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Criminal Defence

Driving whilst using a mobile phone

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Using a mobile phone or any handheld device while driving is one of the most common road traffic offences prosecuted in the UK today. What may seem like a quick glance at a message or a brief

Football Banning Orders

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Now that the football season is back in full swing, the police continue to take action over disruptive fans at football, with ongoing arrests and continued applications for football banning orders. What is a Football Banning Order?

What Happens After a Police Interview Under Caution?

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Being invited or taken to a police interview under caution can be a stressful and confusing experience, especially if it’s your first time. Whether you attended voluntarily or were arrested, knowing what happens after the interview is

How long will my information stay on Police Record?

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The Police National Computer (PNC) retains all records of arrests and summons, regardless of the outcome. This information remains on the system until the individual reaches 100 years old. In addition to police records, DNA profiles and

Do I Need a Legal Representative for a Police Interview?

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Yes! Whether you are under arrest or asked to attend the police station voluntarily, being interviewed by police under caution can be an intimidating experience, a legal representative can safeguard your interests, ensure your rights are protected,

What is an application for Exceptional Hardship?

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An application for exceptional hardship can be made when a driver accumulates 12 or more penalty points on their licence within any 3-year period, leading to a potential disqualification under the totting up ban provisions in Section

Drunk in Charge of a Vehicle offence

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Where there is no evidence that a vehicle has been driven by a defendant whilst over the prescribed limit, a charge of drunk in charge of a vehicle may be brought. In order to be guilty of

Driving Without Due Care and Attention

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What is driving without due care and attention? The offence of driving without due care and attention (careless driving) is committed when your driving falls below the minimum standard expected of a competent and careful driver or driving

Drink Driving: Keep safe this Christmas

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It’s that time of year, the Christmas party season is underway which coincides with the national Christmas drink drive campaign. That means there will be more stops and more prosecutions due to an increase in police patrols

Caught Speeding – What are the consequences?

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Leicestershire saw almost twice as many speeding prosecutions in 2022 compared to 2021, reports show. Nationally, the number of drivers receiving a speeding conviction has reached an eight-year high. Most people caught speeding were offered a fine

Can the DVLA Revoke my Driving Licence?

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Why would the DVLA revoke my licence? UK law requires motorists to notify the DVLA of any medical condition which could impair their ability to drive.  Medical reasons can include but are not limited to: epilepsy diabetes strokes and

I have been arrested for rape what happens now?

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Being arrested for rape or any sort of sexual offence can be a terrifying experience. Having been through the turmoil of an arrest and interview you find yourself bailed to return to the police station. Of course,

Voluntary Interviews – what are they?

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Have you been asked by the Police to attend a voluntary interview, for a talk? A voluntary interview is conducted by a Police Officer when investigating a criminal offence, the person being interviewed is the suspect in

Holidays are Approaching…

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The Christmas season is fast approaching and the party season is well underway. Christmas drink drive campaigns may be starting to appear from local police forces. This will mean that once again police will be targeting drink

Football Banning Orders and the World Cup

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In the 2021-2022 season the police continued to take action over disruptive fans at football, with over 2,100 arrests and 516 new Football Banning Orders issued. There is no doubt therefore that with the World Cup taking

Can I challenge my Police Bail Conditions?

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If you feel that the police have imposed strict and unworkable bail conditions on you, our expert criminal defence solicitors at Johnson Astills can make an application to the Magistrates’ Court to have them changed or removed.

New Domestic Abuse Offences as of 7th June 2022

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Section 70 Domestic Abuse Act 2021, introduced offences of non-fatal strangulation and non-fatal suffocation, these offences came into force on 7th June 2022. What is the offence of strangulation or suffocation? The legislation states that a person

Sexual Offences & Sexsomnia (Sex while you sleep)

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WHAT IS SEXSOMNIA?  Sexsomnia is sexual behaviour while asleep. It is recognised in both sleep disorder and psychiatric classifications. Sexsomnia occurs when the brain is disassociated or partially disassociated and covers a wide range of sexual behaviours.

Caught driving whilst using a mobile phone?

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New legislation comes into force on 25th March 2022 that prohibits the use, while driving a motor vehicle, of hand-held mobile telephones or other interactive communication devices, when performing an interactive communication function. This widens the offence

Police Targeting Drink Driving at Christmas

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The Christmas season is coming… As the Christmas season approaches the party season gets underway. You may see Christmas drink drive campaigns starting to appear from local police forces, which will mean that once again police will

Revocation of driving licence for new drivers

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As a new driver your licence is particularly important to you, however are you aware that your driving licence is automatically revoked by the DVLA, if you build up six or more penalty points within two years of passing

New Sentencing Guidelines for Drugs Offences

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The 1st April 2021 will see updated and new sentencing guidelines for some drug offences come into force. These will apply to all cases sentenced on or after 1st April 2021. The updated and new guidelines are

Mental Disorders and Sentencing – New Guidelines

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A new guideline for sentencing offenders with mental disorders, developmental disorders and neurological impairments has recently come into force. The new guidelines provide transparency and clarity for sentencing offenders with development disorders, mental disorders and neurological impairments.

Affray just really what is it?

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Affray is a public order offence, the offence is committed if a person threatens or uses unlawful violence or force towards another person, which causes another person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for

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