James is a criminal law specialist, called to the Bar in 2022. He is often instructed in matters concerning domestic violence, offences of violence, drug trafficking, sexual offences, fraud, and dangerous driving. James has academic experience writing publications, having written for The Journal of Criminal Law and co-authored textbooks for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). He has also lectured in Law at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

In this presentation, James gives a holistic overview of updates about the mechanics of Magistrates’ courts, including: procedural updates, case law, sentencing, practical guidance and relevant publications. He introduces a new pilot scheme for Domestic Abuse Protection Orders, before discussing an important case that has implications for lawyers working with cases involving “zombie knives.” He then goes on to give sentencing updates and shares a new practical guide to probation breaches that was published this September (2024).

Key words/topics:

Criminal Practice Directions 2023 (allocation/sexual offences in a youth court)

Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2024

Domestic Abuse Protection Notices/Orders

The Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules 2024

R (On the Application of Phillips) v Isleworth Crown Court [2023] EWHC 617 (Admin)

Thompson v Crown Prosecution Service [2024] EWHC 470 (Admin)

Zombie Knife

Probation Reset initiative

A Practical Guide to Probation Breaches and Other Applications