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Crime brief: 10 February 2023

10 February 2023 / David Walbank KC
Issue: 8012 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice , Criminal , Public
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Misconduct which undermines public trust in the police clearly warrants severe punishment, says David Walbank KC
  • Double murder of sisters in London park.
  • Officers guarding crime scene took and distributed photographs of victims.
  • Sentencing for misconduct in public office.

It has been a difficult couple of years for the Met. London’s police force (assuming it is still acceptable to refer to the capital’s constabulary as a ‘force’ rather than a ‘service’) has found itself under pressure from all sides. Its policing of public demonstrations against continuing misogynistic violence in society, following the rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer, elicited howls of protest. The heinous crimes of the serial rapist, David Carrick, and his sentencing hearing earlier this week, have shocked the nation. Its attempts to keep the metropolis moving, despite the best efforts of Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil to bring gridlock to the streets, were met with weary resignation by angry commuters. Its decision-making in relation to COVID restriction-busting

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Tech companies will be legally required to prevent material that encourages or assists serious self-harm appearing on their platforms, under Online Safety Act 2023 regulations due to come into force in the autumn
Commercial leasehold, the defence of insanity and ‘consent’ in the criminal law are among the next tranche of projects for the Law Commission
The Bar has a culture of ‘impunity’ and ‘collusive bystanding’ in which making a complaint is deemed career-ending due to a ‘cohort of untouchables’ at the top, Baroness Harriet Harman KC has found
Lawyers have broadly welcomed plans to electronically tag up to 22,000 more offenders, scrap most prison terms below a year and make prisoners ‘earn’ early release
David Lammy, Ellie Reeves and Baroness Levitt have taken up office at the Ministry of Justice, following the cabinet reshuffle
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