Revision Guide Flashcards
Where does prosecution of all criminal offences start?
In the Magistrates’ Court
Who sits in the Magistrates’ Court?
A District Judge or a panel of 2 or 3 lay magistrates
Who are Crown Courts presided over by?
Crown Court Judges
How many people sit on a jury?
12
What is the overriding objective of criminal law?
Criminal cases must be dealt with justly
What does the overriding objective of criminal law include?
- Acquitting the innocent + convicting the guilty
- Dealing with the prosecution and the defence fairly
- Recognising the rights of a defendant
- Respecting the interests of witnesses, victims, and jurors
- Dealing with the case efficiently and expeditiously
What are the rules surrounding Welsh being spoken in the courts in Wales?
In any legal proceedings in Wales, the Welsh language may be spoken by any party, subject to satisfying requirements of prior notice so provision for interpretation can be made.
In the Magistrates’ Court, there is no requirement for notice to be given.
What is the ranking of the police force (high to low)
- Chief Constable
- Deputy Chief Constable
- Assistant Chief Constable
- Chief Superintendent
- Superintendent
- Chief Inspector
- Inspector
- Sergeant
- Constable
What legal advice are people interviewed at the police station entitled to?
All persons who are interviewed at the police station are entitled to free, private legal advice at any time during detention.
May be satisfied by a phone call from the Defence Solicitors Call Centre
When can access to legal advice be delayed?
If all of the following are true.
- Suspect was arrested on an indictable only or either way charge
- Police officer of the rank of superintendent or above has authorised the delay in writing
- the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that exercise of the right will lead to:
i. interference with evidence,
ii. interference with others,
iii. alerting other suspects, or
iv. hindering the recovery of property related to the offence
How long can access to legal advice be delayed for at the police station?
Up to 36 hours at most
How long can someone’s right to have someone informed of their arrest be delayed for?
Up to 36 hours
What conditions need to be satisfied for someone’s right to have someone informed of their arrest to be delayed?
- Suspect arrested on indictable only or either way offence
- Policy officer of inspector or above has authorised the delay in writing
- the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that exercise of the right will lead to:
i. interference with evidence
ii. interference with others
iii. alerting other suspects, or
iv. hindering the recover of property related to the offence
Under the basic rule, how long may a suspect be kept in custody without being charged?
Up to 24 hours from the relevant time.
The relevant time is the time the suspect entered the police station.
How can the length of time a suspect can be kept in custody without charge be extended by the police?
Can be extended by an additional 12 hours (to 36 hours) by an officer of the rank of superintendent or higher if:
- the officer has reasonable grounds for believing further detention is necessary to secure or preserve evidence or obtain evidence by questioning, and
- the investigation is being conducted diligently and expeditiously