areas of prosecution
and defence work.
The area of criminal law encompassing
sexual offences has seen many
changes in the past few years, both
in terms of common law and also of
statutory development with the
enactment of the Sexual Offences
Act 2003. Practitioners in this area
of law have been required to keep
abreast of these changes in the
preparation of cases for court, for
instance in advice to clients and the
drafting of Indictments, Case
Summaries, legal arguments, etc.
It is also in this area of law, particularly
in cases alleging child abuse, that
many hours of work are often
necessary to read and assimilate
third party disclosure in terms of
Social Service files, police and
school records and also medical
and psychiatric records.
Many members of Chambers specialise
in the area of sexual offences, whether
prosecuting or defending. They have
become enured to the long hours
required in preparation of such cases
and also to the sensitivity with which
advocates must treat all parties
involved, whether they be witnesses
in a case or the families of witnesses,
or when dealing with a defendant who
may need careful treatment.
Examination of witnesses either
in-chief or in cross-examination can
be particularly taxing in cases of this
sort and demanding of a style of
advocacy tailored to meet the facts,
and to suit the parties concerned –
frequently vulnerable, with mental
problems or special needs. Many
witnesses give evidence over a
videolink in this type of case, or
from behind a screen, and that can
present its own problems.
There is, of course, a vast range of
offences of a sexual nature or with
sexual connotations. Chambers will
provide suitable advocates for any
such cases, whether of a more minor
kind, for example indecent exposure
or minor sexual assault, or more
serious, such as the publication of
obscene material or rape. It is
recognised that all allegations of a
sexual kind will be of immense
importance to the individuals involved,
whether witnesses or defendants,
and each case will merit the utmost
professionalism and sensitivity.
- Appellate & Human Rights
- Commercial, Corporate Financial Crime
- Courts Martial
- Coroners Inquests
- Drugs Offences
- Firearms Offences
- Forfeiture, Confiscation & Money Laundering
- Health & Safety Offences
- Mental Health Tribunals
- Murder / Corporate Manslaughter
- Prison Adjudications
- Professional Body, Disciplinary & Regulatory Tribunals
- Sexual Offences
- Terrorism
- Trade Description Offences
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