periodic-inspection Case Commentaries

R v Mohammed [2025] EWCA Crim 1139: Circumstantial Evidence and “More Than Merely Preparatory” Acts—Reaffirming the Galbraith/Masih Threshold for No-Case Submissions in Attempted Rape

Date: Jul 9, 2025

R v Mohammed [2025] EWCA Crim 1139: Circumstantial Evidence and “More Than Merely Preparatory” Acts—Reaffirming the Galbraith/Masih Threshold for No-Case Submissions in Attempted Rape Introduction In...

“The Murphy Adjustment” – Calibrating Sentences for Non-Terrorist Explosive Offences that Resemble Terrorism

Date: Jul 9, 2025

“The Murphy Adjustment” – Calibrating Sentences for Non-Terrorist Explosive Offences that Resemble Terrorism Introduction The England and Wales Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) decision in Murphy,...

R v GBE: Clarifying the Limits of Delay-Based Sentence Reductions and the Court’s Discretion on Unduly Lenient References

Date: Jul 9, 2025

R v GBE: Clarifying the Limits of Delay-Based Sentence Reductions and the Court’s Discretion on Unduly Lenient References 1. Introduction Case: GBE, R. v ([2025] EWCA Crim 1064) Court: Court of...

“Exceptional Departure”: When Severe Mental Ill-Health Justifies a Community Order for s.278 Sexual Offences – Commentary on IAG, R. v [2025] EWCA Crim 1087

Date: Jul 9, 2025

“Exceptional Departure”: When Severe Mental Ill-Health Justifies a Community Order for s.278 Sexual Offences – Commentary on IAG, R. v [2025] EWCA Crim 1087 1. Introduction IAG, R. v ([2025] EWCA...

“Ammori v SSHD” — Consolidating Judicial Deference in Interim Relief Applications Against Proscription Orders

Date: Jul 8, 2025

“Ammori v Secretary of State for the Home Department” — Consolidating Judicial Deference in Interim Relief Applications Challenging Terrorism Proscription Orders Introduction In Ammori, R. (On the...

“The Cap-Neutrality Principle” – Court of Appeal Clarifies that Capped-Multiple LFAs Are Not Damages-Based Agreements (Sony v Neill [2025] EWCA Civ 841)

Date: Jul 8, 2025

“The Cap-Neutrality Principle” – Court of Appeal Clarifies that Capped-Multiple LFAs Are Not Damages-Based Agreements Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe Ltd & Anor v Alex Neill Class...

“From ‘Could’ to ‘Must’: Court of Appeal Clarifies the Actual-Exercise Requirement for Site-Provider Break Rights Under Paragraph 31 of the Electronic Communications Code”

Date: Jul 8, 2025

From “Could” to “Must”: Court of Appeal Clarifies the Actual-Exercise Requirement for Site-Provider Break Rights Under Paragraph 31 of the Electronic Communications Code Introduction The Court of...

LZLabs v IBM: Contractual Bars Trump Software-Directive Defences – A High Hurdle for Fact–Heavy TCC Appeals

Date: Jul 8, 2025

LZLabs v IBM: Contractual Bars Trump Software-Directive Defences – A High Hurdle for Fact-Heavy TCC Appeals 1. Introduction LZLabs GmbH & Others v IBM UK Ltd ([2025] EWCA Civ 842) is the Court of...

Beyond Habeas Corpus: High Court Clarifies the Scope of the Article 40.4 Court-Fee Exemption

Date: Jul 8, 2025

Beyond Habeas Corpus: High Court Clarifies the Scope of the Article 40.4 Court-Fee Exemption 1. Introduction In McGreal v Concannon & Brown and McGreal v Courts Service Staff & Ors ([2025] IEHC 425)...

Ellis v Secretary of State for Justice: Re-Affirming the “Very Essence” Test for Prisoners’ Right to Education and Curbing Rolling Judicial Review

Date: Jul 5, 2025

Ellis v Secretary of State for Justice: Re-Affirming the “Very Essence” Test for Prisoners’ Right to Education and Curbing Rolling Judicial Review 1. Introduction In Ellis, R (On the Application Of)...

Preserving Zambrano Carers’ Entry Rights: Ahmad v SSHD and the Continued Availability of EEA Family Permits for Pre-Transition Applications

Date: Jul 5, 2025

Preserving Zambrano Carers’ Entry Rights: Ahmad v Secretary of State for the Home Department ([2025] EWCA Civ 829) Introduction Ahmad v Secretary of State for the Home Department consolidates two...

Shulman v. City of Edinburgh Council (2025): Affirming Broad Local-Authority Discretion over Long-Term-Empty Council-Tax Discounts and the High Threshold for Tribunal Appeals

Date: Jul 5, 2025

Shulman v. City of Edinburgh Council (Upper Tribunal – Local Taxation Chamber, 2025): Affirming Broad Local-Authority Discretion over Long-Term-Empty Council-Tax Discounts and the High Threshold for...

Re HMP (CA): Defining the Outer Limits of the Open-Justice Principle in Post-Care Proceedings

Date: Jul 5, 2025

Re HMP (CA): Defining the Outer Limits of the Open-Justice Principle in Post-Care Proceedings Introduction Re HMP ([2025] EWCA Civ 824) confronted the perennial tension between the press’ pursuit of...

Avoiding “Free Crimes”: Consecutive Sentencing and Headline Tariffs for Domestically-Aggravated Attempted Murder – Commentary on HMA v Budge [2025] HCJAC 27

Date: Jul 5, 2025

Avoiding “Free Crimes”: Consecutive Sentencing and Headline Tariffs for Domestically-Aggravated Attempted Murder – Commentary on HMA v Budge [2025] HCJAC 27 1. Introduction In HM Advocate v Budge the...

Reaffirming the Limits of Parity: Budhia v R and the “Totality Adjustment” for Co-Defendants Already Serving Sentences

Date: Jul 5, 2025

Reaffirming the Limits of Parity: Budhia v R ([2025] EWCA Crim 818) and the “Totality Adjustment” for Co-Defendants Already Serving Sentences Introduction Budhia v R constitutes a significant Court...

The Essential-vs-Desirable Test for Sibling Contact Orders: Commentary on Re S (Placement Order Contact) [2025] EWCA Civ 823

Date: Jul 5, 2025

The Essential-vs-Desirable Test for Sibling Contact Orders: Commentary on Re S (Placement Order Contact) [2025] EWCA Civ 823 Introduction Re S (Placement Order Contact) is the Court of Appeal’s most...

Saipem SPA & Ors v Petrofac Ltd & Anor – Market-Tested Fairness as a Pre-Condition for New-Money Rewards under Part 26A

Date: Jul 5, 2025

Saipem SPA & Ors v Petrofac Ltd & Anor Market-Tested Fairness as a Pre-Condition for New-Money Rewards under Part 26A Introduction This Court of Appeal decision ([2025] EWCA Civ 821) arises from an...

“Smith Clarification” – Proper Structuring of Post-Release Driving Disqualifications and the Totality Principle

Date: Jul 5, 2025

“Smith Clarification” – Proper Structuring of Post-Release Driving Disqualifications and the Totality Principle Introduction In Smith, R. v [2025] EWCA Crim 978 the Court of Appeal (Criminal...

Erosion of the Strike-Out Distinction & Clarification of Ministerial Non-Liability for Court Language Facilities – Commentary on O Cadhla v. An tAire Dlí agus Cirt & Ors

Date: Jul 5, 2025

Erosion of the Strike-Out Distinction & Clarification of Ministerial Non-Liability for Court Language Facilities Comprehensive Commentary on O Cadhla v. An tAire Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais &...

R v Pearl: The Identifiable-Risk Benchmark for Tailoring Sexual Harm Prevention Orders

Date: Jul 5, 2025

R v Pearl: The Identifiable-Risk Benchmark for Tailoring Sexual Harm Prevention Orders 1. Introduction The Court of Appeal’s decision in Pearl, R v ([2025] EWCA Crim 994) revisits the principles...