Criminal Department
Throughout the past decade more laws have been put in the statute books than ever before. Many of these laws have been criminal in nature and what may once not have been considered a criminal offence, can be now. In many instances individuals or people may not even know they are committing a criminal offence, or happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. This can tear families and communities apart. Fundamental protections for defendants have been eroded by changes to the rules of evidence and the seemingly never ending extension of police powers. Criminal legal aid, now sadly, is out of the reach of many and for those still eligible the quality of criminal defence available has sometimes been diluted.
