Criminal Law Legislation Update
| Published date | 01 August 2012 |
| Date | 01 August 2012 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1350/jcla.2012.76.4.776 |
| Subject Matter | Criminal Law Legislation Update |
Criminal Law
Legislation Update*
Laura McGowan†
Primary legislation
The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012
received Royal Assent on 1 May 2012. This Act makes amendments to
the provision of legal aid; the sentencing and punishment of offenders;
bail; the remand of children otherwise on bail; the release of offenders
on licence; and the abolition of sentences for public protection. It also
makes provision for the disposal of criminal proceedings out of court;
the rehabilitation of offenders; and, creates the following offences:
offence of threatening with article with blade or point or offensive
weapon in public or on school premises; offence of causing serious
injury by dangerous driving; offence of squatting in a residential build-
ing; and an offence of buying scrap metal for cash.
Consultation Papers
The Ministry of Justice has issued a Consultation Paper on ‘Punishment
and Reform; Effective Community Sentences’, Consultation Paper CP8/
2012, available at https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/effect
ive-community-services-1. This consultation sets out proposals for reforms
to the way in which sentences served in the community operate. The
consultation closes on 22 June 2012.
Sentencing Council Guidelines
The Sentencing Council has issued a new guideline on the sentencing of
dangerous dogs offences, available at http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.
uk/index.htm. The guideline will come into effect on 20 August 2012. The
guideline covers the following offences: owner or person in charge of a
dog dangerously out of control in a public place, injuring any person
(Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, s. 3(1)); owner or person in charge allowing
a dog to be in a private place where the dog is not permitted to be,
injuring any person (Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, s. 3(3)(a)); owner or
person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control in a public place
(Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, s. 3(1)); owner or person in charge allowing
a dog to be in a private place where the dog is not permitted to be, which
makes a person fear injury (Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, s. 3(3)(b));
possession of a prohibited dog (Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, s. 1(3));
* As at 18 May 2012.
† Barrister, Carmelite Chambers; e-mail: laurajmcgowan@gmail.com.
280 The Journal of Criminal Law (2012) 76 JCL 280–281
doi:10.1350/jcla.2012.76.4.776
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