Legal News & Articles

Legal Article: Stalking Protection Orders

27 July 2021

The Stalking Protection Act 2019 came in force on the 20th January 2020 and with it came the introduction of Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs). These civil orders, which could be applied for without the need for criminal proceedings to have commenced, aimed to protect victims with pre-conviction intervention. PNLD published an article in February 2020 with details of the new orders; how they could be applied for, what they could achieve and offences that would committed upon breach.

Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No 1 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2021

05 July 2021

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No 1 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2021 came in force on Monday 5 July 2021.

Offensive Weapons Act 2019 – Knife Crime Prevention Order Pilot – Metropolitan Police District

05 July 2021

The Offensive Weapons Act 2019 (Commencement No. 2) (England and Wales) Regulations 2021 bring Part 2 of the 2019 Act into force in the Metropolitan Police district only for a specified period of 14 months from 5th July 2021 ('the pilot period').

29 June 2021 - Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021, Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021

29 June 2021

A number of regulations have been amended from Tuesday 29 June 2021, such as the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021, Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021.

28 June 2021 - Proceeds of Crime, Codes of Practice and Magistrates' Courts Rules

28 June 2021

A number of regulations have been amended from Monday 28 June 2021, such as Proceeds of Crime, Codes of Practice and Magistrates' Courts Rules

Legal Article: Victim Personal Statements

25 June 2021

The Victim Personal Statement (VPS) Scheme was formally introduced into the Criminal Justice System of England and Wales on 1st October 2001. It is now included in the Criminal Practice Directions 2015, Division VII, Part F and is also embedded in the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime 2020 (the Victims’ Code). In accordance with section 63 of the Sentencing Act 2020 the provision of a VPS will assist a sentencing court to consider the offender's culpability in committing the offence, and any harm which the offence caused, was intended to cause, or might foreseeably have caused. It is also important in providing victims with the opportunity to be heard.