The defendant appealed against his conviction for robbery. He said that the court should not have allowed a confession to be put before the jury. He said that the police officers had misrepresented the statement of a co-accused and had behaved in an overbearing and oppressive manner. Held: The appeal failed. The officer had not … Continue reading Alagaratnam v Regina: CACD 5 Jul 2010
The two defendants appealed from convictions of conspiracy to defraud, saying that the court should not have admitted in evidence the admissions of co-defendants who had pleaded guilty. Held: The appeal failed. Judges: Sir Brian Leveson, Jeremy Baker, Goose JJ Citations: [2018] EWCA Crim 2486, [2018] WLR(D) 689, [2018] 4 WLR 154 Links: Bailii, WLRD … Continue reading Shirt and Another v Regina: CACD 8 Nov 2018
The defendants had been pursued in substantial commercial litigation. They were alleged to have perjured themselves in affidavits of means sworn and filed at court. Later they had entered into deeds with the other parties, and part of the consideration was an agreement by those other parties not to pursue them for perjury. The defendants … Continue reading Regina v Trutch, and Mary Trutch: CACD 25 Jul 2001
The defendant appealed against an order at a preparatory hearing that evidence of his previous convictions and the manner of his actions should be admissible at his trial for two murders. A ruling had been given which the defendant said would restrict his right to deny those offences. Held: The defendant’s bare assertion Citations: [2010] … Continue reading C v Regina: CACD 17 Dec 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
The court as asked about when an order may be made under section 9(1) and Schedule 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) to compel the production of a journalist’s note for potential use at a criminal trial. Citations: [2019] EWHC 2756 (Admin) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Police, Media Updated: … Continue reading The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Regina (on The Application of): Admn 22 Oct 2019
The defendant appealed against his conviction for assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty under section 89. He had argued that he had no case to answer. The officers had received an emergency call to the house, but the female caller had told them then not to come. On arrival, the defendant … Continue reading Blench v Director of Public Prosecutions: Admn 5 Nov 2004
The claimant challenged the right of a custody officer to attach conditions to his bail when releasing him to return to the station under section 34. Judges: Maurice Kay LJ, Burton J Citations: [2007] EWHC 3212 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 34, Police and Justice Act 2006 Jurisdiction: England and … Continue reading Torres, Regina (on the Application of) v the Commission of Police of the Metropolis: Admn 17 Dec 2007
In a prosecution for an offence of indecent assault on a girl under 16 under the section, it was necessary for the prosecution to prove the absence of a positive belief in the defendant’s mind that the victim was 16 or over. The legislation history showed an anomalous bringing together of different, and conflicting strands … Continue reading Regina v K: HL 25 Jul 2001
The defendants appealed against their convictions for murder, complaining of the admission against them of hearsay evidence from witnesses in Cyprus. Two of the statements had been later retracted. Held: The convictions stood. The statements had been formal ones taken by the police in Cyprus, and there was no convincing evidence of them having been … Continue reading Thakrar and Another v Regina: CACD 5 Jul 2010
The defendant sought to assert that he was of previous good character. The prosecution knew of convictions abroad, and sought to admit them in rebuttal. The 1984 Act did not deal with foreign convictions. Held: The 1851 Act still applied, and appropriately certified evidence of foreign convictions could be admitted. Police fingerprint evidence was also … Continue reading Regina v Mauricia: CACD 25 Feb 2002
The defendant’s solicitor had advised him whilst at the police station to make a confession. He appealed saying that he should not have been given that advice, and that the evidence should be excluded. Held: A solicitor’s role in the police station was not simply to make life difficult for the prosecution, nor to get … Continue reading Regina v Wahab: CACD 26 Jun 2002
(Scotland) The appellant had variously been convicted in reliance on evidence gathered at different stages before arrest, but in each case without being informed of any right to see a solicitor. The court was asked, as a devolution issue, at what point the duty to allow access to a solicitor arose, and what use might … Continue reading Ambrose v Harris, Procurator Fiscal, Oban, etc: SC 6 Oct 2011
The claimant alleged that his treatment in the police station had been wrongful. His solicitor, representing two clients, had refused to attend the interview with the claimant until he had seen the second client. There was a scene and the solicitor was excluded. The claimant said that this had unlawfully imposed a condition on his … Continue reading McDonagh, Regina (on The Application of) v Chief Constable of Leicestershire Constabulary: Admn 19 Dec 2013
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
Twins were conjoined (Siamese). Medically, both could not survive, and one was dependent upon the vital organs of the other. Doctors applied for permission to separate the twins which would be followed by the inevitable death of one of them. The parents, devout Roman Catholics, resisted. Held: The parents’ views were subject to the overriding … Continue reading In Re A (Minors) (Conjoined Twins: Medical Treatment); aka In re A (Children) (Conjoined Twins: Surgical Separation): CA 22 Sep 2000
The applicant challenged the terms of a non-derogating control order. It was anticipated that unless prevented, he would fight against UK forces in Iraq. Held: The section allowed the Secretary of State to impose any necessary conditions, but subject to a system of supervision by the courts. The parties now disputed whether the Act gave … Continue reading MB, Re, Secretary of State for the Home Department v MB: Admn 12 Apr 2006
Appeal against acquittal of offence of driving a motor vehicle whilst over the prescribed alcohol limit. The defendant had challenged the calibration of the Camic breath testing machine which showed the incorrect date. Citations: [1997] EWHC Admin 946 Statutes: Road Traffic Act 1988 5(1)(a), Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 69 Jurisdiction: England and Wales … Continue reading Director of Public Prosecutions v Garnett: Admn 30 Oct 1997
Custody sergeant need only be available to be called in readily, not present. Citations: Gazette 16-Sep-1992 Statutes: Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 36-1 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Crime, Police Updated: 06 August 2022; Ref: scu.90169
ECHR Article 6 Criminal proceedings Article 6-1 Access to court Decision to strike out civil claims alleging torture on account of immunity invoked by defendant State (the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and its officials: no violation Facts – The applicants alleged that they had been subjected to torture while in custody in the Kingdom of … Continue reading Jones And Others v The United Kingdom: ECHR 14 Jan 2014
The DPP appealed by case stated against a dismissal of a charge against the respondent following a driving incident. He complained of the admission of bad character evidence saying that it would be unfair under section 78 of the 1984 Act. The magistrates had accepted that submission. Held: The Crown had sought to adduce the … Continue reading Director of Public Prosecutions v Agyemang: Admn 24 Jun 2009
The defendant appealed his conviction for aggravated burglary. He complained that evidence of his co-accuseds’ please of guilty had been admitted even though the factual basis of those please differed from the prosecution case aganst him. Held: The appeal was allowed. The co-defendants admitted only finding the weapons at issue in the flat they burgled. … Continue reading Downer, Regina v: CACD 6 Jul 2009
The Claimant seeks judicial review of the dismissal of his complaint against a police officer in the Hampshire Constabulary for his failure to comply with paragraph 11.13 of Code C of the Codes of Practice, issued pursuant to section 66 of the 1984 Act, in not recording his comments after being cautioned for a suspected … Continue reading Karia, Regina (on The Application of) v The Chief Constable of Hampshire Contabulary: Admn 15 Dec 2015
The defendant appealed against her conviction for aggravated vehicle taking. She was found near the scene of a road traffic accident involving a stolen car, and her fingerprint on an inside rear window. She submitted that the officers had asked as to her involvement at a time when she was already a suspect, and that … Continue reading Hughes v Director of Public Prosecutions: Admn 12 Oct 2009
The appellants sought to challenge their convictions for cheating the Inland Revenue. They were accused of having hidden assets and income from the revenue. The appellants objected to the use at trial of material obtained in a ‘Hansard’ interview. At such interview admissions are accepted as a basis for settling civil liabiity, but expressly excluding … Continue reading Regina v Sewa Singh Gill and Paramjit Singh Gill: CACD 31 Jul 2003
The claimant challenged the lawfulness of a search warrant issued by the first defendant, the Westminster Magistrates Court. Held: ‘The challenges brought by the claimant as to the warrant and Information cannot be described as technical challenges, they go to the substance of the application. The absence of the identified information serves to undermine the … Continue reading Sweeney v Westminster Magistrates Court and Another: Admn 25 Jun 2014
Citations: [2009] EWHC 958 (QB) Links: Bailii Statutes: Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 22 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Appeal from – Scopelight Ltd and Others v Chief of Police for Northumbria CA 5-Nov-2009 The claimant sought return of items removed by the defendants under the 1984 Act. A decision had been made … Continue reading Scopelight Ltd and Others v Chief Of Police for Northumbria and Others: QBD 7 May 2009
The court asked whether the conviction of a co-defendant was correctly admitted as evidence against her co-accused, and if not what was the effect on the fairness of the trial. Held: The plea of the co-defendant should not have been admitted. The issue at this trial was as to matters on which the first trial … Continue reading Girma and Others, Regina v (Rev 1): CACD 15 May 2009
The appellant the Commission’s decision not to refer his case back to the court. They had agreed that a miscarriage of justice might have occurred, but concluded that it was not in the interests of justice to make such a referral. His statement had been obtained without the presence or availability of a lawyer in … Continue reading Gordon v Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (Scotland): SC 22 Mar 2017
The claimant had had computers seized by the defendant under searches despite his assertion that they contained legally privileged material. The claimant had been discredited as an expert witness in cases relating to the possession of indecent images. Held: The warrant had been obtained without proper consideration of the question of whether any of the … Continue reading Bates and Another v Chief Constable of the Avon and Somerset Police and Another: Admn 8 May 2009
The applicants had been charged with offences, but later acquitted. On arrest they had had DNA samples and fingerprints taken, and the details added to the national DNA database. The police refused to remove the records after the acquittals. Held: The appeals failed. The refusal to remove the records was not an infringement of a … Continue reading Regina (on the application of S) v Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police, Regina (Marper) v Same: CA 12 Sep 2002
The police authority took samples of DNA and fingerprints from the claimants whilst under arrest. After their cases had been dismissed or failed, they requested destruction of the samples and records, but this was refused. Held: There was no engagement of the applicants’ art 8 rights to privacy. Even if there was, the keeping of … Continue reading Regina (S) v Chief Constable of South Yorkshire; Regina (Marper) v Same: Admn 22 Mar 2002
The claimants had been prosecuted following authorised intrusive surveillance. They challenged the laws which prevented them from asking questions about interception, and therefore from defending themselves. The defendants said that the police had deliberately failed to record details which would demonstrate that the recordings had been from an interception rather than the surveillance. Held: The … Continue reading Knaggs v The United Kingdom: ECHR 14 Jan 2009
The defendant appealed against a refusal of a stay of the proceedings as an abuse, and the decision to admit certaiin evidence, and a refusal to issue a witness summons against an alleged informant. The defendant had been subject to an undercover investigation, which, he said officers had acted as agent provocateurs. Held: In assessing … Continue reading Regina v Stone: CACD 19 Jul 2000
The court considered the lawfulness of telephone tapping. The issue arose following a trial in which the prosecution had admitted the interception of the plaintiff’s telephone conversations under a warrant issued by the Secretary of State. The plaintiff claimed that the interception had been and was unlawful. Held: Although he dismissed the plaintiff’s claim, the … Continue reading Malone v Commissioner of the Police for the Metropolis (No 2): ChD 28 Feb 1979
The defendants challenged convictions for assaulting police officers acting in the course of their duty. They said the officers were not so acting. The first defendant had been stopped in a vehicle which had left the scene of an accident. At the time, someone else was driving. The police officer suspected he had been drinking … Continue reading Wayne Fullard, Ryan Roalfe, Regina (on the Application Of) v Woking Magistrates’ Court: Admn 16 Nov 2005
Evidence which had been obtained by a police trick (false shop) was admissible. It’s use was not unfair. Lord Taylor CJ said that the defendants ‘voluntarily applied themselves to the trick’. When assessing impact the court should assume that the jury was faithful to the directions of law. Judges: Lord Taylor CJ Citations: Gazette 08-Jul-1992, … Continue reading Regina v Christou; Regina v Wright: CACD 8 Jul 1992
A shop store-detective could be said to be a person charged with a duty to investigate offences. Whether he is, is a question of fact in each case, and its determination will turn on the evidence of the terms of the contract between the store detective and his employer and all the circumstances of the … Continue reading Regina v Bayliss: CACD 16 Mar 1993
The claimant said that the retention by the police of items belonging to her infringed her human rights. Judges: Plender J Citations: [2008] EWHC 654 (QB) Links: Bailii Statutes: Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 22(1), European Convention on Human Rights 8, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 340(3) Police, Human Rights Updated: 17 July 2022; … Continue reading Wiltshire Constabulary v McDonagh: QBD 8 Apr 2008
The defendant appealed against his conviction for sexual assault on his daughter. Whilst he was in custody, the police approached his wife and took a statement from her which was used in evidence. The defendant complained that since they had not warned her that she was not compellable as a witness, the statement should not … Continue reading RL v Regina (Evidence of wife): CACD 7 May 2008
A writ of subpoena ad duces tecum had been issued requiring the production by the police for use in civil proceedings of documents seized during a criminal fraud investigation. The victim of the fraud needed them to pursue his own civil case. Held: The court discharged the injunction granted at first instance and held that … Continue reading Marcel v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis: CA 1992
The defendant challenged his conviction for obstructing a police officer and threatening behaviour. The officer had taken hold of him to restrain him, not intending to arrest him, but only to establish whether he was a person they were looking for. He then struggled to escape and was arrested. Held: The appeal succeeded. At the … Continue reading Wood v Director of Public Prosecutions: Admn 14 May 2008
Presumption in Favour of Open Proceedings There had been an unauthorised dissemination by the petitioner to third parties of the official shorthand writer’s notes of a nullity suit which had been heard in camera. An application was made for a committal for contempt. Held: The House equated the contempt to a breach of an injunction … Continue reading Scott v Scott: HL 5 May 1913
Prosecutor’s appeal against dismissal of charge of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour. Officers stopping youths in street and searching for drugs. The defendant had challenged the admission of statements said to have been made at the scene by the defendants under Code C. After exclusion of the admissions, the prosecutor had offered no … Continue reading Director of Public Prosecutions v Lawrence: Admn 16 Jul 2007
The defendant had been convicted of posing as a solicitor in order to commit frauds. He appealed, saying that the court had wrongly admitted evidence of his dealings with illegal immigrants. Held: The evidence admitted was highly relevant as evidence of bad character. The section has to be applied after a fact-specific exercise. The court … Continue reading Tirnaveanu, Regina v: CACD 24 May 2007
A serving prisoner was stabbed to death in his cell. The appellant admitted that he had punched the victim twice but maintained that another man had stabbed him, which explained the incriminating presence of the victim’s blood in the vicinity of the appellant’s cell and on his hand. As the victim lay dying, he uttered, … Continue reading Musone v Regina: CACD 23 May 2007
The appeal concerns the effect of breaches of the Code of Practice in relation to identification evidence and the admissibility of certain details on a Police National Computer print-out. Judges: Jackson J Citations: [2007] EWHC 1061 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, Criminal Justice Act 2003 117 Criminal Practice Updated: 11 … Continue reading Wellington, Regina (on the Application of) v the Director of Public Prosectuions: Admn 1 May 2007
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
The defendant appealed his conviction for murder. He complained at the admission of a statement made by the police surgeon who had attended him in the police station as evidence of bad character under the 2003 Act. The statement was as to his liability to snap if he had not taken medication. The defendant said … Continue reading Osbourne, Regina v: CACD 13 Mar 2007
The claimant sought judicial review of a refusal to make an ex gratia payment for his imprisonment whilst successfully resisting extradition proceedings. Terrorist connections had been suggested, but the judge made an explicit finding that at no stage had any evidence been produced. Held: The 1988 Act provided only limited circumstances for a payment, but … Continue reading Raissi, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: Admn 22 Feb 2007
The police went to detain the appellant under the 1983 Act. To do so they entered the property against her wishes. She resisted detention, and now appealed her conviction for assaulting the Police officers in the execution of their duty, saying that the entry was unlawful, and that detention under the 1983 Act was not … Continue reading D’Souza v Director of Public Prosecutions: HL 15 Oct 1992
The defendant appealed against her conviction for assisting in the disposal of the proceeds of criminal activity, saying that the judge had incorrectly ruled that she had waived legal privilege as to the advice given to her at the police station, and that an inference could be drawn under section 34. Under cross examination she … Continue reading Loizou, Regina v: CACD 14 Jul 2006
The prosecutor applied for an order to require the magistrates to state a case. He faced a charge of driving with excess alcohol. He pleaded not guilty. There were several adjournments, and a considerable delay. At the trial, and with no forewarning, the defence requested the prosecution to prove service of the certificate of analysis. … Continue reading Director of Public Prosecutions, Regina (on the Application of) v Chorley Justices and Forrest: Admn 8 Jun 2006
The claimants had each been detained without trial for more than two years, being held as suspected terrorists. They were free leave to return to their own countries, but they feared for their lives if returned. They complained that the evidence used to justify their detention was derived from practices involving torture by the US … Continue reading A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, Mahmoud Abu Rideh Jamal Ajouaou v Secretary of State for the Home Department: CA 11 Aug 2004
The defendant was arrested for burglary and a non-intimate sample taken without his consent. The DNA profile matched blood at the scene of the burglary, and this match was the bedrock of the prosecution case. Before the trial, prosecuting counsel applied ex parte to withhold disclosure of certain material. The defence were notified of the … Continue reading Regina v Smith (Joe): CACD 20 Dec 2000
The defendant appealed against his conviction for driving with excess alcohol. He complained that though the officers suspected him of having consumed alcohol, they asked him whether he had been drinking without cautioning him, and that no print out from the Intoximeter having been produced, there was no evidence on which he could be convicted. … Continue reading Sneyd v Director of Public Prosecutions: Admn 24 Feb 2006
The applicant had left care, but still received assistance. She was arrested and the police asked the attending social worker to arrange secure accommodation overnight. The respondent refused. The court was asked what duty (if any) is owed by local authorities to provide ‘secure accommodation’ for arrested juveniles whom they are requested to receive under … Continue reading M, Regina (on the Application of) v Gateshead Council: CA 14 Mar 2006
The defendant objected to evidence being used as evidence of bad character against him under the 2003 Act, when it would not have been admissible as similar fact evidence under the old rules. Held: Obiter dicta in O’Brien did not mean that the Act merely codified existing law.The Act made the pre-existing test obsolete. Once … Continue reading Regina v Weir, Somanathan,Yaxley-Lennon, Manister, Qiang He and De Qun He: CACD 11 Nov 2005
The claimants had been convicted of murder, but their tariffs had not yet been set when the 2003 Act came into effect. They said that the procedure under which their sentence tarriffs were set were not compliant with their human rights in that the tarriff was set by reference back to a judge without a … Continue reading Hammond, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: HL 1 Dec 2005
The police had obtained an ex parte order for the production of files from a firm of solicitors relating to financial transactions of one of their clients. The police believed that the client had been provided with money to purchase property by an alleged drug trafficker. The solicitors relied on the exemption in section 27(4)(ii) … Continue reading Regina v Central Criminal Court ex parte Francis and Francis: HL 1989
Where a defendant gave a sample of DNA during an investigation, but the sample was not destroyed on his acquittal, evidence obtained from a cross match relating to a different crime was not admissible. The statute requires the samples to be destroyed, and evidence based upon samples not so destroyed cannot be admitted. Judges: Swinton … Continue reading Regina v B (Attorney-General’s Reference No 3 of 1999); Regina v Weir: CACD 26 May 2000
The defendants appealed convictions for being involved in the illegal importation of cocaine, saying that questioning at the airport before a caution was administered was unlawful. By the time they were asked about the cases, the customs officers already knew that the cases contained drugs. The recorder had said that the questions were standard ones … Continue reading Regina v Dianne Senior and Samantha Senior: CA 4 Mar 2004
The defendant was convicted of fraud charges. He sought to have excluded statements made in interview on the basis that they had been obtained by oppressive behaviour by the police. His wife was very seriously ill in hospital and he had made the statement so that he could get out to see her. The police … Continue reading Regina v Mushtaq: HL 21 Apr 2005
The appellant was waiting for a train when his bag was stolen. After a search, the thief tried to deter the appellant from calling the police by suggesting that the bag contained items the appellant should not be carrying. From the bag the appellant produced a curved martial arts sword, in its sheath. He testified … Continue reading Wang, Regina v: HL 10 Feb 2005
The appellant had been convicted in 1997 of robbery and false imprisonment. His case was now refererred by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. The defendant had, on advice from his solicitor refused to answer questions at the police station. The Court of Human Rights had found that the inference drawn from that silence at trial … Continue reading Beckles, Regina v: CACD 12 Nov 2004
The motorist had been stopped. He had not failed the roadside breathalyzer test, but the officer continued and arrested him. He was acquitted. The prosecutor appealed. Held: The use of the section 6 breathalyzer procedure did not exclude the officer relying on the powers contained in section 4 of the Act. Where the officer believed … Continue reading Director of Public Prosecutions v Robertson: QBD 4 Mar 2002
The defendant had been charged with attempting to obtain property by deception by fabricating his death by drowning in the sea off Miami in Florida. The final act alleged to constitute the offence occurred outside the jurisdiction of the English courts. Held: The charge was justiciable in England. The defendant appealed conviction on counts of … Continue reading Director of Public Prosecutions v Stonehouse: HL 1977
Appeal from conviction under section 4 – whether correct to admit evidence of conviction of co-accused. Citations: [2009] EWCA Crim 1944 Links: Bailii Statutes: Explosive Substances Act 1883 4, Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 78 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Crime Updated: 17 June 2022; Ref: scu.377754
In a criminal investigation, the police came to suspect that a junior clerk in a barristers’ chambers was intending to give a false alibi. Though the solicitors were innocent of any wrongdoing, the police required their file. The solicitors claimed legal professional privilege. Held: Where there is evidence of specific agreement to pervert the course … Continue reading Hallinan, Blackburn-Gittings and Nott (A Firm), Regina (on the Application Of) v Crown Court at Middlesex Guildhall and Another: Admn 15 Nov 2004
The defendant on a charge of rape had been tried and acquitted of the rape of different women on three previous occasions in three separate trials. The prosecution wished to call those three complainants to give similar fact evidence in support of the new charge. Held: Similar fact evidence was not inadmissible only because it … Continue reading Regina v Z (Prior acquittal): HL 22 Jun 2000
It was alleged that evidence had been obtained by police oppression. She had at first refused to answer questions, but an officer talked to her during a break between interviews, telling her that her lover had been having an affair. The circumstances caused the appellant severe distress, and she made admissions in the following interview. … Continue reading Regina v Fulling: CACD 1987
The accused had been charged with the murder of an infant who had been given into their care by the child’s mother after payment of a fee. They appealed after admission of evidence that several other infants had been received by the accused persons from other mothers and that their bodies were found buried in … Continue reading Makin v Attorney-General for New South Wales: PC 12 Dec 1893
The claimants had been imprisoned for many years before their convictions were quashed. They claimed compensation under the Act. The assessor said that there should be deducted from the award the living expenses they would have incurred if they had not been in prison. Held: The statutory scheme replaced an ex gratia scheme, and there … Continue reading Independent Assessor v O’Brien, Hickey, Hickey: CA 29 Jul 2004
The defendant had been convicted of theft from a supermarket. The evidence was that the till rolls did not include the goods the subject of the charge. She argued that it should not have been admitted as evidence, without supporting evidence that the computer which produced the till rolls was working accurately. Held: The evidence … Continue reading Regina v Shephard: HL 16 Dec 1992
The defendant appealed against his conviction for having failed to identify the driver of a car caught speeding by a camera. He was the registered keeper. He completed and returned the form, but did not sign it. The statute imposed no explicit obligation to sign it. He also said that since he was already suspected … Continue reading Francis v Director of Public Prosecutions: QBD 23 Mar 2004
The claimants sought return of vehicle parts from the police. The police replied that the goods had been tampered with in such a way as to suggest they may have been stolen, and that they were therefore kept, even after the finish of the court procedings against the claimants, to ascertain their ownership under the … Continue reading Gough and Another v The Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police: CA 2 Mar 2004
The defendant complained that the judge had given a direction under s34 even though his counsel had only put matters to witnesses for the prosecution. Held: A positive suggestion put to a witness by or on behalf of a defendant may amount to a fact relied on in his defence for the purpose of section … Continue reading Regina v Webber: HL 22 Jan 2004
Police investigating crime obtained a warrant to search a solicitor’s offices for details of their clients. The solicitors appealed. Held: The details required, namely dates of contacts with a certain telephone number were not legally privileged: ‘the name and telephone number of the caller were taken down as a formality ‘to create the channel through … Continue reading Miller Gardner Solicitors, Regina (on the Application of) v Minshull Street Crown Court: Admn 20 Dec 2002
The six claimants sought damages for wrongful arrest and false imprisonment. Each had been arrested on an officer’s suspicion. They operated CCTV equipment, and it appeared that tapes showing the commission of an offence had been tampered with. Each was of good character, and the suspicion was based solely on their opportunity to have access … Continue reading Cumming and others v Chief Constable of Northumbria Police: CA 17 Dec 2003
The claimant sought damages for false imprisonment and assault after her wrongful arrest. She had waived her handbag at an officer investigating a disturbance and been arrested. The police said the arrest was lawful, she being suspected of common assault. Held: The judge was entitled to take the view that, taking the evidence at its … Continue reading Jarrett v Chief Constable of West Midlands Police: CA 14 Feb 2003
The claimant had been arrested by an officer entering his house to investigate a breach of the peace, then held for two nights. The police believed that he posed no continuing threat, but believed he had to be brought before the magistrates before being released. Held: The fact that a breach of the peace had … Continue reading Williamson v Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police: CA 21 Feb 2003
The appellant and co-accused were charged with murder. They said they had gone to meet the deceased to collect a debt, but had been attacked with a knife by the deceased. Two of the three had knives and knew of the other knife. Held: All were taking part in a joint and unlawful enterprise. Each … Continue reading Chan Wing-Siu v The Queen: PC 21 Jun 1984
The police officer had been accused of an offence. The case was discharged under the section at committal. The Commissioner sought to commence disciplinary proceedings on the same evidence. Held: The tests of the two sets of hearings were different. The magistrates had been asked to see whether there was sufficient evidence to justify putting … Continue reading Regina (on the Application of Redgrave) v The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis: CA 22 Jan 2003
The defendants applied for the defence statements of co-defendants to be disclosed. A co-defendant was to give evidence for the Crown, and they sought to have it excluded as unreliable. Held: The 1996 Act created a duty of secondary disclosure, where a defence statement might be of assistance to the co-defendants. Actual disclosure remained for … Continue reading Regina v Cairns; Regina v Zaldi, Regina v Chaudary: CACD 22 Nov 2002
The defendant had heard that the sentencing judge would set his sentence tarriff without an oral hearing, and would then give his decision in open court. He sought judicial review. Held: Review was granted. The availability of a right of appeal was not of itself sufficient to justify a declaration of incompatibility for a section … Continue reading Hammond, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: Admn 25 Nov 2004
The defendant was accused of murder. He had been identified by a witness who knew him, but the witness himself was murdered before the trial. The court allowed the prosecutor to read the deceased witness’ statement. Another witness for whom an ID parade had been held had only seen the defendant from the rear, but … Continue reading Regina v Nolan: CACD 15 Feb 2002
The appellants appealed their convictions on two grounds. First the judge who had heard the case was an acquaintance of the chief constable of the investigating force, and second evidence had been admitted of tape recordings of non-privileged conversations between defendants whilst in the police station. The Chief Constable had authorised the covert operation, and … Continue reading Mason, Wood, McClelland, Tierney v Regina: CACD 13 Feb 2002
The defendant appealed against his conviction for murder. He said that the court had not allowed his alcoholism as a characteristic for the purposes of testing the defence of provocation, and that the evidence of his long standing partner should be treated as equivalent to that of a wife, making her evidence admissible but not … Continue reading Regina v Pearce: CACD 11 Dec 2001
Where a building includes several premises, a search warrant must specify which premises were to be searched. Citations: Times 15-Aug-1996 Statutes: Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 15, 16, 23 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Crime Updated: 05 June 2022; Ref: scu.88675
The claimant objected to the use by the respondent of orders under the 1988 Act to produce records for investigation and tracing proceeds. Held: Simon Brown LJ said: ‘In my judgment, therefore, it would be wrong to construe the words in section 93H(1) ‘an investigation into whether any person has benefited from any criminal conduct’ … Continue reading Regina v Guildford Crown Court, Ex Parte Director of Public Prosecutions; Regina v Southwark Crown Court, Ex Parte Bowles: QBD 29 Oct 1996
When a telephone engineer used his position to make unauthorised telephone intercepts, and produced apparent evidence of criminal activity, he was, under the Act, a person engaged in providing a public communications system, and the recordings were not admissible. The phrase ‘engaged in’ could refer either to his status, or that the act was part … Continue reading Regina v Sargent: HL 25 Oct 2001
The case concerned an appeal following a demonstration. The Chief constable had made an order under section 60, anticipating serious violence. The respondent wore a mask, and the officer reached out to remove it. She hit out and broke his glasses. He did nothing to identify himself or the purpose of his action. Magistrates decided … Continue reading Director of Public Prosecutions v Avery: QBD 11 Oct 2001
Evidence was acknowledged to have been obtained unlawfully and in breach of another article of the Convention. The police had installed covert listening devices on private property without the knowledge or consent of the owner. UK national law did not regulate sufficiently the use of covert listening devices to protect the individual’s rights under the … Continue reading Khan v The United Kingdom: ECHR 12 May 2000
The claimant sought judicial review of the granting of a special protection order with regard to the retention of emails sent by their customers, and for permission to destroy material relating to the application. The result, said the applicant, would overwhelm their storage systems, and to put them in breach of section 1 of the … Continue reading NTL Group Ltd, Regina (on The Application of) v S Constabulary: Admn 22 Jul 2002
PC (Bermuda) The appellants challenged their conviction for murder. Evidence had been admitted of informal and unadmitted conversations with police officers after charge, with the officers notebooks put before the jury. Held: The judge had dealt with the matter correctly. The breach of the Judges’ Rules does not automatically render an oral statement made by … Continue reading Teiko David Jamel Furbert and Sheldon Eugenio Franks v The Queen: PC 23 Mar 2000
A driver was arrested for driving with excess alcohol. At the police station, he was to be tested with the Lion Intoximeter. The officer tested the machine and it calibrated correctly. This was at about a quarter after midnight; the sergeant’s watch said 00.13 am, but the time display on the machine read 23:00. Part … Continue reading Director of Public Prosecutions v McKeown and Jones: HL 20 Feb 1997
Where the judge decided that no inference could be drawn from the defendant’s silence, because of the absence of facts which could have been mentioned, he had a duty positively to warn the jury not arbitrarily to draw adverse inferences from the silence. He had been wrong to leave it open to the jury to … Continue reading Regina v McGarry: CACD 16 Jul 1998
Appeal against conviction for handling stolen goods – admission of statement made before officer formed suspicion of theft. The prosecution had first conducted their case on the footing that it had been the property of his employer, but then were unable to establish that. Held: Though the conversation should be admitted, the prosecution had failed … Continue reading Iqbal v Director of Public Prosecutions: Admn 22 Oct 2004
A police officer had been dismissed but was pursuing an action against the authority. At the same time he obtained work as a probationary solicitor’s clerk doing police station work. The Chief Constable issued an order that he should not, under PACE be admitted to any police station. Held: The order was unlawful, since it … Continue reading Regina v The Chief Constable of the Northumbria Constabulary ex parte Thompson: CA 8 Mar 2001
The defendant had been investigated for fraud against the claimant. He had disclosed documents to the police, but now complained at their use in the civil proceedings against him. Held: The document had not been given to the police under compulsion, reducing their obligations. It was possible that they might have shown it to the … Continue reading Preston Borough Council v McGrath: CA 12 May 2000