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Crime & punishment

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

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
Ceri Morgan, knowledge counsel at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, analyses the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd, which reshapes the law of fiduciary relationships and common law bribery
The boundaries of media access in family law are scrutinised by Nicholas Dobson in NLJ this week
Reflecting on personal experience, Professor Graham Zellick KC, Senior Master of the Bench and former Reader of the Middle Temple, questions the unchecked power of parliamentary privilege
Geoff Dover, managing director at Heirloom Fair Legal, sets out a blueprint for ethical litigation funding in the wake of high-profile law firm collapses
James Grice, head of innovation and AI at Lawfront, explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal sector
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