GDPR six months on


GDPR six months on

This week marks the six-month anniversary since the General Data Protection Regulations took effect. Quentin takes a look back over this time to see whats changed.


Planning Enforcement notices - Limits lawful use and planning permission


Planning Enforcement notices - Limits lawful use and planning permission

Quentin explains the complex and often confusing interrelationship of planning enforcement law and criminal law and how it can impact upon any criminal prosecution by Local Planning Authorities (LPAs).


What Are The Requirements Of The New HMO Regulations


What Are The Requirements Of The New HMO Regulations

It is an offence to let a HMO without a licence. If you do so, the Local Housing Authority will have two options. The first will be to impose a civil penalty of up to £30,000 under section 249A of the Housing Act 2004. The other option open to the Local Housing Authority is to pursue a prosecution against you under section 72 of the Housing Act 2004.


Success in Vacation of Plea application


Success in Vacation of Plea application

If you have entered a plea of Guilty and feel that you were not truly admitting your guilt or that there was a problem in the procedure leading up to the entering of the plea you may have ground to vacate your guilty plea.


Success in significant financial reduction in Proceeds of Crime Act case


Success in significant financial reduction in Proceeds of Crime Act case

Quentin put forward a good defence to the claim by the prosecution leading to the prosecution entering into negotiation with the defence and eventually brokering a settlement on behalf of his client of £141,000, an enormous reduction from the £1.12M initially claimed.


Not guilty verdict for woman accused of assaulting her police officer husband


Not guilty verdict for woman accused of assaulting her police officer husband

As a professional person, CK could not afford a criminal conviction as it would likely result in her losing her livelihood. As a result of Quentin's intervention, the prosecution took time to review the matter and came to a decision not to continue the prosecution.


Quentin secures immediate release of man facing Harassment charges


Quentin secures immediate release of man facing Harassment charges

Learn how Quentin was able to enter a revised plea with the resulting sentence being that his client was released from custody that day to go home with his family. Both FA and his family were delighted with the result.


Perverting the course of justice


Perverting the course of justice

Defendants who are otherwise law abiding people get caught out telling stupid lies to the Police and Courts without realising the dire consequences of getting caught.


New Test of Dishonesty


New Test of Dishonesty

In the New Test of Dishonesty the defendant can no longer use his own standards or what he understands the standards of society to be as a defence.


Striking a balance - Malicious Communication Act and free speech


Striking a balance - Malicious Communication Act and free speech

To what extent is someone protected over adverse comment that could be said to be free speech? Barrister Quent Hunt gives his views.


Unexplained Wealth Orders explained


Unexplained Wealth Orders explained

The Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) is a tool designed to help enforcement agencies tackle the longstanding issue of unexplained wealth in the UK. This has been recently highlighted in the media in recent press articles and fictionalised television series such as McMafia.


Are you GDPR ready? Take the quiz


Are you GDPR ready? Take the quiz

GDPR comes into effect on 25 May 2018. Test your understanding of your GDPR and Data Protection responsibilities


Breach of s33 Environmental Protection Act 1990


Breach of s33 Environmental Protection Act 1990

Section 33 is one of the most prosecuted offences under the of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, it covers all manner of depositing of waste from small scale ‘fly tipping’ to industrial scale waste disposal.


Dramatic rise in recorded rape cases explained


Dramatic rise in recorded rape cases explained

As the black cab rapist John Worboys case continues to navigate the legal system, Quentin takes a look at the way in which significant changes in police and Crown Prosecution Service guidance have had a dramatic impact on the number of recorded cases.