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Domestic offences are among the most difficult cases in the UK legal system. Allegations of domestic abuse, common assault, battery, stalking and harassment can be devastating for the accused and the alleged victim. In more recent years, a new offence of controlling and coercive behaviour has been introduced, which now extends the time limits for reporting such allegations in a domestic relationship.
At Lex Vindico Group, we understand that every story has at least two sides. Our domestic violence solicitors are often instructed by clients in professional employed positions, who may find it distressing or embarrassing to discuss the allegations made against them. Our lawyers understand the nuances of personal reputation protection and can work with you to regain control of your matter. We understand the toll it takes on an individual's private life and family when defending against a domestic violence allegation.
Not only do we specialise in proactive representation, but our lawyers also have the edge of being involved in prosecuting and defending matters over the years. Therefore, we stand above other law firms in anticipating the investigators'/prosecutors' moves, to your benefit. All whilst being able to provide you with bespoke, expert legal advice and robust defence strategies. This multifaceted expertise enables us to ensure that your story is heard and ingested before making a charge decision.
Our team of domestic violence specialists has particular experience protecting professionals, regulated persons, high-net-worth individuals, and celebrities: all keen to protect their reputation and livelihood and avoid criminal charges at all costs. Lex Vindico Group was built on the premise of proactive representation and delivers on its promise to go through your case with a fine-tooth comb.
The earlier you gain control of the matter, the sooner we can begin protecting you and advising you on the best defence strategy.
At Lex Vindico Group, we focus primarily on proactive representation, that is to either:
Either way, we work to protect your rights, your employment, your reputation, your freedom, and, most importantly, your future.
In a domestic context, we also work closely with Psychiatrists and support services that could provide further assistance with your mental health, should it be required. We care about you and understand the toll an investigation can take on your mental health and life as a whole. Let us be your justice partners.
If you wish to be proactive, you do not need to wait to be arrested. If you feel that you may be under investigation, please get in touch today for a confidential chat. Lex Vindico Group could work to prevent an arrest, which could save your future employment.
Domestic offences cover a range of criminal acts within intimate or family relationships. These offences are treated differently because they happen in environments where trust and emotional ties can complicate the legal process. UK law acknowledges the seriousness of these offences and has specific legal frameworks to deal with them.
Examples of domestic offences, including a domestic abuse incident, are:
It’s important to save and collate any evidence and documentation if an allegation of domestic violence has been made against you or if you feel that it may be made against you in future. Evidence can be in text messages, photographs, emails, statements from mutual friends/accomplices, phone records, medical records and much more. These can be crucial for the legal process to reflect the reality of the situation, rather than the one-dimensional perspective from the complainant or their family members.
The criminal justice system takes these offences seriously to protect victims and to ensure allegations are dealt with fairly. There are specific protections in place, such as occupation orders, non-molestation orders and domestic violence protection notices (DVPNs), to protect victims from further harm, abuse, and violence.
Domestic offences are taken seriously in the UK legal system because of the devastating impact such offending behaviour has on abused victims and their families. These crimes involve patterns of behaviour that can get worse if left unchecked and can cause physical, emotional or psychological harm.
Allegations made against an individual could date back over long periods, and often have a combination of physical, emotional, psychological, and financial abuse. In some instances, the abuse could extend to a sexual nature as well.
Such domestic violence and abuse is treated more seriously in the criminal justice system because of the breach of trust in intimate or family relationships.
Often, an allegation of domestic abuse runs alongside various issues seeking to be resolved in the Family Courts, such as divorce, arrangement orders for children and financial settlements. The Crown Prosecution Service take into account various aggravating factors when determining a charge, to reflect the ongoing risk to victims and the wider impact on children and families involved.
At Lex Vindico Group, we understand that domestic abuse offences can be complex and life-changing. Our lawyers have a proven history of defending domestic violence offences successfully. Our proactive representation could grant you a positive outcome without the need to attend Court, where your reputation, livelihood and employment can be severely impacted.
At Lex Vindico Group, our domestic abuse team is particularly skilled at pre-charge representation, which is widely known as early legal intervention before formal charges are considered.
Those who are, or have been, under criminal investigation would describe it as the worst part of their lives. The idea behind pre-charge engagement is to maximise efforts in returning peace and order to your life, before matters escalate. We do so by actively working with you on your defence from an early stage, to make representations to the prosecution service against the Full Code Test, before charge. The Full Code Test is contained within the Code for Crown Prosecutors and signifies the standard that must be met for cases to be charged.
In addition, some of our lawyers in the domestic violence department have particular experience in prosecuting and defending cases. This gives us an inside view of what may be brewing against you in the background. We utilise this experience to your benefit by anticipating the prosecution's stance on the evidence against you. By doing so, we can reduce any 'realistic prospect of conviction proactively' and dissuade against charges based on a lack of 'public interest' when representing individuals through the pre-charge phase.
We liaise with you in private consultation and set your proactive 'plan of defence' with strict time scales. Sometimes, we can even request an 'early charging advice' from the prosecution, where the evidence against you is flawed and unreliable. This dramatically reduces your time under microscopic scrutiny and enables you to return to the warmth of your daily life. You can be eligible to serve pre-charge representations, any stage before charge, usually when you are at the stage of 'released under investigation' or are on 'conditional bail', perhaps in some instances, even before these stages.
In contrast, if you have already been charged with a domestic abuse allegation, although you may feel the walls are closing in, it is helpful to know that 'review' is an ongoing process and your legal right. The prosecution must regularly review the evidence to maintain a realistic prospect of conviction based on the evidence, together with a prosecution being in the public interest. The law allows us to request reviews, upon submission of targeted representations drafted upon the Full Code Test, to have your case discontinued.
The key takeaway is to be prompt and proactive. Traditional law firms offer reactive defence. At Lex Vindico Group, we act first to gain control of your matter, your life, and your future.
Understanding the process can help you through a domestic offence case. Our solicitors will guide you through every stage, from the police report to court.
When a domestic offence is reported, the police may:
During the investigation, the CPS will review the police-gathered evidence to see if they should charge. This stage is key to challenging the case and stopping charges against you.
Our lawyers can:
If charges are brought against you, the case goes to court.
Depending on the offence, it will be heard in a Magistrates’ Court or a Crown Court.
Court involves:
Injunctions and bail conditions are often used in domestic offence cases to protect the alleged victim.
Key points:
At Lex Vindico Group, we defend clients facing a broad range of domestic offences. Here are some of the main offences we cover under the domestic bracket:
Domestic abuse and assault are the most common allegations in a domestic abuse case. They are usually labelled as section 39 common assault, battery or, section 47 assault occasioning actual bodily harm. In more serious cases of assault, one may be under investigation for Grievous Bodily Harm under Section 20 or 18. Domestic assault carries serious legal consequences, including custodial sentences following conviction. Such offences can involve physical harm, emotional abuse or financial control.
What to know:
Evidence such as medical records, text messages, and witness statements is often key to building or defending a case, especially if you wish to avoid criminal charges proactively.
Stalking in a domestic abuse situation is a persistent behaviour that causes fear or distress to the victim. This could be following them, sending unwanted messages or monitoring their activities.
Key points in stalking cases:
Harassment is a pattern of threatening or intimidating behaviour that causes alarm or distress to the victim. It is often linked to failed relationships or family disputes.
Examples of harassment:
Harassment cases need clear evidence of repeated incidents, and penalties can range from fines to custodial sentences.
Controlling and coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship is a relatively new offence under UK law, introduced to tackle patterns of psychological abuse that often go unreported for many years.
What is coercive behaviour?
The court looks at these behaviours to see if they form a pattern. Convictions for controlling and coercive behaviour can mean lengthy prison sentences and a criminal record which could impact your future travel and employment opportunities in positions of trust, so act early to avoid/reverse charges!
Relatively new offences agreed to be enacted in UK law in 2022 now justify extra resources given to the investigators when determining charges for domestic violence-related allegations.
The above acts are now considered standalone offences under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. When an offence is considered a standalone, it means:-
This may seem deeply unfair. When under investigation, your silence, waiting around, or inactivity can lead to being misrepresented, misunderstood, or even judged before you have had your chance to tell your story.
That is where Lex Vindico Group's domestic violence team of lawyers come in. We can provide proactive representation, even before the police station stage.
If you are accused of a domestic offence, acting fast to protect yourself is important. False or exaggerated allegations can have life-changing consequences, and early intervention by a specialist solicitor can make a big difference in your case. If you are facing domestic abuse charges, having legal representation and support throughout the process is key to protecting your rights and navigating the case. Early legal intervention could also be the difference between you being charged with a criminal offence or not.
A skilled solicitor can use several defences depending on the circumstances:
Our solicitors are experienced in identifying holes in the prosecution’s case and gathering evidence for a solid defence. We can think like the prosecutor, as we have experience prosecuting similar cases. If you are proactive in your defence, this can prove to be a major string to your bow.
False domestic offence allegations are not uncommon in contested divorces, custody disputes or even when finances are being split. These can damage your reputation, career and personal life.
We will:
If you have been convicted of a criminal offence, or even if you have accepted a caution for any offending behaviour, your future could be impacted, especially for those in sensitive professions. The impact primarily depends on the Disclosure and Barring Service, your profession and your employers. Our specialist lawyers can provide you with advice tailored to your circumstances.
In a general sense, the impact a conviction would have is as follows:
A domestic offence conviction will get you a criminal record, which can impact job prospects, travel, and professional licences. Some careers, such as teaching or healthcare, may require disclosure of the conviction and particulars. This is particularly why we are instructed early on to avoid and limit any lasting damage.
Domestic offence convictions can impact child custody and parental responsibility, especially when the parties are in a family relationship. Courts will prioritise the welfare of the children, which may mean limited or supervised contact with the accused parent.
Sentencing for domestic offences and domestic violence varies depending on the offence and any aggravating factors such as previous offending, harm to children, or a domestic abuse conviction. Sentences can range from community orders to lengthy prison sentences.
In addition to these penalties, individuals involved in legal proceedings may also have to pay legal costs, which can be a big financial burden.
At Lex Vindico Group, we know domestic violence allegations and the effect they can have on your life. We will provide non-judgmental and compassionate support while we build a robust defence to protect you proactively.
Why choose us:
Why wait for formal charges to be brought against you?
Why wait for a criminal trial in court, where your freedom and future hang in the balance?
Protect yourself now. Acting urgently can make all the difference! So contact us immediately for a free, private and confidential chat.
Domestic abuse and offence allegations can be daunting, but you don’t have to go through it alone.
At Lex Vindico Group, we will advise and defend for you. Contact us now
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