When an individual raises concerns regarding suspected wrongdoing, important legal considerations arise for organisations: it can lead to an internal investigation, the interest of regulatory authorities or litigation. A huge range of issues can arise in such situations and the rights of the whistleblower and available protections are key considerations. In addition, the approach and expectations of the authorities in the UK are changing, particularly with support being voiced for the idea of introducing financial rewards for whistleblowers.  ..read more

The inescapable conclusions is that there is something inherent within our education and youth justice systems that punishes difference ..read more

The recent Channel 4 TV programme The Jury: Murder Trial focused attention on the jury trial process, but went for drama and sensationalism over accuracy, as our colleague Greg Foxsmith previously argued. As a result, there was little attention paid to the legal issue in the dramatised case, which was “loss of control” as a partial defence to murder. This may have left some wondering what the actual legal position is ..read more

Over the past decade, food fraud has emerged as a particularly pervasive issue, both internationally and within the UK. In recent years, the UK has experienced several high-profile food fraud scandals, involving the mislabelling and adulteration of food products and so raising concerns about the integrity of the food supply train and consumer safety ..read more

On 1 April 2024, a number of new and amended sentencing guidelines came into effect, following publication of the results of a consultation by the Sentencing Council which ran during Autumn 2023 ..read more

This quarterly update provides a summary of a selection of news stories relating to health and safety law investigations and prosecutions, as well as key corporate manslaughter cases, in the period January 2024 – March 2024 ..read more

The NCA’s UK Financial Intelligence Unit (UKFIU) has published its latest Annual Report (somewhat later in the year than usual). The UKFIU is responsible for receiving, analysing and disseminating intelligence submitted through the Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) regime and its role is to alert law enforcement agencies, both at home and abroad, to potential instances of money laundering and terrorist financing.   Its latest report covers the period of April 2022 to March 2023, during which time sanctions against Russian-related entities and individuals continued to play a significant r ..read more

In Say Chong Lim & others v Chee Kong Ong (a bankrupt) (also known as Francis Ong) [2024] EWHC 373 (Ch), the High Court imposed an immediate custodial sentence of 22 months on the respondent,  Mr Ong, in relation to seven counts of contempt of court ..read more

The Online Safety Act 2023 (the OSA 2023) now has a firmly established statutory footing, and is making significant waves in the online regulation landscape. To further consolidate the OSA, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has published new and updated guidance which is intended to help prosecutors make decisions on the newly established communication offences ..read more

In a landmark case, Nicholas Hawkes, from Basildon, Essex, has become the first person to be convicted and imprisoned in England and Wales for the criminal offence of cyber-flashing. This historic verdict marks a significant moment in the life of the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA), which aims to combat digital harassment and safeguard online communities ..read more