Hotlist Flashcards

1
Q

Murder and Manslaughter

What is the offence of murder?

A

Common-Law

Committed when a person unlawfully kills another human being under the Queen’s Peace, with MALICE aforethought.

Penalty:

  • Over 18 = Life Imprisonment
  • 18-21 = Custody for Life
  • Under 18 = Detention at Her Majesty’s Pleasure
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2
Q

Murder and Manslaughter

What is the mens rea for murder as an intention?

A

Murder is a crime of specific intent…

To kill, or

To cause grievous bodily harm.

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3
Q

Murder and Manslaughter

In which situations is consent required before proceedings can be instituted for a ‘fatal offence’?

A

s2 Law Reform Act 1996

Attorney General…

(a) The injury alleged to have caused the death was sustained more than 3 years before death occurred, or
(b) The person has previously been convicted of an offence committed in circumstances alleged to be connected to the death.

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4
Q

Murder and Manslaughter

What special defences allow for conviction of voluntary manslaughter instead of murder (not attempted murder)?

A

The accused has the MENS REA for murder, the elements of murder therefore exist (intent to kill/ GBH).

  1. Diminished responsibility
  2. Loss of control
  3. Suicide pact

Can still be sentenced to life imprisonment.

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5
Q

Special defences allow for conviction of voluntary manslaughter instead of murder

Diminished responsibility

A

s2 Homicide Act 1957

(a) Significant mental abnormality from a medical condition.

(b) Substantial impairment to;
- Understand the nature of the conduct.
- Form a rational judgment
- To exercise self-control

…and therefore provides an explanation for the act

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6
Q

Special defences allow for conviction of voluntary manslaughter instead of murder

Examples of Potential Diminished responsibility

A

s2 Homicide Act 1957

  • Abnormality of mind
  • Post-natal/ pre-menstrual symptoms,
  • Grief reaction
  • Battered wife syndrome
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7
Q

Special defences allow for conviction of voluntary manslaughter instead of murder

Loss of control

A

s54 Coroners and Justice Act 2009

The loss of control must be attributable to (but not incited or instigated by)…

  1. Fear of Serious Violence (not in the future)
  2. Things done or said of grave character justifying a sense of being seriously wronged.

Would a similar person of age, sex, degree of tolerant and self-restraint have reacted in the same or in a similar way? NEED NOT BE SUDDEN

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8
Q

Special defences allow for conviction of voluntary manslaughter instead of murder

Suicide Pact

A

s4 Homicide Act 1957

Common agreement between two or more persons with a settled intention of all to die.

The burden of proof lies with the accused. He/ she must show that:

  • A suicide pact had been made, and
  • He/she had the intention of dying at the time the killing took place.
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9
Q

What is the offence of involuntary manslaughter?

A

Common Law

Unlawful killing of another human being.

Occurs where the defendant causes the death of another but is not shown to have had the required mens rea for murder (intention to kill or GBH) nor involve the special defences as per voluntary manslaughter.

Divided into:

  1. Kill another by an unlawful act which was likely to cause bodily harm, or
  2. Kills another by gross negligence.

Penalty:
- Indictment – Life imprisonment

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10
Q

Involuntary manslaughter

What is gross negligence?

A

Gross negligence is a matter of fact for the jury and means the “lack of slight diligence or care” or “a conscious, voluntary act or omission in reckless disregard of a legal duty and of the consequences to another party.

Civil liability is not enough (being responsible for actions and practices that could damage others, but which aren’t criminal).

For example, a duty of care in a care home.

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11
Q

Involuntary manslaughter

What three elements to the offence of manslaughter by an unlawful act must you prove?

A
  1. An unlawful act (constitutes a criminal offence in its own right, e.g arson)
  2. That the unlawful act is likely to cause bodily harm (emotional/ psychological not enough).
  3. The defendant had the mens rea for the unlawful act which led to the death (cannot rely on voluntary intoxication, e.g drug-induced hallucination).
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12
Q

Involuntary manslaughter

Can the accused rely on his/her lack of mens rea induced by voluntary intoxication?

A

No - as manslaughter is a crime of basic intent.

For example, accused killed his girlfriend while suffering LSD induced hallucinations that he was at the centre of the earth being attacked by snakes. If the unlawful act were to be a crime of specific intent, then the intoxication should be relevant.

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13
Q

Causing or Allowing a Child or Vulnerable Adult to Die or Suffer Serious Harm

A

s5 Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004

(1) A person (“D”) is guilty of an offence if—
(a) a child (under 16) or vulnerable adult (“V”) dies or suffers serious physical harm as a result of the unlawful act of a person who—

(i) was a member of the same household as V, and
(ii) had frequent contact with him,

(b) D was such a person at the time of that act,
(c) at that time there was a significant risk of serious physical harm being caused to V by the unlawful act of such a person, and
(d) either D was the person whose act caused the death or serious physical harm or—

(i) D was, or ought to have been, aware of the risk mentioned in paragraph (c),
(ii) D failed to take such steps as he could reasonably have been expected to take to protect V from the risk, and
(iii) the act occurred in circumstances of the kind that D foresaw or ought to have foreseen.

Penalty:
Indictment –
- Where the child/ vulnerable adult dies = 14 years imprisonment and/ or a fine.
- Where the child/ vulnerable adult suffers serious physical harm = 10 years imprisonment and/ or a fine.

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14
Q

Cybercrime

Unauthorised Access to Computer Material (‘Hacking’)

A

s1 Computer Misuse Act 1990

(1) A person is guilty of an offence if—
(a) He causes a computer to perform any function with INTENT to secure access to any program or data held in any computer, or to enable any such access to be secured.
(b) The access he intends to secure or to enable to be secured, is UNAUTHORISED; and
(c) He KNOWS at the time when he causes the computer to perform the function that that is the case.

Penalty:

  • Indictment– 2 years and/or fine.
  • Summarily– 12 months and/or fine.
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15
Q

Cybercrime

Unauthorised Access to Computer Material (‘Hacking’)

‘Securing access’ to a computer includes…

A

s17 Computer Misuse Act 1990

  • Altering or erasing a program or data
  • Copying or moving a program or data to a new storage medium
  • Using data or having it displayed or ‘output’ in any form from the computer in which it is held.
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16
Q

Cybercrime

Unauthorised Access to Computers with Intent to Commit Further Offences

A

s2 Computer Misuse Act 1990

(1) Unauthorised access offence with intent (at the time of the actus reus)—
(a) To commit an offence
(b) To facilitate the commission of such an offence (can be at a later date)…

The further offence can be impossible.

Penalty:

  • Indictment– 5 years and/or fine.
  • Summarily– 6 months and/or fine.
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17
Q

Cybercrime

Unauthorised Acts with Intent to Impair, or with Recklessness as to Impairing, Operation of Computer, etc.

A

s3 Computer Misuse Act 1990

(1) A person is guilty of an offence if intentionally or recklesslessly does an act—

(a) To impair the operation of any computer;
(b) To prevent or hinder access to any program or data held in any computer
(c) To impair the operation of any such program or the reliability of any such data;
(d) to enable any of the things mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) above to be done.

Examples include programs that generate denial of service attacks, or malicious code such as viruses.

Penalty:

  • Indictment– 10 years and/or fine.
  • Summarily– 6 months and/or fine.
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18
Q

Cybercrime

Unauthorised Acts Causing or Creating Risk of, Serious Damage

A

s3ZA Computer Misuse Act 1990

(1) A person is guilty of an offence if—
(a) The person does any unauthorised act in relation to a computer;
(b) At the time of doing the act the person knows that it is unauthorised;
(c) The act causes, or creates a significant risk of, serious damage of a material kind; and
(d) The person intends by doing the act to cause serious damage of a material kind or is reckless as to whether such damage is caused.

(2) Damage is of a “material kind” for the purposes of this section if it is—
(a) Damage to human welfare in any place;
(b) Damage to the environment of any place;
(c) Damage to the economy of any country; or
(d) Damage to the national security of any country.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(a) an act causes damage to human welfare only if it causes—
(a) Loss to human life;
(b) Human illness or injury;
(c) Disruption of a supply of money, food, water, energy or fuel;
(d) Disruption of a system of communication;
(e) Disruption of facilities for transport; or
(f) Disruption of services relating to health.

(4) It is immaterial for the purposes of subsection (2) whether or not an act causing damage—
(a) Does so directly;
(b) Is the only or main cause of the damage.

Penalty:
- Indictment– 14 years and/or fine.

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19
Q

Cybercrime

Making, supplying or obtaining articles for use in offence under s1, 3 or 3ZA

A

s3A Computer Misuse Act 1990

(1) A person is guilty of an offence if he makes, adapts, supplies or offers to supply any article intending it to be used to commit, or to assist in the commission of, an offence under s1, 3 or 3ZA.
(2) A person is guilty of an offence if he supplies or offers to supply any article believing that it is likely to be used to commit, or to assist in the commission of, an offence under s1, 3 or 3ZA.

(3) A person is guilty of an offence if he obtains any article…
(a) Intending to use it to commit, or to assist in the commission of, an offence under section 1, 3 or 3ZA, or
(b) With a view to it being supplied for use to commit, or to assist in the commission of, an offence under s1, 3 or 3ZA.

Penalty:

  • Indictment– 2 years and/or fine.
  • Summarily– 6 months and/or fine.
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20
Q

Malicious Communications

Offence

A

s1 Malicious Communications Act 1988

(1) Any person who sends to another person—
(a) A letter, electronic communication or article of any description which conveys—
(i) A message which is indecent or grossly offensive;
(ii) A threat; or
(iii) Information which is false and known or believed to be false by the sender; or

(b) Any article or electronic communication which is, in whole or part, of an indecent or grossly offensive nature (e.g poo through letterbox or message).

…is guilty of an offence if his purpose is to cause distress or anxiety to the recipient or to any other person to whom he intends that it or its contents or nature should be communicated.

Penalty:

  • Indictment– 2 years and/or fine.
  • Summarily– 6 months and/or fine.
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21
Q

Malicious Communications

Defences

A

s1 Malicious Communications Act 1988

(2)
1. That the threat was used to reinforce a demand made by him on reasonable grounds and

  1. That he believed that the use of the threat was a proper means of reinforcing the demand.
  2. Reasonable grounds existed for believing.

…Relevant test is objective based on 3.

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22
Q

Racially and Religiously Aggravated Offences

The offences that can become racially or religiously aggravated can be grouped in four categories:

A

Criminal Damage
• s1: ‘Simple’ criminal damage—Criminal Damage Act 1971

Harassment (Protection from Harassment Act 1997)
• s2: Harassment
• s2A: Stalking
• s4: Putting people in fear of violence
• s4A: Stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm or distress

Assaults
• s20: Wounding or grievous bodily harm—Offences Against the Person Act 1861
• s47: Causing actual bodily harm—Offences Against the Person Act 1861
• s39: Common assault—Criminal Justice Act 1988

Public Order (Public Order Act 1986)
• s4: Causing fear or provocation of violence.
• s4A: Intentional harassment, alarm or distress.
• s5: Non-intentional harassment, alarm or distress.

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23
Q

Racially and Religiously Aggravated Offences

Meaning of racially or religiously aggravated

A

s28 Crime and Disorder Act 1998

A) at the time of the offence (or immediately before or after doing so), the offender DEMONSTRATES towards the victim of the offence HOSTILITY based on the victim’s membership (or presumed membership) of a racial or religious group,

or

B) the offence is MOTIVATED (wholly or partly) by HOSTILITY towards members of a racial or religious group based on their membership of that group.

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24
Q

Racially and Religiously Aggravated Offences

What is a ‘racial group’?

A

s28 Crime and Disorder Act 1998

(4) In this section “racial group” means a group of persons defined by reference to race, colour, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origins.

“Membership”, in relation to a racial or religious group, includes association with members of that group.
- E.g having a black wife, working with certain religious/ racial groups.

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25
Q

Racially and Religiously Aggravated Offences

Timing necessity

A

‘At the time of the offence, or immediately before or after doing so.’

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26
Q

Racially and Religiously Aggravated Offences

Victim necessity

A

The demonstration of hostility must be towards the victim based on the victim’s membership or presumed membership of a racial or religious group.

If the offence is towards a coroporate body it is impossible to discern the vicitm so will must likely be charged under s28(1)(b).

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27
Q

Non-fatal Offences Against the Person

What is Common Assault?

A

s39 Criminal Justice Act 1988

“any act by which a person intentionally or recklessly CAUSES another person to apprehend (not fear) IMMEDIATE and unlawful personal violence”.

Assault by threat only, e.g:
- E.g I’m going to slap you, or conditional threat (if you do this I’ll___)

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28
Q

Non-fatal Offences Against the Person

On the part of the defendant, the mens rea needed to prove assault is either:

A
  • The intention to cause apprehension of immediate and unlawful violence; or
  • Subjective recklessness as to that consequence.
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29
Q

Non-fatal Offences Against the Person

  1. Can silence amount to an assault?
  2. Can words negate an assault?
A
  1. Yes, provided they are accompanied by the required mens rea.
  2. Yes– to say a conditional threat “if these officers weren’t here I’d chin you” would be a hypothetical threat that would not amount to assault.
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30
Q

Non-fatal Offences Against the Person

What is Battery?

A

s39 Criminal Justice Act 1988

  • Application of intentional or reckless unlawful force to another, physical contact occurs but with minor / no injury.

A very small degree of physical contact will be enough.

Penalty:
- Summarily– 6 months and/ or fine.

31
Q

Non-fatal Offences Against the Person

For an offence of battery, does the force have to be direct?

A

No, e.g to falsely assure a police officer that you have no ‘sharps’ in your possession, and thus cause them to stab themselves on a hypodermic needle as they search you.

32
Q

Non-fatal Offences Against the Person

The defences that may be used for charges of assault and battery include:

A
  • Legitimate consent
  • Lawful correction / reasonable chastisement of a child (common assault),
  • Prevention and detection of crime / self-defence (under common law).
33
Q

Non-fatal Offences Against the Person

Consent to Sado-masochistic Injuries

A

Where ABH (or worse) is deliberately inflicted, consent to it will ordinarily be deemed invalid on the grounds of public policy even if ‘victims’ know exactly what they were consenting to.

34
Q

Non-fatal Offences Against the Person

What is “Corporal Punishment” and is it legal?

A

s548 of the Education Act 1996 outlaws corporal punishment (physical punishment) in all British schools.

However, staff may use reasonable force in restraining violent or disruptive pupils.

35
Q

Non-fatal Offences Against the Person

Can beating a child be justified on the ground that it constituted reasonable punishment?

A

s58 of the Children Act 2004

(1) In relation to any offence specified in ss2, battery of a child cannot be justified on the ground that it constituted reasonable punishment.

(2) The offences referred to in subsection (1) are—
(a) An offence under s18 or 20 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 (wounding and causing grievous bodily harm);
(b) An offence under s47 of that Act (ABH)
(c) An offence under s1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (cruelty to persons under 16).

Defence of reasonable punishment for adults acting in loco parentis (e.g babysitter).

36
Q

Non-fatal Offences Against the Person

Racially or Religiously Aggravated…

  1. GBH
  2. ABH
  3. Common Assault/ Battery
A
  1. s29(1)(a) Offences Against the Person Act 1861
    - Penalty:
    – Summarily– 6 months and/ or fine.
    – Indictment– 7 years and/ or fine.
  2. s29(1)(b) Offences Against the Person Act 1861
    - Penalty:
    – Summarily– 6 months and/ or fine.
    – Indictment– 7 years and/ or fine.
  3. s29(1)(c) Offences Against the Person Act 1861
    - Penalty:
    – Summarily– 6 months and/ or fine.
    – Indictment– 2 years and/ or fine.
37
Q

Non-fatal Offences Against the Person

Assaults on Emergency Workers

A

Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018

A common assault/ battery committed against an emergency worker acting in the exercise of functions as such a worker is punishable.

Includes situations where person is not ‘at work’ but carrying out functions of their role.

Penalty:

  • Summarily– 12 months and/ or fine.
  • Indictment– 12 months and/ or fine.
38
Q

Non-fatal Offences Against the Person

Actual Bodily Harm (‘ABH’)

A

s47 Offences Against the Person Act 1861

Application of force to another, the victim receives hurt or injury which has disrupted the health or comfort of the victim. Capable of being seen or felt by victim, including psychiatric although this must be supported by medical evidence.

Needs to be proved assault was intended or carried out recklessly. Doesn’t need to be proved they intended to cause injuries that amounted to ABH.

Can be haircut/ nail cutting

Penalty:

  • Summarily– 6 months and/ or fine.
  • Indictment– 5 years and/ or fine.
39
Q

Non-fatal Offences Against the Person

Wounding/ inflicting Grievous Bodily Harm (‘GBH’)

A

s20 Offences Against the Person Act 1861

Offence to “unlawfully and maliciously ..wound another person” or to “inflict grievous bodily harm”

The victim receives life-changing injuries, e.g breaking all layers of skin (or just inner skin of lip, inner cheek or urethra), broken bones, biological harm, STIs, heavy bleeding or significant psychological injury (also through phone calls).

Age and characteristics of person is taken into account.

Penalty:

  • Summarily– 6 months and/ or fine.
  • Indictment– 5 years and/ or fine.
40
Q

Non-fatal Offences Against the Person

Wounding/ causing Grievous Bodily Harm (‘GBH’) With Intent

A

s18 Offences Against the Person Act 1861

“Unlawfully and maliciously by any means whatsoever wound or cause any grievous bodily harm to any person…with intent to do some grievous bodily harm to any person, or with intent to resist or prevent the lawful apprehension or detainer of any person”.

Penalty:
- Indictment– life.

41
Q

Non-fatal Offences Against the Person

Wounding/ causing Grievous Bodily Harm (‘GBH’) With Intent

What factors may indicate a specific intent?

A

s18 Offences Against the Person Act 1861

  • A repeated or planned attack.
  • Deliberate selection of a weapon or adaptation of an article to cause injury, such as breaking glass before.
  • Making prior threats.
  • Using an offensive weapon against, or kicking a victims head.
42
Q

Non-fatal Offences Against the Person

An offence under s18 Offences Against the Person Act 1861 can take one of which four different forms?

A

(a) Wounding with intent to do GBH.
(b) Causing GBH with intent to do so.
(c) Maliciously wounding with intent to resist or prevent the lawful apprehension etc of any person.
(d) Maliciously causing GBH with intent to resist or prevent the lawful apprehension etc of any person.

43
Q

Non-fatal Offences Against the Person

Assault with Intent to Resist Arrest

A

s38 Offences Against the Person Act 1861

Whoever shall assault any person with intent to resist or prevent the lawful apprehension or detainer of himself or of any other person for any offence (e.g police, security guards etc), shall be guilty of a misdemeanour.

Penalty:
- Either way– 2 years.

44
Q

Non-fatal Offences Against the Person

Assault of a Constable

A

s89 (1) Police Act 1996

“Any person who assaults a constable in the execution of his duty, or a person assisting a constable in the execution of his duty, shall be guilty of an offence.”

It doesn’t matter if the defendant suspects that its not a police officer, however, if they honestly believe they are acting in self-defence they will have an argument.

Penalty:
- Summarily– 6 months and/ or fine.

45
Q

Non-fatal Offences Against the Person

Obstruct Constable

A

s89 (2) Police Act 1996

“Any person who resists or wilfully obstructs a constable in the execution of his duty, or a person assisting a constable in the execution of his duty, shall be guilty of an offence.”

Penalty:
- Summarily– 6 months and/ or fine.

46
Q

Non-fatal Offences Against the Person

Threats to Kill

A

s16 Offences Against the Person Act 1861

A person who without lawful excuse (police, self defence) makes to another a threat, INTENDING that the other would fear it would be carried out, to kill that other or a third person shall be guilty of an offence.

  • It could be immediate or future or conveyed to them or a third person.

Penalty:

  • Summarily– 6 months and/ or fine.
  • Indictment– 10 years and/ or fine.
47
Q

Hatred and Harassment Offences

  1. ‘Racial hatred’ means what?
  2. ‘Religious hatred’ means what?
  3. ‘Sexual Orientation hatred’ means what?
A
  1. s17 Public Order Act 1986
    – Hatred against a group of persons defined by reference to colour, race nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origins.
  2. s29A Public Order Act 1986
    – Hatred against a group of persons defined by reference to religious belief or lack of religious belief.
  3. s29B Public Order Act 1986
    – Hatred against a group of persons defined by reference to their sexual orientation, be they heterosexual, homosexual or bi-sexual.
48
Q

Hatred and Harassment Offences

Which are the stirring up offences?

A

s18 (Use of words or behaviour or display of written material [racial hatred])

s19 (Publishing or distributing written material [racial hatred])

s29B (Use of words or behaviour or display of written material [religious/ sexual orientation hatred])

s29C (Publishing or distributing written material [religious/ sexual orientation hatred])

49
Q

Hatred and Harassment Offences

s18, 19, 29B and 29C of the Public Order Act 1986 cannot be prosecuted without the consent of whom?

A

Attorney-General

50
Q

Hatred and Harassment Offences

Use of words or behaviour or display of written material [racial hatred]

A

s18 Public Order Act 1986

(1) A person who uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or displays any written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting, is guilty of an offence if—
(a) He intends thereby to stir up racial hatred, or
(b) Having regard to all the circumstances racial hatred is likely to be stirred up thereby.

(2) May be committed in a public or a private place, except that no offence is committed where the words or behaviour are used, or the written material is displayed, by a person inside a dwelling and are not heard or seen except by other persons in that or another dwelling.

Penalty:

  • Summarily– 6 months and/ or fine.
  • Indictment– 7 years and/ or fine.

Defences:

  • Defence to prove that he was inside a dwelling and had no reason to believe that the words or behaviour used, or the written material displayed, would be heard or seen by a person outside that or any other dwelling.
  • Broadcast for TV
51
Q

Hatred and Harassment Offences

Publishing or distributing written material [racial hatred]

A

s19 Public Order Act 1986

(1) A person who publishes or distributes written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting is guilty of an offence if—
(a) He intends thereby to stir up racial hatred, or
(b) Having regard to all the circumstances racial hatred is likely to be stirred up thereby.

Penalty:

  • Summarily– 6 months and/ or fine.
  • Indictment– 7 years and/ or fine.

Defences:
- Defence to prove that he was not aware of the content of the material and did not suspect, and had no reason to suspect, that it was threatening, abusive or insulting.

52
Q

Hatred and Harassment Offences

Use of words or behaviour or display of written material [religious/ sexual orientation hatred]

A

s29B Public Order Act 1986

(1) A person who uses threatening or displays any written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting is guilty of an offence if he intends thereby to stir up religious hatred or hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation.
(2) May be committed in a public or a private place, except that no offence is committed where the words or behaviour are used, or the written material is displayed, by a person inside a dwelling and are not heard or seen except by other persons in that or another dwelling.

Penalty:

  • Summarily– 6 months and/ or fine.
  • Indictment– 7 years and/ or fine.

Defences:

  • (29B(4)) Defence to prove that he was inside a dwelling and had no reason to believe that the words or behaviour used, or the written material displayed, would be heard or seen by a person outside that or any other dwelling.
  • (29B(5)) Broadcast for TV
53
Q

Hatred and Harassment Offences

Publishing or distributing written material [religious/ sexual orientation hatred]

A

s29C Public Order Act 1986

(1) A person who publishes or distributes written material which is threatening is guilty of an offence if he intends thereby to stir up religious hatred or hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation.

Penalty:

  • Summarily– 6 months and/ or fine.
  • Indictment– 7 years and/ or fine.

Defences:
- Defence to prove that he was not aware of the content of the material and did not suspect, and had no reason to suspect, that it was threatening, abusive or insulting.

54
Q

Hatred and Harassment Offences

What is the difference between 29B/29C offences and the offences of stirring up racial hatred offences (s18/19)?

A
  1. The offences apply only to ‘threatening’ words or behaviour, rather than ‘threatening, abusive or insulting’ words or behaviour.
  2. The offences only apply to words or behaviour if the accused ‘intends’ to stir up religious hatred or hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation, rather than if hatred is either intentional or ‘likely’ to be stirred up.
55
Q

Child Protection

What are the two offences of abducting children?

A

Person connected with child (s1 Child Abduction Act 1984).

Person not connected with child (s2 Child Abduction Act 1984).

56
Q

Child Protection

Child abduction – Person connected with child

A

s1 Child Abduction Act 1984

(1) A person connected with a child under the age of sixteen commits an offence if he takes or sends the child out of the United Kingdom without the appropriate consent.

(2) A person is connected with a child if they are:
- a parent,
- guardian,
- person with residence order,
- a person with a custody order, or
- a person who whilst not married at the time of birth, has reasonable grounds to believe is the father.

DPP consent is required for prosecution.

Penalty:

  • Summarily– 6 months and/ or fine.
  • Indictment– 7 years and/ or fine.
57
Q

Child Protection

Child abduction – Person connected with child

Defences

(4) A person does not commit an offence under this section by taking or sending a child out of the United Kingdom without obtaining the appropriate consent if—

A

s1 Child Abduction Act 1984

  1. (a) He is a person named in a child arrangements order…and he takes…out of UK…LESS THAN ONE MONTH or,
    (b) He is a special guardian of the child and he takes or sends the child out of the United Kingdom for a period of less than three months.
  2. (a) He does it in the belief that the other person—
    (i) Has consented; or
    (ii) Would consent if he was aware of all the relevant circumstances; or

(b) He has taken all reasonable steps to communicate with the other person but has been unable to communicate with him; or
(c) The other person has unreasonably refused to consent.

58
Q

Child Protection

What is a special guardian?

A

Created by a Special Guardian Order to secure a child’s long term placement with someone.

Intended for children who cannot live with their birth parents/ would benefit from a legally secure placement.

Unlike adoption does not end legal relationship with parents.

Lasts until age of 18.

59
Q

Child Protection

What is a Child Arrangements Order?

A

Section 8(1) of the Children Act 1989 states that a child arrangements order means an order regulating arrangements relating to any of the following:

(a) With whom a child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact, and
(b) When a child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact with any person.

60
Q

Child Protection

Child abduction – Person connected with child

What is ‘Appropriate Consent’?

A

s1(3) Child Abduction Act 1984

Means—

(a) The consent of each of the following—
(i) The child’s mother;
(ii) the child’s father, if he has parental responsibility for him;
(iii) any guardian of the child;
(iiia) any special guardian of the child;]
(iv) any person named in a child arrangements order as a person with whom the child is to live;]
(v) any person who has custody of the child; or

(b) the leave of the court granted under or by virtue of any provision of Part II of the Children Act 1989; or
(c) if any person has custody of the child, the leave of the court which awarded custody to him.

61
Q

Child Protection

Child abduction – Person connected with child

  1. Is this offence committed by people holding a child within the UK?
  2. Failing to return a child who has previously been taken abroad?
A
  1. No
  2. No, unless the taking or sending must be shown to have been done without the consent of each of the persons listed in s1(3).
62
Q

Child Protection

Child abduction – Person not connected with child

A

s2 Child Abduction Act 1984

(1) A person commits an offence if, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, he takes or detains a child under the age of 16…

(a) So as to remove him from the lawful control of any person having lawful control of the child.
(b) So as to keep him out of the lawful control of any person entitled to lawful control of the child.

(2) The persons are—
(a) Where the father and mother of the child in question were married to (or civil partners of,) each other at the time of his birth, the child’s father and mother;

(b) Where the father and mother of the child in question were not married to (or civil partners of,) each other at the time of his birth, the child’s mother; and
(c) Any other person mentioned in section 1(2)(c) to (e) above.

63
Q

Child Protection

Child abduction – Person not connected with child

Difference between s2(1)(a) and s2(1)(b)?

A

s2(1)(a) requires the child THERE AND THEN to be in lawful control of someone entitled to it when he/she is taken or detained.

s2(1)(b) requires only that the child be kept out of the lawful control of someone entitled to it when he/she is taken or detained.

64
Q

Child Protection

Child abduction – Person not connected with child

Defences

A

s2 Child Abduction Act 1984

(a) Where the father and mother of the child in question were not married/ civil partners to each other at the time of his birth—
(i) that he is the child’s father; or
(ii) That, at the time of the alleged offence, he believed, on reasonable grounds, that he was the child’s father; or

(b) That, at the time of the alleged offence, he believed that the child had attained the age of sixteen.

65
Q

Child Protection

Child Cruelty Offence

A

s1 Children and Young Persons Act 1933

(1) If any person who has attained the age of sixteen years and has RESPONSIBILITY for any child or young person under that age, wilfully…
- assaults
- ill-treats (whether physically or otherwise)
- neglects
- abandons,
- exposes him, in a manner likely to cause him unnecessary suffering or injury to health (whether the suffering or injury is of a physical or a psychological nature),

or causes or procures him to be any of the above.

….that person shall be guilty of an offence.

Penalty:

  • Summarily– 6 months and/ or fine.
  • Indictment– 10 years and/ or fine.
66
Q

Child Protection

Child Cruelty Offence

What two broad categories do offences fall into?

A
  • Instances of violent assault

- Cases of cruelty and neglect

67
Q

Offences Involving the Deprivation of Liberty

Offence of False Imprisonment

A

Common Law

It is an offence at common law falsely to imprison another person.

Unlawful and intentional OR reckless restraint of a persons freedom of movement. Only needs to be momentarily and can be committed anywhere.

Penalty:
- Indictment– Unlimited Maximum Penalty

68
Q

Offences Involving the Deprivation of Liberty

Offence of Kidnapping

A

Common Law

It is an offence at common law to take or carry away another person by force or fraud, without the consent of that person and without lawful excuse.

Taking or carrying away does not need to be of a significant distance and consent can be removed at any time.

Penalty:
- Indictment– Unlimited Maximum Penalty

69
Q

Offences Involving the Deprivation of Liberty

Offence of Slavery, Servitude and Forced or Compulsory Labour

A

s1 Modern Slavery Act 2015

(1) A person commits an offence if—
(a) The person holds another person in slavery or servitude and the circumstances are such that the person knows or ought to know that the other person is held in slavery or servitude, or
(b) The person requires another person to perform forced or compulsory labour and the circumstances are such that the person knows or ought to know that the other person is being required to perform forced or compulsory labour.

Penalty:

  • Summarily– 6 months and/or fine
  • Indictment– Life imprisonment
70
Q

Offences Involving the Deprivation of Liberty

What does the European Convention on Human rights state with regards to forced or compulsory labour?

A

Article 4 states:

  1. No one shall be held in slavery or servitude.
  2. No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.
71
Q

Offences Involving the Deprivation of Liberty

Does the consent of a person (whether an adult or a child) to any of the acts alleged to constitute holding the person in slavery or servitude, or requiring the person to perform forced or compulsory labour make a difference to the offence committed?

A

s1(5) Modern Slavery Act 2015

No it does not preclude a determination that the person is being held in slavery or servitude, or required to perform forced or compulsory labour.

72
Q

Offences Involving the Deprivation of Liberty

Offence of Human Trafficking

A

s2 Modern Slavery Act 2015

Arranges or facilitates the travel in any part of the world of another person with a view to them being exploited (doesn’t need to be criminal).
Consent is irrelevant.

  • A UK National commits this regardless of where the arranging or facilitating takes place.
  • A non-UK National commits this if any arranging or facilitating takes place in the UK or travel consists of arrival, departure or travel in the UK

Penalty:

  • Summarily– 6 months and/or fine
  • Indictment– Life imprisonment
73
Q

Offences Involving the Deprivation of Liberty

Offence of Human Trafficking

Difference between UK National and Non-UK National?

A

s2 Modern Slavery Act 2015

(6) A person who is a UK national commits an offence under this section regardless of—
(a) Where the arranging or facilitating takes place, or
(b) Where the travel takes place.

(7) A person who is not a UK national commits an offence under this section if—
(a) Any part of the arranging or facilitating takes place in the United Kingdom, or
(b) The travel consists of arrival in or entry into, departure from, or travel within, the United Kingdom.

74
Q

Offences Involving the Deprivation of Liberty

Offence of Human Trafficking

Committing offence with intent to commit offence under s2 (Human Trafficking)

A

s4 Modern Slavery Act 2015

A person commits an offence under this section if the person commits any offence with the intention of committing an offence under section 2 (including an offence committed by aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring an offence under that section).

Penalty:

  • Summarily– 6 months and/or fine.
  • Indictment– 10 years and/ or fine (if kidnap/ false imprisonment = life).