To complement the 2022 Criminal Law Update from Antony Bartholomeusz, fellow Great James Street barrister Adam Smith presents an update regarding the main new criminal offences that have come into force during October 2021 to October 2022, and an overview of changes to sentencing during the same period. The seminar specifically looks at:

Sexual offences arranging or facilitating commission of a child sex offence

Abuse of a position of trust

Voyeurism: Breastfeeding

Public order criminal damage to memorials

Hare coursing offences

Offences relating to protest imposing conditions on public processions

Imposing conditions on public assemblies

Conditions on processions and assemblies

Obstructing vehicular access to Parliament

Intentionally/recklessly causing public nuisance

Conditions on one-person protests

Offence relating to residing on land without consent in or with a vehicle

Driving offences causing injury by careless or inconsiderate driving

Failing to surrender a licence where disqualified

Domestic Violence Act 2021: Non-fatal strangulation

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2022: Using a handheld mobile telephone whilst driving

Relevant law:

Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022

Sexual Offences Act 2003

Domestic Violence Act 2021

About Adam

Adam has a busy criminal practice appearing in the Crown and Magistrates’ Courts. He both defends and prosecutes and is currently awarded Grade 1 status on the Crown Prosecution Service’s Advocacy Panel. Adam represents clients charged with a variety of offences, including sexual offences, violence, drug offences, robbery, domestic violence, fraud and driving offences. Adam’s confident style of advocacy, combined with his impressive academic abilities, leads to highly commendable feedback from clients.

Adam is regularly instructed by policing bodies in criminal proceedings, including Sexual Harm Prevention Orders, Stalking Prevention Orders, Asset Freezing Orders, Community Protection Notices and ASBO’s. Further, Adam has been instructed to challenge threatened actions against the police in civil proceedings. He is instructed to undertake document reviews, particularly in relation to legally privileged material and is instructed as independent counsel to attend and advise on searches and raids.