The introduction of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill has alarmed many practitioners as the changes it proposes are likely to have a dramatic impact on the provision of legal aid in criminal proceedings. This slashing of budgets puts the future of many criminal lawyers in jeopardy and raises the wider question of limiting access to justice. Our September webinar will explore in detail the consequences of these reforms and provide you with practical strategies for survival. In October our speakers will examine how the Bill has affected sentencing reform.
The Government has now published the findings of the Extradition Review which has, controversially, concluded that the UK’s extradition arrangements with the US are not biased. Our April webinar will explore the recommendations made by the Extradition Review Panel and analyse the issues arising out of recent high profile extradition cases.
The retention of DNA profiles of innocent people on the national database by the police has caused a public outcry. The Supreme Court has declared that chief constables who refuse to delete them on request are acting unlawfully. Our February webinar will examine this and other regulatory developments affecting police law.
Forthcoming Webinars
Here is the schedule of forthcoming webinars for this practice area.
On Demand Webinars
Here is a list of previously broadcast webinars that are now available on demand.
15th Feb 2011
Bad character and hearsay
This webinar covers:
Hearsay
• Defining hearsay in difficult cases – drugs, text messages and mobile phones
• Sole or decisive hearsay – the ECHR and the Supreme Court
• The rise and fall of the use of s 114(1)(d) of the CJA 2003
• Hearsay after Horncastle and Al-Khawaja
Bad character
• Defining what is 'bad character evidence'
• Protecting non- defendants under s 100
• Cross admissibility – no longer an issue?
• Developments in bad character evidence
4th Apr 2011
Recent developments in sentencing
This webinar covers:
• The complexities of sentencing – on the increase again
• The dangerousness provisions – an update
• Guidelines – help or hindrance
• Restorative justice – fact or fiction?
• Correcting mistakes
18th May 2011
Extradition
This webinar covers:
• The latest on the proposed extradition review and how the law may change
• Practical considerations when consulted
• Is UK/US extradition really unbalanced
14th Jun 2011
Prison law update
This webinar covers:
• The application of the civil limb of article 6 to prisons
• The obligations imposed by article 5(4) in the context of Parole Board reviews
• The extent to which procedural fairness requires an oral hearing in the context of Parole Board reviews
20th Sep 2011
Offences against the person
The rule of ‘joint enterprise’ is becoming increasingly controversial in cases involving youth crime. Its use in gang related crimes committed by young people is causing outrage and is seen by some as encouraging ‘lazy prosecuting’. Our expert speakers will examine this contentious issue, offering you practical guidance on how to fight and use it as well as an overview of other recent legal developments affecting offences against the person.
This webinar will cover:
• Directing juries on s20
• Alternative counts for ss 18 and 20
• Domestic violence – proof in the face of reluctant witnesses
• Joint enterprise murder
- fatal knife injury
- multiple injuries
- thinking beyond the UK
• Sudden infant deaths
- a quagmire of experts
11th Oct 2011
Procedure rules, Article 6 and the right to a fair trial
Article 6 of the European Convention of Human Rights protects the right to a fair trial. The overriding objective of the Criminal Procedure Rules is that all criminal cases are dealt with justly. Yet some fear that these aims are at odds with the Court’s need for efficiency. This webinar will delve deeply into this issue and discuss whether the desire for case management is in conflict with the fundamental desire for fairness.
This webinar will cover:
• The interaction between overriding objective of the rules and the right to a fair trial – are they in harmony or at cross-purposes?
• The risks to a defendant’s article 6 rights posed by the desire for case management. For example:
- the court’s requests for details of the defence case to refine the issues in the name of case management
- restrictions on the evidence that is called and the length of cross-examination
• Whether the desire for efficiency can overtake the desire for fairness, or is the first a means of achieving the second?
16th Nov 2011
Sentencing and confiscation update
It has recently been reported that £1bn in assets have been seized or frozen from organised criminals in the UK last year. With the Home Office announcing earlier in the year that a new National Crime Agency will replace SOCA, the use of confiscation orders is expected to continue to rise. Our eminent speakers will offer you an update on the latest legislation and case law affecting this dynamic area of law.
This webinar will cover:
• Latest cases on sentencing and their implications for practitioners
• Latest statutory developments
22nd Feb 2012
Analysis of recent case law and regulation affecting police law
Analysis of recent case law and regulation affecting police law
Recent student and anti-capitalist demonstrations put public order policing under the spotlight. The use of ‘kettling’ tactics is controversial and has resulted in a number of legal challenges being made. It has been argued that the containment of demonstrators may constitute false imprisonment and so breach Article 5 of the European Convention of Human Rights. However this has not been upheld by the courts although they did clarify that ‘kettling’ is lawful only when used in cases where there is a threat of imminent breach of the peace. It must be done in good faith, be proportionate and last for no longer than is reasonably necessary.
Our speakers will debate the lawfulness of these tactics and offer you an update on other significant cases and regulatory developments affecting police law.
This webinar will cover:
• Public Order policing
• Grounds for arrest, section 24 case law
• Wrongful arrest and false imprisonment
• Police bail
• DNA cases - police retention on the database
• Proposals for reform
