We are proud to announce that Lynsey Wadkinson has, as of 1st January 2023, been promoted to the position of Partner of the firm.
Lynsey manages our Derby Crime department having first joined us in 2010 as a Trainee. Now a Senior Duty Solicitor and Supervisor, this is a recognition well earned.
Congratulations to Lynsey from all at the Bhatia Best Team!
Have you or someone you know been affected by the gross miscarriage of justice brought about by the Post Office?
We act for a number of nationwide clients who have been victims of wrongful convictions as a result of flaws in the Post Office Horizon IT System.
Our clients were convicted of theft, fraud and false accounting and we are assisting in having those convictions and sentences quashed and then claiming substantial damages for their losses and ruined reputations.
For a free telephone consultation call our civil litigation department on 0333 016 3333 option 3 and find out if you are entitled to make a claim on a ‘No Win No Fee’ basis.
Paedophile Hunter groups impersonate children online to lure persons into making inappropriate or sexualised communications with them over the internet, and then provide the material generated by such contact to the police. Importantly, they operate without police authorisation. There has been a huge rise in the number of prosecutions in recent years where crucial evidence has been secured by paedophile hunter groups. In 2019, the Telegraph reported that paedophile hunters were responsible for more than half of grooming prosecutions in England & Wales.
In Sutherland v Her Majesty’s Advocate, the Supreme Court was asked to rule on the issue of whether prosecutions based on evidence gathered in covert sting operations by paedophile hunter groups are compatible with a person’s human rights. The legal case was brought by a convicted paedophile who argued that by admitting evidence obtained by a paedophile hunting group, his right to a private life (enshrined in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights) had been breached.
But the court ruled unanimously that the interests of children have priority over any interest a paedophile could have in being allowed to engage in criminal conduct. The Court held that such evidence obtained by paedophile hunters can be used in criminal trials and that doing so does not breach a defendant’s human rights.
Lord Sales delivered the judgement via video link, stating that the panel of five justices found there was no interference with the accused’s rights under Article 8.
He said this was for two reasons – the first being that “the activity in question should be capable of respect”, and that children also have rights.
Lord Sales said the state had “a special responsibility to protect children against sexual exploitation by adults”.
“This indicates that there is no protection under Article 8 for the communications by the accused in this case.” he said.
“The interests of children have priority over any interest a paedophile could have in being allowed to engage in the criminal conduct in issue here.”. The state must “deter offences against children” and so prosecutors were entitled to use the evidence gathered by such paedophile hunter groups to secure convictions.
The full judgement can be read on the Supreme Court’s website here.
Face coverings will need to be worn inside shops by customers from Friday 24 July, although the rule will not apply to staff. Since 15 June, passengers on public transport in England – including on buses, trains and trams – have been required by law to wear face coverings.
Though coverings – such as cloth masks, scarves and bandanas – should go over the mouth and nose, there is no specification on the type, with the government advising people not to use medical-grade masks to ensure they remain available for frontline staff.
The exemptions for shops in England are expected to be in line with the guidance for public transport. This says that children under 11 are exempt and those with a physical or mental impairment or disability that means they cannot put on or wear a face covering.
The rules are to be enforced by the police, and those who fail to wear a face covering in shops will face a fine of up to £100, reduced to £50 if they pay within 14 days.
