10 April 2015
Temporary Class Drug Order – legal highs’ bubble to be ‘burst’
From today, 10 April 2015, the government brings into force a Temporary Class Drug Order making it illegal for anyone to make, supply or import five novel psychoactive substances (otherwise known as ‘legal highs’). Anyone convicted of doing so will face a sentence of up to 14 years’ imprisonment and an unlimited fine.
8 April 2015
Introduction of a ‘Criminal Courts Charge’ for convicted offenders from 13 April 2015
A recent Statutory Instrument has been introduced under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 in relation to new ‘Criminal Courts Charges’ is due to come into force of 13 April 2015.
These new charges are being introduced to force adult offenders to contribute directly towards the cost of running the country’s courts. ‘Courts costs’ refer to the costs of providing the judiciary and the rest of the system of courts, but does not include defence or prosecution costs.
27 March 2015
FCA targets financial crime in new business plan
The FCA has published its 2015/16 business plan, a weighty document setting out its strategy and priorities for the next 12 months...
19 March 2015
Unlimited fines in the Magistrates’ Courts
On 12 March 2015 subsections (1), (2) and (4) of section 85 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 were brought into force. This means that Magistrates’ Courts are no longer restricted to specified upper limits when deciding what fine to impose upon conviction (s.85(1)).
13 March 2015
Surveillance and the individual – a move towards greater transparency
The Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee has today published the results of its Inquiry into Privacy and Security. Work on the report “Privacy and Security: A modern and transparent legal framework” started in 2013 following the publication of material leaked to the media by Edward Snowden, the former US Intelligence contractor.
- Controlling and coercive behaviour
- Corporate crime
- Corporate manslaughter and health and safety
- Crime and justice
- Cyber crime
- Extradition and international crime
- Financial crime and financial regulatory enforcement
- Fraud
- Internal investigations
- Legal Updates
- Online Safety Regulation
- Police investigations
- Proceeds of Crime
- The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act
- Unexplained Wealth Orders
- Youth crime and justice