Regardless of how long an unmarried couple have been together, there are no legal protections in place which will grant them automatic entitlement to each other’s property or to obtain financial support. It is entirely possible for one party, if they have no stake in the house and were being supported by the other’s income, […]
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Following a divorce or dissolution of a marriage or civil partnership, the Court must decide how to distribute the property of the people involved in the event that they cannot decide how to divide their finances themselves. The court must apply the statutory criteria set out in section 25 of the matrimonial causes acts [1973] […]
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Delays in the criminal justice system are scandalous. The 2006 case of Picton made clear that failing to deal with cases expeditiously brings the criminal justice system into disrepute. That principle has since been embedded into the Criminal Procedure Rules and Criminal Practice Directions, yet today we find ourselves facing a crisis so deep that […]
Adjudications, commonly known as ‘nickings’ are the procedures that occur when a prisoner allegedly breaks Prison Rules. Prison Rules were always Governed by what are called Prison Service Instruments (PSI’s) or Prison service Orders (PSO’s). However, in recent times we are seeing these replaced by ‘policy frameworks’. Prior to 31 May 2024, adjudication procedures were […]
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Nicola Maynard, Head of Prison Law at Reeds Solicitors, explores the “catch all” provision of an offender’s licence and the struggles offenders face when being recalled for allegedly committing a new offence. You can be recalled to prison for breaching a specific licence condition. There will be a standard catch all condition at paragraph 5i) […]
Police stations are well known to be incredibly unpleasant sensory environments. They often contain bright overhead lighting, constant loud noise, uncomfortable furnishings and unpleasant odours. Clients who present as resistant to these kinds of environments, or the arrest procedure which has brought them there, can often be perceived by the police as being deliberately disruptive, […]
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Jenny Kabala explores the risks of the police’s controversial power to enter homes without a search warrant in pursuit of stolen electronics. I am one of the lucky few who can say that I have never had my mobile phone stolen, but many have! With street thefts of mobile phones and other electronic devices ever […]
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I have long suspected that the police widely misuse the Community Resolution scheme – a concern which is shared by many of my colleagues. Community Resolutions were introduced in 2009 as an alternative way of dealing with less serious crime and have been used increasingly year-on-year. In our experience, police often reach for this disposal […]
This year we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Reeds. In commemoration of this, we are reflecting on our journey, our values, and our commitment to providing award-winning services. Now a multi-disciplinary law firm spanning across England and Wales, Reeds continues to grow as a firm that prioritises quality legal representation and client advocacy. Founded in […]
The re-categorisation of prisoners begins on their reception to Custody, they will have an initial assessment which will determinate their initial security category. This initial assessment will take into account numerous factors, such as type of offence, sentence length, type of sentence, risk of harm to other prisoners or whether there is an escape risk. […]
At Reeds, we recognise that our clients have varying characteristics and needs. This series of articles will focus on how we tailor our practice to support neurodivergent clients, with the aim of making their experience within the justice system as stress-free as possible. What Does Neurodivergent Mean? Neurodivergent is a term used to describe individuals […]
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The MET police conduct approximately 15,000 voluntary interviews in London each year. If the police have contacted you to request a voluntary police interview in London, it can be an extremely stressful and worrying time, especially given that the outcome can have an enormous bearing on your career and reputation. Reeds Solicitors are specialists in […]
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The Netflix show, Adolescence, is one of those rare TV programmes that breaks out into the mainstream, capturing the zeitgeist and provoking debate about the issues raised. The show centres around a 13-year-old boy, Jamie, who is arrested and interviewed on suspicion of murder. As a criminal defence solicitor, crime shows are often difficult to […]
Read More… from Netflix’s Adolescence: How Not to Represent Youths at the Police Station
Reeds Solicitors have achieved another outstanding result in an Encrochat case. The case was heard before Reading Crown Court. Our client was represented by Julian Richards, the Head of Complex Crime at Reeds Solicitors, and very ably assisted by Atalanta Sanders. Operation Somersault – Conspiracy to Supply Cocaine and Transferring Criminal Property Our client was prosecuted as […]
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Newton hearings play a crucial role in resolving disputes over the facts of a case, particularly concerning sentencing. It allows the Court to determine the specific circumstances and degree of culpability in a criminal offence, ultimately impacting the sentence handed down to the defendant. And remember, this can encompass a person’s liberty if they are […]
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If the police have contacted you to request a voluntary interview, it can be an extremely stressful and worrying time, especially given that the outcome can have an enormous impact on your life. Unfortunately, many people make mistakes in voluntary interviews, which can influence the likelihood of being prosecuted. I thought we would briefly summarise […]
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The Legal 500 has published it’s United Kingdom 2025 edition. We are proud to announce that Reeds Solicitors has been ranked as a Top Tier criminal law firm, having performed even better than previous years. About the Legal 500 For over 30 years, the Legal 500 has assessed the strengths of law firms in over […]
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As a Solicitor in the Mental Health field, I have noticed an increasing amount of scrutiny for requests sought later in Mental Health tribunal proceedings. This occurs even if the timing of those requests is constrained by factors outside of the patient’s control. As a matter of course, directions for expert evidence are waved through […]
Read More… from When Can the Mental Health Tribunal Refuse Access to Independent Expert Evidence?
It was widely reported this month that several train companies have unlawfully prosecuted individuals by misusing the Single Justice Procedure and up to 75,000 convictions for fare evasion offences have now been quashed. This is shocking news and could have enormous consequences for the train companies involved, especially given that bills could, in theory, run […]
Read More… from 75,000 Unlawful Prosecutions? The Fare Evasion Prosecution Scandal Explained
Receiving a Minded to Bar letter from the Home Office’s Disclosure and Barring Service (‘DBS’) can come as a complete shock. The brutal tone in which these letters are worded can also be incredibly upsetting. If you receive a Minded to Bar letter, you must contact our DBS Solicitors immediately as there is a strict time […]
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