The Practical Lawyer

New Law Society guidance on solicitors’ duties in the context of the Criminal Procedure Rules (amended in 2015) has been published, and is intended for all criminal law solicitors, particularly those acting for the defendant.

Is the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 an example of poor legislative drafting with potential for unintended consequences for the food industry? This is the question addressed by the author in this article on the Act that came into force in April 2016.

New legislation banning the ‘new generation’ of psychoactive substances came into force on 6 April 2016. The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 makes it an offence to produce, supply, offer to supply, possess with intent to supply, possess on custodial premises, import or export psychoactive substances. Note that ‘mere’ possession will not be an offence (except in custodial institutions).

Important changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules 2015 came into force on 4 April 2016. The new rules (Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2016) cover:

The court has given useful guidance on the procedural aspects of obtaining disclosure and property freezing orders (PFO). A PFO can be obtained both before and after the commencement of civil recovery proceedings, and an application can be made without notice.