Cameron stated that ‘current levels of prison violence, drug-taking and self-harm should shame us all’ and that the ‘failure of our system today is scandalous’. Prisoners should be seen as ‘potential assets to be harnessed’ and, in order to achieve this aim, ‘we should help those who've made mistakes to find their way back onto the right path.’
10 February 2016
A critical analysis of Sir Keir Starmer’s Victims of Crime Etc (Rights, Entitlements and Related Matters) Bill
Sir Keir Starmer’s Victims of Crime Etc (Rights, Entitlements and Related Matters) Bill was published on 28 January 2016 in anticipation of its second reading in the House of Commons on 29 January 2016. The full text of the Bill can be found here. Owing to a shortage of parliamentary time, the Bill’s second reading did not in fact take place on 29 January; it has instead been re-scheduled for consideration on 11 March 2016.
9 February 2016
Politically Exposed Persons - House of Commons debates money laundering rules
Whether money laundering rules relating to Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) were being applied in a “heavy-handed” way by banks was an issue of debate in the House of Commons on 20 January. National rules to give effect to the provisions of the Fourth Money Laundering Directive will need to be implemented by 26 June 2017. The Directive widens the definition of PEP to include domestic individuals holding prominent positions in their home country and clarifies that enhanced due diligence is always appropriate when transactions involve PEPs.
