The defendant had held a permanent demonstration in Parliament Square against the war in Iraq. The prosecutor appeal against the dismissal of its allegations under the 2003 Act. Held: The Commisioner was able to delegate his own power to set conditions for demonstrations in Parliament square and the conditions were lawful. Judges: Lord Phillips CJ … Continue reading Director of Public Prosecutions v Haw: Admn 6 Aug 2007
Application for leave to appeal against a ruling of no case to answer. Judges: Kerr LCJ, Campbell LJ and Coghlin J Citations: [2007] NICA 6 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: Northern Ireland Cited by: Cited – Loughlin, Re Application for Judicial Review SC 18-Oct-2017 The court was asked as to the circumstances in which sentences passed on … Continue reading Courtney, Regina v: CANI 26 Jan 2007
Application for judicial review of the avowed failure of the Public Prosecution Service to provide reasons for the decision not to prosecute a suspect for shooting the applicant. Judges: Kerr LCJ and Weatherup J Citations: [2007] NIQB 26 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: Northern Ireland Cited by: Cited – Loughlin, Re Application for Judicial Review SC 18-Oct-2017 … Continue reading Kincaid, Re Application for Judicial Review: QBNI 19 Apr 2007
The claimant owned properties subject to charges in favour of a bank. The Agency alleged that the properties represented the proceeds of crime. The agency had settled its claim by taking a second charge over one property. When that was sold, only sufficient funds were available to discharge the bank’s first charge, and the Agency … Continue reading Szepietowski v The Serious Organised Crime Agency: CA 21 Jul 2011
Whilst awaiting trial, P had offered evidence against others on other serious crimes. On conviction, the judge was supplied with a statement explaining his assistance. He now appealed sentence of 17 years imprisonment for assorted serious drugs crimes. Blackburn’s case raised similar issues. Held: The sections sought to give a statutory framework to encouraging assistance … Continue reading P, Regina v; Regina v Blackburn: CACD 22 Oct 2007
S owned several propertie in charge to the bank, but the Agency said that each had been acquired with the proceeds of criminal activity. The parties had settled the claim by the grant of a second charge in favour of the Agency. However when that property was sold, the bank’s first charge (securing money also … Continue reading Szepietowski v The National Crime Agency: SC 23 Oct 2013
The Agency asked to have set aside four orders allowing the defendant to have excluded from his assets subject to an interim receiving order to allow payment of his legal expenses. Held: There was no rule that assets once excluded from an order must remain so excluded. The section allowed but did not require an … Continue reading Serious Organised Crime Agency v Szepietowski and Others (No 2): ChD 1 Jul 2009
Several of the defendants applied for assets to be excluded from an interim receiving order in order to enable them to meet legal expenses. Judges: Henderson J Citations: [2009] EWHC 344 (Ch), [2010] 1 WLR 1316, [2010] Bus LR 689 Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2000 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: See Also … Continue reading Serious Organised Crime Agency v Szepietowski and others: ChD 27 Feb 2009
The customers bank accounts had been frozen at the request of the respondent agency after the bank had reported what it thought was suspicious activity to the Agency. It sought judicial review of the agency’s refusal to allow the bank to resume operation of the mandate. Held: The request for judicial review was refused. Judges: … Continue reading Regina (ex parte UMBS Online Ltd) v Serious Organised Crime Agency: Admn 2007
The accused had pleaded guilty to infanticide despite advice by her lawyers that she may have had a good defence. She had subsequently died of cancer. Evidence now suggested that she may not have been fit to plead, and the Criminal Cases Review Commission referred the case, saying that a conviction for infanticide could only … Continue reading Gore (Deceased), Regina v: CACD 4 Jul 2007
Gough, ‘the naked rambler’, argued that his desire to appear naked in court, an act which he characterised as a fundamental freedom, was not an act calculated to offend the authority and dignity of the court; in order for his naked appearance to constitute a contempt of court, it had to be established that it … Continue reading Robertson and Another v Her Majesty’s Advocate: HCJ 7 Nov 2007
The claimant was a Pakistani member of the Labour Party. He had sought selection as parliamentary candidate, but allegations had been made about behaviour of members in the Pakistani community in his ward and the local party had been suspended. A candidate was deliberately chosen who was not a member of that community. The claimant … Continue reading Watt (Formerly Carter) v Ahsan: HL 21 Nov 2007
The Director said the Judge had been wrong to discharge on grounds of want of disclosure a restraint order previously made ex parte under the Proceeds of Crime Act at the request of a foreign investigator.‘The proper approach is to consider whether the public interest does or does not call for the order to stand, … Continue reading Serious Fraud Office v A: CACD 2 Aug 2007
The defendant had had set aside an interim order for assets recovery. The director appealed against a finding by the court below that he did not have ‘a good arguable case’, justifying an interim recovery order. Held: The appeal succeeded. On an interim order, the director had to establish a good arguable case that a … Continue reading Assets Recovery Agency v Szepietowski and others: CA 24 Jul 2007
Citations: [2007] EWCA Crim 1760, [2007] 2 Crim App R 30 Links: Bailii Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 2003 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – O’Dowd v Regina CACD 12-May-2009 The defendant appealed against his conviction for serious sexual offences. The trial was very lengthy after the prosecution introduced bad character evidence from other … Continue reading Wallace v Regina: CACD 16 Jul 2007
The defendant appealed against his sentence for conspiracy to supply large volumes of prohibited drugs, the consecutive sentences totalling 18 years. The defendant had provided information to the police which had resulted in the recovery of quantities of weapons. Held: The appeal faile. The appellant had decided to try and improve his position after sentence … Continue reading Regina v Z: CACD 26 Jun 2007
The claimants challenged rules which meant that certain immigrants subject to immigration control were unable to marry, save only those marrying according to the rites of the Church of England. Held: The rules were not justified by evidence that a sufficient number of sham marriages, or that the number of such marriages had any overall … Continue reading Secretary of State for the Home Department v Baiai and others: CA 23 May 2007
The bank had reported to the respondent its suspicions about funds it held for the claimant. The accounts were frozen, and the customer now sought a judicial review of the refusal of the Agency to reconsider its decision. Held: The review was granted. The Agency had to acknowledge the great effect on commercial activities of … Continue reading UMBS Online Ltd, Regina (on the Application Of) v Serious Organised Crime Agency and Another: CA 2 May 2007
The defendant appealed convictions for rape and other serious sexual offences, and witness intimidation. He complained that witnesses had been allowed to have their evidence read out because of their fear of him. Held: In view of the extent of the allegations, the judge’s aproach was correct. The appeal failed. Judges: Hooper LJ, Ginns LJ, … Continue reading Boulton v Regina: CACD 26 Apr 2007
The defendant had had responsibility to investigate and if necessary prosecute a company suspected of serious offences of bribery and corruption in the conduct of contract negotiations. The investigation had been stopped, alledgedly at the instigation of the government of Saudi Arabia, with a threat of ceasing co-operation in security arrangements. Held: The rule of … Continue reading Corner House Research and Campaign Against Arms Trade, Regina (on the Application of) v Director of the Serious Fraud Office and Another: Admn 10 Apr 2008
The court was asked whether a school was entitled to refuse to allow a Muslim girl to wear the niqab full face veil at school. The reasons were ‘first educational factors resulting from a teacher being unable to see the face of the girl with a niqab; second the importance of a uniform policy as … Continue reading X, Regina (on the Application of) v Y School: Admn 21 Feb 2007
The defendant was charged with offences for having been in possession of a document or record containing information of a kind ‘likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism’. It was thought he was associated with a terrorist plan to attack the government of Libya. The defendant argued that … Continue reading Regina v F: CACD 16 Feb 2007
The claimants sought to set aside warrants and executions under them to provide assistance to a foreign court investigating alleged unlawful assistance to companies in Bosnia Herzegovina. Held: The issue of such a warrant was a serious step. The court gave guidance on the practice to be followed, but it was not correct for the … Continue reading Energy Financing Team Ltd and others v The Director of the Serious Fraud Office, Bow Street Magistrates Court: Admn 22 Jul 2005
The court considered the circumstances required for the imposition of a sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection, and said that a life sentence would only be appropriate if the case was one of the very limited number in which a discretionary life sentence would have been imposed before the enactment of the 2003 Act. The … Continue reading Regina v Stephens: CACD 2007
After an acquittal of criminal charges, it may still be legitimate to bring disciplinary proceedings or care proceedings under which a lesser standard of proof may be applied to the question of whether the defendant committed the conduct that had formed the basis of the criminal charge of which he was acquitted. Article 6(2) did … Continue reading Moullet v France: ECHR 13 Sep 2007
Civil recovery orders had been made against the applicant. He had been accused and acquitted of drug trafficking allegations in Europe, but the judge had been persuaded that he had no proper explanation for the accumulation of his wealth, and had rejected his evidence as unreliable. Held: The defendant’s appeal failed. The making of an … Continue reading Gale and Another v Serious Organised Crime Agency: SC 26 Oct 2011
Appellate Roles – Human Rights – Families Split The House considered the decision making role of immigration appellate authorities when deciding appeals on Human Rights grounds, against refusal of leave to enter or remain, under section 65. In each case the asylum applicant had had his own request refused but that of his family had … Continue reading Huang v Secretary of State for the Home Department: HL 21 Mar 2007
Application for leave to appeal against refusal of leave to bring judicial review of a decision of the respondent agency. Leave to appeal was granted, but the matter was returned to the administrative court for review. Ward LJ, Sedley LJ, Hooper LJ [2007] EWCA Civ 375, [2008] 1 All ER 465 Bailii Proceeds of Crime … Continue reading UMBS Online, Regina (on the Application Of) v Serious Organised Crime Agency: CA 21 Mar 2007
The court was asked whether, as second mortgagee on the defendant’s properties, the claimant agency had the equitable power of marshalling of prior charges. The first chargee had charges over two properties, and sold the first, satisfying it debt, but leaving the Agency with no effective return. The bank’s same debts had also been secured … Continue reading Serious Organised Crime Agency v Szepietowski and Others: ChD 15 Oct 2010
The defendant had requested the Isle of Man authorities to investigate the part if any taken by the plaintiff in a major fraud. No charges were brought against the plaintiff, but the documents showing suspicion came to be disclosed in the later trial of others. The plaintiff sought damages in defamation. Held: The documents which … Continue reading Taylor and Others v Director of The Serious Fraud Office and Others: HL 29 Oct 1998
The appellants said that the 2004 Act infringed their rights under articles 8 11 and 14 and Art 1 of protocol 1. Held: Article 8 protected the right to private and family life. Its purpose was to protect individuals from unjustified intrusion by state agents into the private sphere within which they expected to be … Continue reading Countryside Alliance and others, Regina (on the Application of) v Attorney General and Another: HL 28 Nov 2007
SFO Director’s decisions reviewable The director succeeded on his appeal against an order declaring unlawful his decision to discontinue investigations into allegations of bribery. The Attorney-General had supervisory duties as to the exercise of the duties by the Director. It had become clear that a continued investigation would threaten co-operation between the UK and Saudi … Continue reading Corner House Research and Others, Regina (on the Application of) v The Serious Fraud Office: HL 30 Jul 2008
The claimants had been wrongly imprisoned for a murder they did not commit. The assessor had deducted from their compensation a sum to represent the living costs they would have incurred if living freely. They also appealed differences from a prisoner also wrongly accused of the same crime, in the percentage deduction made for their … Continue reading O’Brien and others v Independent Assessor: HL 14 Mar 2007
The defendant had requested the Isle of Man authorities to investigate the part if any taken by the plaintiff in a major fraud. No charges were brought against the plaintiff, but the documents showing suspicion came to be disclosed in the later . .
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Judges: Cranston J Citations: [2008] EWHC 1291 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2003, Serious Crime Act 2007 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Crime Updated: 16 August 2022; Ref: scu.270327
The claimant’s father had been killed in Pakistan by a missile in a drone strike by the USA. He alleged that the strike had been supported by positional information supplied by the British intelligence agencies, and sought judicial review of the decisions leading to the strike, alleging that the actions were criminal. He sought a … Continue reading Khan, Regina (on The Application of) v The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: CA 20 Jan 2014
Appeal against the making of a serious crime prevention order (SCPO) pursuant to s.24 Serious Crime Act 2007. Judges: Lady Justice Macur Mr Justice Julian Knowles And His Honour Judge Edmunds QC Recorder of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Citations: [2022] EWCA Crim 475 Links: Bailii, Judiciary Statutes: Serious Crime Act 2007 24 … Continue reading Shirley and Another, Regina v: CACD 8 Apr 2022
The principal grounds of appeal which related to the compatibility of section 46 of the Serious Crime Act 2007 with the European Convention of Human Rights (‘ECHR’) failed. Judges: Lord Justice Hooper Mr Justice Supperstone And Sir Geoffrey Grigson (Sitting as a Judge of the Court of Appeal Criminal Division) Citations: [2011] EWCA Crim 2872, … Continue reading S and Another v Regina: CACD 13 Dec 2011
Judges: Lord Justice Fulford Vice-President Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) And Mrs Justice Farbey Citations: [2022] EWHC 91 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Serious Crime Act 2007 45 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Crime Updated: 26 March 2022; Ref: scu.671491
Application for leave to appeal against the imposition, pursuant to section 19 of the Serious Crime Act 2007, of a Serious Crime Prevention Order. The Honourable Mr Justice Sweeney [2021] EWCA Crim 1525 Bailii England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 19 November 2021; Ref: scu.669231
The defendant had been convicted of the importation of large volumes of cocaine. He was however at the time of sentencing, ‘a man who suffers from an extremely grave combination of rare long term medical conditions which interfere with virtually all his bodily functions and require 24 hour monitoring and a very high level of … Continue reading Hall v Regina: CACD 8 Feb 2013
No declaration to require police to allow vigil The claimants requested an interim declaration so as to allow them to hold a peaceful vigil on Clapham Common in memory of the late Sarah Everard. They challenged the failure of the respondent to permit it as an exercise of their human rights. Held: The declaration was … Continue reading Leigh and Others v Commissioner of The Police of The Metropolis and Another: Admn 12 Mar 2021
The defendants appealed against the imposition on them of serious crime prevention orders under section 19 of the 2007 Act. Held: The appeals failed. To make the order, the court must satisfy itself that it had reasonable grounds to believe that the order would provide public protection by preventing, restricting or disruption the involvement of … Continue reading Regina v Hancox and Another: CACD 4 Feb 2010
Lord Bingham CJ discussed the effect on sentence of the defendant having provided information of assistance to the police: ‘If the information given is accurate, particularised, useful in practice, and hitherto unknown to the authorities, enabling serious criminal activity to be stopped and serious criminals brought to book, the discount may be substantial. Where, by … Continue reading Regina v A and B: CACD 1999
The defendant was convicted of murder. Evidence during the trial suggested a possibility of manslaughter, but neither the defence nor prosecution proposed the alternate verdict. The defendant now appealed saying that the judge had an independent duty to leave that option to the jury. Held: The appeal succeeded. The judge should have left a manslaughter … Continue reading Regina v Coutts: HL 19 Jul 2006
The defendants appealed orders for their extradition. They were suspected of terrorist offences, and feared that instead of facing a trial, they would be placed before a military commission. Held: The appeals failed. The court had diplomatic notes from the US government guaranteeing trial before an ordinary court, and that they would not be designated … Continue reading Ahmad and Aswat v United States of America: Admn 30 Nov 2006
The defendant had appealed his conviction for murder to the Court of Appeal. The 1968 Act required the court to consider whether the conviction was unsafe. New evidence was before the Court of Appeal, but they had rejected the appeal. Held: The Court of Appeal should reach its own view based on the unadorned words … Continue reading Regina v Pendleton: HL 13 Dec 2001
The appellant a foreign national, had been convicted of very serious sex offences, and as his sentence came to an end was ordered to be deported. He appealed saying this infringed his right to a family life. Held: The court had to balance the public revulsion at his crimes with the need for compassion. The … Continue reading N (Kenya) v The Secretary of State for the Home Department: CA 5 Aug 2004
Four children complained that, for years before they were taken into care by the local authority, its social services department was well aware that they were living in filthy conditions and suffering ‘appalling’ neglect in the home of their parents. Suspicions of abuse had arisen in 1987, but they were given effective support only in … Continue reading Z And Others v The United Kingdom: ECHR 10 May 2001
The test as to whether there was still a need to protect the public safety from the defendant was just as appropriate when considering the revocation of a licence, as it was when the need for continued detention was being reviewed before the grant of the licence: ‘In exercising its practical judgment the Board is … Continue reading Regina v Parole Board, ex Parte Watson: CA 11 Mar 1996
It was sought to extradite the defendant to face trial for two alleged murders. He now challenged the order for his extradition saying that his treatment in Missouri would amount to inhuman or degrading punishment in that if convicted he would face life imprisonment without the chance for parole. Held: The abolition of the death … Continue reading Wellington Regina, (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: HL 10 Dec 2008
An application was made by a local authority to restrict publication of the name of a defendant in criminal proceedings in order to protect children in their care. The mother was accused of having assaulted the second respondent by knowingly transmitted HIV/Aids to him by having unprotected sex but hiding her HIV status. Held: The … Continue reading A Local Authority v W L W T and R; In re W (Children) (Identification: Restrictions on Publication): FD 14 Jul 2005
The defendant appealed his conviction for rape, arguing that the girl, though drunk, had consented. Held: The Court approved the judge’s direction as follows: ‘She does not claim to have physically resisted nor to have verbally protested. She says the drink has disabled her from doing either; she has told you she did not consent; … Continue reading Regina v Malone: CACD 1 May 1998
The United Kingdom’s ban on homosexuals within the armed forces was a breach of the applicants’ right to respect for their private and family life. Applicants had also been denied an effective remedy under the Convention. The investigations into private lives and sexual activity were intrusive, and given the excessive consequences following, were also striking … Continue reading Smith and Grady v The United Kingdom: ECHR 27 Sep 1999
The defendant had published a set of guidelines for intelligence officers called upon to detain and interrogate suspects. The defendant said that the guidelines could only be tested against individual real life cases, and that the court should not answer hypothetical questions. The objection lay to reactions to anticipated torture and mistreatment by third party … Continue reading Equality and Human Rights Commission v Prime Minister and Others: Admn 3 Oct 2011
The court was asked as to the circumstances in which sentences passed on offenders who have given assistance to prosecuting authorities should be referred back to the sentencing court under section 74 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. Held: ‘The Divisional Court’s view that the predominant factor in deciding where the interests … Continue reading Loughlin, Re Application for Judicial Review: SC 18 Oct 2017
Judges: Morgan LCJ, Weir J and Treacy J Citations: [2015] NIQB 33 Links: Bailii Statutes: Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 Jurisdiction: Northern Ireland Citing: Explained – P, Regina v; Regina v Blackburn CACD 22-Oct-2007 Whilst awaiting trial, P had offered evidence against others on other serious crimes. On conviction, the judge was supplied … Continue reading Loughlin, Re Judicial Review: QBNI 21 Apr 2015
(Trinidad and Tobago) Complaint was made as to a decision to begin professional discliplinary proceedings against a senior member of the judiciary. Held: Although a decision to prosecute was in principle susceptible to judicial review on the ground of interference with a prosecutor’s judgment, such relief would in practice be granted extremely rarely and that … Continue reading Sharma v Brown-Antoine, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions and others: PC 30 Nov 2006
The claimants alleged breaches of legislation by members of the group of companies named as defendants giving rise to claims in conspiracy to injure by unlawful means. In effect they had been denied the opportunity to make interconnections with mobile telephones communications networks operated by the defendants. Held: The court examined the duties placed on … Continue reading Digicel (St Lucia) Ltd and Others v Cable and Wireless Plc and Others: ChD 15 Apr 2010
The claimant appealed against rejection of her claim for assault and false imprisonment. The officer arresting her wrongly believed that she had already been arrested, and it was said that he could not have gone through the steps necessary for an arrest. Held: Under the new section 24, ‘a summary arrest by a police officer … Continue reading Shields v Merseyside Police: CA 17 Nov 2010
Wilson LJ considered N (Kenya) and said: ‘Primary responsibility for the public interest, whose view of it is likely to be wide and better informed than that of a tribunal, resides in the respondent and accordingly a tribunal hearing an appeal against a decision to deport should not only consider for itself all the facets … Continue reading OH (Serbia) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: CA 30 Apr 2008
The appellant, an Iraqi national had arrived in 2000 as a child, and stayed unlawfully after failure of his asylum claim. He was convicted twice of drugs offences. On release he was considered a low risk of re-offending. He had been in a serious relationship with an English woman since 2005. However the Home Secretary … Continue reading Hesham Ali (Iraq) v Secretary of State for The Home Department: SC 16 Nov 2016
(Grand Chamber) The applicant came lawfully to Austria when 6. He committed a large number of offences when he was 14 and 15, and had been sentenced to imprisonment. He complained of a later decision to deport him. Held: The court said: ‘ The Court would stress that while the criteria which emerge from its … Continue reading Maslov v Austria: ECHR 23 Jun 2008
The applicant defendants sought to have excluded from the effect of restrictions on their dealing with property, property which was held under trusts. Held: The applications were rejected. There were well established rules allowing trustees indemnity in appropriate cases from the trust funds, and parliament had intended the 2002 Act to cover both personal and … Continue reading Assets Recovery Agency v Szepietowski and Others: ChD 19 Mar 2009
The first respondent applied for the freezing and receiving orders in relation to two properties and chattels obtained by the first respondent under the 2002 Act to be discharged on the footing that the Agency Director has not shown that she has a good arguable case that the property is, or includes, recoverable property as … Continue reading Szepietowski v Assets Recovery Agency: Admn 28 Nov 2006
Criminality of Assisting Suicide not Infringing The court was asked: ‘whether the present state of the law of England and Wales relating to assisting suicide infringes the European Convention on Human Rights, and whether the code published by the Director of Public Prosecutions relating to prosecutions of those who are alleged to have assisted a … Continue reading Nicklinson and Another, Regina (on The Application of): SC 25 Jun 2014
Evidence from 3rd Party Torture Inadmissible The applicants had been detained following the issue of certificates issued by the respondent that they posed a terrorist threat. They challenged the decisions of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission saying that evidence underlying the decisions had probably been obtained by torture committed by foreign powers, and should not … Continue reading A and others v Secretary of State for the Home Department (No 2): HL 8 Dec 2005
Anonymised Party to Proceedings The BBC challenged an order made by the Court of Session in judicial review proceedings, permitting the applicant review to delete his name and address and substituting letters of the alphabet, in the exercise (or, as the BBC argues, purported exercise) of a common law power. The court also gave directions … Continue reading A v British Broadcasting Corporation (Scotland): SC 8 May 2014
The claimant’s daughter had committed suicide whilst on home leave from a hospital where she had stayed as a voluntary patient with depression. Her admission had followed a suicide attempt. The hospital admitted negligence but denied that it owed her a positive obligation to protect life under Article 2. Held: The claimants’ appeal succeeded. The … Continue reading Rabone and Another v Pennine Care NHS Foundation: SC 8 Feb 2012
The defendants had been convicted on evidence obtained from them by inspectors with statutory powers to require answers on pain of conviction. Subsequently the law changed to find such activity an infringement of a defendant’s human rights. Held: There was no requirement for a court to implement a Human Rights Court decision retrospectively to require … Continue reading Regina v Lyons, Parnes, Ronson, Saunders: HL 15 Nov 2002
The respondent had objected that the appointment of an interim receiver had been based upon information obtained in the course of investigations undertaken in connection with different proceedings and allegations. Held: The enforcement agency was not prevented from using such information in this way, and was entitled to a declaration accordingly. Judges: Mr Justice Silber … Continue reading Director of the Assets Recovery Agency v Szepietowski and others: Admn 29 Sep 2006
The court examined the provisions distinguishing between sentences of imprisonment for life and imprisonment for public protection (IPP) in cases involving very serious gun and drugs crimes. Held: The Avis case guidelines remained valuable, but this case involved the large scale importation and distribution of firearms and new statutory provisions. The references to indeterminate sentences … Continue reading Wilkinson and Others, Regina v, Attorney-General’s Reference No 43 of 2009: CACD 6 Oct 2009
The defendant appealed against the minimum term imposed on her under the 2003 Act. She argued that the court should have made allowance for the fact that she had made exceptional progress since arriving in prison. Held: Caines established that the judge could take exceptional progress into account ‘and that one of the central reasons … Continue reading Barker, Regina v: CACD 24 Oct 2008
Harassment to Criminal Level needed to Convict The claimant had been a customer of the defendant, but had moved to another supplier. She was then subjected to a constant stream of threatening letters which she could not stop despite re-assurances and complaints. The defendant now appealed against a refusal to strike out the claim of … Continue reading Ferguson v British Gas Trading Ltd: CA 10 Feb 2009
The court was asked to consider whether the IPCC could investigate the circumstances leading to the arrest of a suspect who fell into a coma after being arrested for being drunk. The IPCC appealed, saying that it did not have jurisdiction to investigate matters before the arrest. Held: The appeal was dismissed. Longmore LJ said: … Continue reading Reynolds, Regina (on the Application of) v Independent Police Complaints Commission and Another: CA 22 Oct 2008
The respondent brought in laws restricting marriages between persons subject to immigration control, requiring those seeking non Church of England marriages to first obtain a certificate from the defendant that the marriage was approved. The applicants said this was discriminatory and infringed their human rights. Held: Legislation which prevented marriages of convenience between aliens and … Continue reading Baiai and Others, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: Admn 10 Apr 2006
The complainant’s brother had been arrested for being drunk. After a time in a cell, he was found unwell and fell into a coma. Complaints were made of his treatment. The Police Complaints Commission was to investigate the events after the arrest independently, but the Sussex police wanted to investigate the matters before the arrest. … Continue reading Reynolds, Regina (on the Application of) v Sussex Police and Another: Admn 16 May 2008
The defendant had pleaded guilty in the Crown Court to 20 counts of making or possessing child pornography. No direction was made for withholding the defendant’s identity in court, but the Crown Court made an order in the interest of the defendant’s children prohibiting any publication in the media of material identifying him or his … Continue reading Trinity Mirror and Others, Regina (on the Application Of) v Croydon Crown Court: CACD 1 Feb 2008
The two defendants appealed against sentences for being involved in importation of drugs. They said that they had assisted the police. Held: The Court of Appeal Criminal Division is, in relation to sentencing, a court of review. Its function is to review sentences passed below, and not to conduct a sentencing hearing. Judges: Lord Bingham … Continue reading A and B, Regina v: CACD 23 Apr 1998
The release date for a prisoner was calculated correctly according to guidance issued by the Home Office, but case law required the guidance to be altered, and the prisoner had been detained too long. The tort of false imprisonment is one of strict liability, and the governor was liable in damages even though he had … Continue reading Regina v Governor of Her Majesty’s Prison Brockhill ex parte Evans (No 2): HL 27 Jul 2000
A building owner appealed against enforcement notices which alleged that there had been a material change of use of his buildings in 1982. This notice was issued by a planning authority. As a result of the appeal an inspector determined that the buildings were in hotel use. The use of the buildings did not change … Continue reading Thrasyvoulou v Secretary of State for the Environment: HL 1990
The court discussed the difference between issue estoppel, and action estoppel: ‘The particular type of estoppel relied upon by the husband is estoppel per rem judicatam. This is a generic term which in modern law includes two species. The first species, which I will call ’cause of action estoppel,’ is that which prevents a party … Continue reading Thoday v Thoday: CA 1964
The claimants had been detained under the 1971 Act, after completing sentences of imprisonment pending their return to their home countries under deportations recommended by the judges at trial, or chosen by the respondent. They challenged as unlawful the respondent’s, at first unpublished, policy introduced in 2006, that by default, those awaiting deportation should be … Continue reading Lumba (WL) v Secretary of State for The Home Department: SC 23 Mar 2011
(Isle of Man (Staff of Government Division)) The Board considered the possibility of extra-territorial jurisdiction over property. Held: It should generally be expected that an order having the effect of transferring a real right of ownership will apply only in relation to property situated in the territory of the state where the order is made. … Continue reading Pattni v Ali and Another: PC 20 Nov 2006
The claimant said that his continued detention after the custody time limits had expired was an infringement of his human rights. He faced continued detention having been refused bail because of his arrest on a grave charge, having a previous conviction for another grave offence. Held: The appeal was dismissed. Insofar as the the word … Continue reading O v Crown Court at Harrow: HL 26 Jul 2006
The claimant had been injured in a road traffic accident for which the defendant was responsible in negligence. The defendant was not insured, and so a claim was to be made against the MIB. The plaintiff issued proceedings just before the expiry of the period, but failed to give first the requisite formal notice to … Continue reading Horton v Sadler and Another: HL 14 Jun 2006
The defendants appealed their sentences, saying that the sentencing court had not sufficiently recognised the assistance they had given to the police. Held: The appropriate starting point for sentence was 24 years’ imprisonment after a trial. For Sehitoglu that was reduced to 8 years’ imprisonment reflecting the fact that the assistance he gave to the … Continue reading Regina v Sehitoglu and others: CACD 7 May 1997
The court conisdered the effects of the provisions of the 2002 Act to be to ‘force a party in NatWest’s position to report its suspicions to the relevant authorities and not to move suspect funds or property either for seven working days or, if a notice of refusal is sent by the relevant authority, for … Continue reading Squirrell Ltd v National Westminster Bank Plc: ChD 22 Apr 2005
Two claimants had each been sexually assaulted by a later notorious, multiple rapist. Each had made complaints to police about their assaults but said that no effective steps had been taken to investigate the serious complaints. Held: The Commissioner’s appeal failed: To provide an effective deterrent, laws which prohibit conduct constituting a breach of article … Continue reading Commissioner of Police of The Metropolis v DSD and Another: SC 21 Feb 2018
The defendant had been made subject to a criminal restraint order so as to preserve his assets pending the outcome of criminal proceedings. He complained that the order affected property which was not his. Held: Such an order could cover property which he had obtained for the benefit of somebody else. What was required was … Continue reading J v Crown Prosecution Service: CA 24 Jun 2005
The defendants had had confiscation orders made against them. They had appealed on the basis that the orders were made more than six months after sentence. The prosecutor now appealed saying that the fact that the order were not timely did not invalidate them. Held: The appeal was allowed. The confiscation orders made by the … Continue reading Regina v Soneji and Bullen: HL 21 Jul 2005
The defendant appealed against his conviction for serious sexual offences. The trial was very lengthy after the prosecution introduced bad character evidence from other allegations from some 17 years or more before. Judges: Scott Baker LJ, Rafferty DBE J, Beatson J Citations: [2009] EWCA Crim 905, [2009] 2 Cr App R 16, [2009] Crim LR … Continue reading O’Dowd v Regina: CACD 12 May 2009
The applicant had been granted leave to stay. He was convicted of manslaughter and ordered to be deported on release. The Home Secretary appealed an overturning of the AIT decision in his favour, and the applicant in turn now appealed saying there had been no error of law. Held: Wall LJ said: ‘The point, I … Continue reading OP (Jamaica) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: CA 1 May 2008
The claimant sought damages for assault. In the course of a tempestuous relationship, she said the respondent had physically assaulted her in Barbados. He was later convicted of soliciting her murder. She sought and was awarded aggravated damages, but the judge failed to explain his award. Held: ‘in cases of assault and similar torts, it … Continue reading Richardson v Howie: CA 13 Aug 2004
The defendant appealed against a travel restriction order made on his conviction on a plea for fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on importation of a controlled drug. Held: When making any such order the court was obliged to give reasons. The court should start with the particular circumstances and then allow first for the public … Continue reading Regina v Mee: CACD 23 Feb 2004
Having been convicted of theft, a confiscation order had been made against which the appellant appealed. The Court of Appeal certified a question of whether confiscation provisions under the 1988 Act were in breach of the defendant’s human rights. Are applications for confiscation orders criminal proceedings under the Convention, and if so do the assumptions … Continue reading Regina v Rezvi: HL 24 Jan 2002
A young prisoner was known to be at risk of suicide, but nevertheless was not provided with adequate specialist medical supervision. He was punished for an offence, by way of segregation which further put him at risk. Held: Inhuman and degrading treatment had to achieve a certain standard of seriousness before it became an infringement, … Continue reading Keenan v The United Kingdom: ECHR 3 Apr 2001
Two foreign nationals with leave to remain in this country committed serious crimes. The Secretary of State ordered their deportation. Held: Where the deportation of a foreigner following a conviction here, would conflict with his human rights, the court had to assess whether the, first, the objective could be achieved by some alternative, less interfering, … Continue reading Samaroo and Sezek v Secretary of State for the Home Department: CA 17 Jul 2001
(Antigua and Barbuda) The applicant was employed as a civil servant. He joined a demonstration alleging corruption in a minister. It was alleged he had infringed his duties as a civil servant, and he replied that the constitution allowed him to speak out. Held: The demonstration did contravene the restriction on publishing his views. Analogies … Continue reading De Freitas v The Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Lands and Housing and others: PC 30 Jun 1998
