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07 July 2022
Issue: 7986 / Categories: Legal News , Criminal
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Crime & punishment

Profoundly deaf people who need a BSL interpreter can now sit on juries―part of a clutch of reforms in force from last week, under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act

Other measures include allowing criminal courts to maximise the use of video and audio tech to minimise travel, mandatory life sentences for the unlawful killing of an emergency worker in the line of duty, and increased penalties for child cruelty up to life imprisonment for causing or allowing their death.

An offence of breastfeeding voyeurism has been created, as well as an offence of causing serious injury by careless driving. The six-month prosecution time limit for domestic abuse-related common assault and battery has been extended to two years.

It is now illegal for sports coaches and religious leaders to engage in sexual activity with 16 and 17-year-olds. Crown Courts can hear cases on criminal damage to memorials regardless of monetary value.

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said: ‘Our new laws will mean serious offenders spend longer in jail.’

Issue: 7986 / Categories: Legal News , Criminal
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

International hospitality and leisure specialist joins corporate team as partner

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Firm appoints head of intellectual property to drive northern growth

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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