Johnson Astills 
“The reformed prisons of the 1800’s with their new emphasis on rehabilitation were invented to destroy the criminal personality and to generate new life and a new law abiding identity. Predicated upon violence the prisons proved successful
Johnson Astills have seen an increase in the number of cases before the Courts involving newer synthetic drugs. The offences were created by the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 which came into force on 26th May 2016. The
Many people are confused about the elements of supplying controlled substances such as cannabis and cocaine, particularly where sharing illegal drugs amongst friends is concerned. It is an offence for a person to have a controlled drug
A further “penalty” of the World Cup, which has recently been reported on is the increase of domestic violence and abuse during the tournament. Research undertaken at Lancaster University has shown there is an increase in domestic
At Johnson Astills we know how frightening it can be to find yourself under investigation for or charged with a sexual offence. The chances are you will have no previous experience of being interviewed by the police or
Following a Government review into bike safety, plans are to be announced by the Transport Minister in relation to motorists driving too close to cyclists. The rules are being brought in to encourage more people to use
When a driver accumulates twelve or more penalty points within a three year period, the court will need to consider whether they should be disqualified under the totting up provisions. The Court guidelines state that where a
Leicester Legal Walk Many of our staff at Emery Johnson Astills took part in The Leicester Legal Walk yesterday, 4th June 2018. The Walk was 10km around the City of Leicester. Our route took us past many
What is stamp duty? Stamp duty is a lump sum that you are liable to pay when you buy a residential property or a piece of land costing more than £250,000.00 (or more than £40,000.00 for second homes). This
22nd May 2018 saw the first successful conviction in England for forced marriage. The mother of the victim, who was 17 at the time, fooled her daughter into going to Pakistan in September 2016 to marry a
In efforts to prevent drug misuse legal restrictions are placed on the creation, use and distribution of highly dangerous and harmful drugs. Under legislation controlled drugs are those classified as being of either class A, B or
Are you a parent and have you received a letter from the Local Authority asking you to attend a Pre-proceedings meeting? If you have, our specialist team at Johnson Astills can help you. A Pre-proceedings meeting means
At a time when you are already spending a lot of money, a survey can seem like a big expense. However due to the rule of ‘caveat emptor’ which stands for ‘buyer beware’ and puts the onus
The role of an intermediary was created by the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 to aid in criminal cases which involved vulnerable witnesses. However, the use of intermediaries has since spread to be included in
What could start out as a disagreement between two people could result in your arrest and ultimately a criminal conviction. In recent months even England Cricketer Ben Stokes has found himself charged with affray following an incident
In a segment on the Victoria Derbyshire show on BBC2 on Tuesday 17 April our Managing Partner and Solicitor Advocate, Helen Johnson appeared to discuss the implications of cuts and fees in criminal matters, particularly in relation
Energy Performance Certificate If you’re planning on selling your home, it is a legal requirement to provide the Buyers with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with a minimum rate of ‘E’. An EPC contains information about a
It has been reported by the BBC that the National Centre for Domestic Violence say that 6,000 victims of domestic abuse were denied free legal representation last year. Even when victims require Legal Aid to obtain Non-Molestation
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms Alison Saunders (the Lawyer who leads and is ultimately responsible for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)) has announced that she will not be extending her five-year term and will be resigning.
With offences ranging from failing to wear a seatbelt to causing death by dangerous driving it is arguable that no other area of criminal law covers such a broad spectrum of offending behaviour. At Johnson Astills our
If you are a step-parent or a cohabiting couple you may have thought about making an application for an Adoption Order. A parent must apply jointly with you to adopt the child, both adults will then become
Britain’s most senior Judge, Sir James Munby has commented that marriage laws are “very badly in need of reform” and has called the current way financial settlements are dealt with as ‘Victorian’ and unfairly biased in
Under Section 46 of the Children Act 1989, the police have specific emergency protection powers that allow them to remove a child from their parents’ care without consent. This step can only be taken when a police
Social Services have a statutory obligation to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children. Families often feel anxious at the thought of Social Services becoming involved and about letting them into their homes. These worries are
Joint Tenants or Tenants in Common? As a prospective buyer, buying with another person can be an attractive option, allowing you to gather a bigger deposit and share your mortgage repayments. In England and Wales, there are
What does being released under investigation by the police mean? As a result of the introduction of the Policing and Crime Act 2017 the police can no longer release someone on bail for longer than 28 days,
If you are a first-time buyer, putting your cash in a Help to Buy ISA is a no-brainer. You will require a minimum of £1,600.00 saved and the maximum bonus you can acquire is £3,000.00 (on £12,000
A Child Protection Conference is generally held following a referral and investigations by the Local Authority in relation to a particular child and their situation. The test for convening a Child Protection Conference is: the child is
At Johnson Astills we are alert to technological innovation and the implications this has with the criminal law. Professional and amateur use of drones has increased significantly over the last few years, but it is increasingly coming
If you require legal representation in relation to Child Law matters do not hesitate to call our Care Team at Johnson Astills on 0116 255 4855 or email us at careteam@johnsonastills.com. Our team are highly experienced and can
Social services have a statutory obligation to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children. If there are serious concerns about the safety or welfare of your child then social services may apply to the court for
You may have heard of a number of high profile rape and other serious cases collapsing recently due to a lack of disclosure. But what is disclosure? As experts in Criminal Defence, Johnson Astills can explain. When investigating
From January 2018 the evidence test to qualify for Legal Aid in family cases for survivors of domestic abuse will be greatly relaxed. The government has decided to scrap the five-year time limit for certain types of
Social Services have a statutory obligation to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children. If Social Services invite you to attend a Child Protection Conference it is because they have some concerns about the safety of
Studying for a degree and working hard towards a professional qualification only to find your future in jeopardy? Are you facing Professional Disciplinary Proceedings at university? The Criminal Defence Team at Johnson Astills are experts in this area and
Nitrous Oxide, or laughing gas, is well known for its euphoric and pain relieving effects as it is widely used as an anaesthetic in medicine and dentistry; it is even used in catering for whipped cream canisters.
If you require legal representation at the Youth Court, Magistrates’ Court and/or the Crown Court do not hesitate to call our Criminal Law Team at Johnson Astills on 0116 255 4855 or email us at crimeteam@johnsonastills.com. Our team
Are you a student at University, studying to gain employment for your future career? If you find yourself in trouble with the police or criminal courts, you are expected to inform the University. If you receive a
Following recent spring budget announcement there is no significant changes to stamp duty land tax for first-time buyers or downsizing individuals. If you are a first time-buyer, SDLT will only be payable on residential properties over £425,000
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 set out who under English Law are the legal parents of a child which is born after sperm donation or artificial insemination or other fertility treatment. Where a woman is
An Easement is a right attached to one piece of land (dominant tenement) which gives the owner of the land a right to use another person’s land (servient tenement). The owners of the dominant and servient tenements
It is a criminal offence if you have failed to notify the Department of Work and Pensions of a change in your circumstances, whether it is financial or not. • The changes you should notify are; obtaining
Helen Johnson Solicitor Advocate at Johnson Astills When the prosecution decide to charge an offence of conspiracy they have to prove that there was an agreement to commit a criminal offence, eg to supply drugs. Evidence of
At Johnson Astills we are committed to providing affordable representation and advice to all our clients. On 22nd September 2017 the Bach Commission, setup by Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner and former barrister Lord William Bach, issued its final
A Secure Accommodation Order can be made under Section 25 Children Act 1989. This Order allows children’s services to place a Looked After Child under the age of 16 in secure accommodation, on welfare grounds, if one
Families with elderly or vulnerable relatives will often need to assist with or sometimes even take control of that relative’s property and financial affairs. The easiest way to organise this is for Lasting Powers of Attorney to
The President, Sir J Munby has issued new guidance in relation to s.38(6) assessments and the recent decisions and indications relating to the reforms are important in gaining an understanding as to their implementation and practical effect
The President of the Family Division has issued guidance on Transparency in Family Courts published on 16/1/14 to ‘immediately and significantly’ change the way cases are reported. There have been criticisms that the family courts are too
Recent research reported in the press has revealed that divorced parents are often in denial with regard to the impact of the breakdown of the relationship upon their children. Three quarters of parents surveyed thought that their
