B P Collins’ services have been extended to cover criminal law for the very first time. Principal lawyer, Jonothan Moss, has over 30 years’ experience, which includes a £53million fraud case and environmental and trading standards’ regulatory work. His expertise also lies in road traffic matters, particularly very technical cases, some of which have been heard in the Supreme Court and resulted in the police having to revisit accepted protocol to ensure compliance. Jonothan discusses how B P Collins can help.
Seismic changes to the criminal justice system
Over the 30 years I’ve been practicing, there have been a lot of changes to the criminal justice system, which means it’s more important than ever before to have a lawyer by your side.
Firstly, the Crown Prosecution Service has been hit by austerity cuts, so it no longer has the same resources to deal with its high volume of cases. This makes it even more important to have a lawyer to battle your corner and keep knocking on the door for answers to ensure justice is achieved.
Secondly, in light of recent criticism towards the Crown Prosecution Service for not complying with disclosure rules, meaning that vital evidence was not submitted and people being wrongly convicted in some cases; it is important to have a lawyer who can ensure that all relevant evidence is uncovered. Everyone has a right to justice, but a lawyer might be needed to enforce this.
Changing a person’s life
There are times when I meet clients who feel they should plead guilty before they’ve been informed of their rights and potential defences – crucial advice which they may not have received if they’d never spoken to a lawyer with a technical and an intricate knowledge of the law.
Many people don’t feel the need to seek expert legal advice when faced with a road traffic charge as they think the process is straightforward. However, this area of law has been described by the Court of Appeal as complex as commercial law, so it is vital to seek advice to ascertain if you have any defences, particularly when the consequences could be so life changing such as having to pay a significant fine, facing a prison sentence or losing a job or reputation.
How can B P Collins help?
If you feel you may be under investigation, it is important to choose a lawyer early on, before being interviewed by the police or regulatory authorities.
A good lawyer will consider all of the evidence before providing honest, realistic, bespoke advice. At B P Collins we don’t make decisions for our clients, but instead, put them in a position where they can make an informed one themselves. We then look at various strategies to achieve a favourable outcome. We also have access to expert barristers who can strongly defend a client in court.
We will fight with passion for our clients, particularly in the age of austerity when authorities may be cutting corners, which may prevent justice from prevailing.
Right to a fair trial
Everyone has a right to a fair hearing. Even if someone is guilty, each case is very different and the reasons behind why someone commits a criminal act vary greatly. It is important that we do all in our power to achieve the best result for you. Justice is something that needs to be achieved. It is never just given.
If you are interested in speaking to Jonothan about road traffic law or any other area of criminal defence, please email Jonothan on Jonothan.moss@bpcollins.co.uk or call 01753 889995. He has advised clients in the local area for 25 years.
