S09E04 - Sticky Fingers

Listen here!

This week Ben,Kirstin and Jonathan are joined by the lovely Lyndon Harris, barrister, blogger and Banks on Sentencing editor.

Our discussion is all about imaginative approaches to theft offences.  First we look at Professor Andrew Ashworth's Howard League paper which suggests that Theft should not incur a prison sentence, then Lyndon gives broad support to the idea of giving shop-lifters food vouchers.  Jonathan Holt considers proposals for making Magistrates impose more custodial sentences and worries about the demise of more and more
Magistrates' courts in which to issue those sentences.

Finally we turn away from Criminal Law and look at two Immigration Law cases implimenting the ruling in Zambrano.

Update on the so-called “sexual predator” case

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/aug/12/paedophile-victim-predatory-sentence-increased

No Prison for Pilferers

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/convicted-thieves-and-fraudsters-should-be-spared-jail-says-law-professor-andrew-ashworth-8760388.html

http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/sentencing_manual/theft_general/

http://d19ylpo4aovc7m.cloudfront.net/fileadmin/howard_league/user/online_publications/What_if_imprisonment_were_abolished_web.pdf

http://www.howardleague.org/what-if-property-offences/

Stoke reward shoplifters with food vouchers

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2389224/Shoplifters-rewarded-food-vouchers-caught-stealing.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-23654802

Magistrates to get a power-up - but where will they use it?
http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/government-propose-new-custodial-powers-magistrates#comment-35244
http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/doubts-over-moj-s-savings-target

MA and SM (Zambrano: EU children outside EU) Iran [2013] UKUT 00380 (IAC)

S09E03 - Mind Your Language?

This week's show (listen here) is brought to you courtesy of predatory comments made at Snaresbrook Crown Court and via Blackstones Criminal Law July Updater.

Ben talks to Kate Hammond, former CPS Crown Advocate and to Keith Jones, both Barristers in Private Practice at Central Chambers in Manchester. They discuss the recent and much publicised use of the term "sexual predator" by Prosecuting Counsel, in relation to a 13-year-old victim.

Kirstin joins Ben then to go through some interesting cases with differing bizarreness rating.  We answer the questions:
1. Whether it matters if you thought you were indulging in sex with a girl or a boy- R v McNally
2. Whether you can do an act which intimidates without intimidating - R v ZN
3. What is the exact time the Defence are aware of a witness for the purpose of witness notification?
                                                                                                                            - Re Joseph Hill and Co
4. Whether the Jury need to know for what a SOPO was imposed. - Sheikh [2013] EWCA Crim 907
and
5. When is the prosecution allowed to rely on their witness being a good egg? - R v Lodge

If you'd like to view the vulnerable witness handling video please click here.

And if you're following the 13-year-old case controversy and have run out of reading matter you might find some new stuff in this lot:

News articles:

http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/news/crime-court/schoolgirl_13_branded_sexual_predator_by_judge_who_spared_romford_paedophile_jail_1_2321573

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/judge-calls-victim-13-a-sexual-predator-outcry-as-41yearold-man-walks-free-after-admitting-sex-with-girl-8748494.html

http://www.theguardian.com/law/2013/aug/07/barrister-victim-predatory-criticised-dpp

CPS guidance:

https://www.cps.gov.uk/consultations/csa_consultation_summary.html

http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/d_to_g/derogatory_or_defamatory_mitigation/#a06

Pressure Group against “ostensible consent” as a concept: http://yhndm.co.uk/Main/why-children-can-t-consent.html