Blog
Press Round-Up: Regulatory and Professional Discipline – May 2026
Jack Garden
22 February 2018
Prison sentence following “victimless prosecution” for controlling and coercive behaviour
On 18 January 2018, Steven Saunders was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment following his trial for coercive and controlling behaviour in an intimate or family relationship.
Whilst such a sentence is no longer uncommon, this is the first reported case of a conviction in a “victimless prosecution” for controlling and coercive behaviour.
5 February 2018
Policing the internet – "fake news" and social media offence update
Fake news has dominated the headlines since the Trump presidency began both in the USA and across the globe. High profile individuals and politicians regularly defend allegations by complaining about inaccurate digital and hardcopy print. However, individual members of the public are also suffering at the hands of social media more and more. In response to the rise in online offending, the CPS published Guidelines on social media offences at the end of 2016.
5 February 2018
Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies – regulation on the horizon to combat cyber-crime?
The Treasury has indicated that it is planning on regulating bitcoin, in an attempt to bring some order to the Wild West that is cryptocurrencies. What would regulation of Bitcoin achieve?
5 February 2018
Fire Safety: Is a company director also a ‘responsible person’?
Fire Safety is just one of the many issues with which management must concern themselves. However, unlike a lot of other safety concerns, fire has the potential for large scale and devastating consequences.
1 February 2018
Legal Update: Revisiting trial in the absence of a defendant
Smith v Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals [2017] (Unreported)