web
You’re offline. This is a read only version of the page.
close
Home

Leading police resource of criminal law

Supporting the 43 Home Office police forces of England and Wales, law enforcement organisations and wider criminal justice partners by providing a consistently accurate, timely and reliable online criminal law database.

Read More

Police Access

As a serving police officer or police staff member you are entitled to free access to the legal database, as part of your police force subscription to PNLD.

Register your details

Subscribe to PNLD

Access is available, on subscription, to support all those with an interest in criminal justice, whether professionally, academically or for their personal development. Visit our subscription page for price options.

Subscribe to PNLD

Latest

View All

Stop and Search Under Section 23 - Unattended Vehicles

Legal Q&A

 Police receive a report of a male in a vehicle smelling strongly of cannabis and acting suspiciously. Police attend but the male is no longer present and the vehicle is locked and secure. Do the police have a power to enter and search the vehicle under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971?

Ruling regarding defence of reasonable excuse in relation to breach of restraining order

Case Law
 In the case of R v Selvage 2025, the defendant’s conviction for breach of restraining order was quashed where the trial judge wrongly directed the jury that the defendant bore the burden of proving reasonable excuse on the balance of probabilities. Case law had previously established that once the defence of reasonable excuse is raised the burden passes to the prosecution to disprove the defendant’s belief.

New offences relating to online material promoting unlawful immigration

Legal Update

 Further provisions of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 are in force from 2 February 2026.

In the Spotlight

Welcome to our legal feature 'In the Spotlight'

Bringing focus to a legal topic, making your professional life simpler by:

  • Demystify complex legislation
  • Improve your legal knowledge
  • Evidence continuous personal development
  • Understand how to apply the law competently

Read More
In the Spotlight