Analysis of Penetrating Neck Injuries (PNIs) at a South London Trauma Centre before and after the first national lockdown.

•A 28-month retrospective review from February 2019 to April 2021 of penetrating neck injuries (PNIs) at our trauma centre revealed a 48% (n=25 to n=37) increase in PNIs ‘post-lockdown’ (lockdown date = 23rd March 2020). •The aetiology of PNI changed over time, with an increase in the proportion of Deliberate Self Harm’ (DSH) cases from 1/3 to 2/3rds of case (n=9 to n=25), an overall 177.8% increase ‘post-lockdown’. An increase in mortality was also seen with no deaths ‘pre-lockdown’, and 3 deaths ‘post-lockdown’. •‘Accidental Injuries’ (AI) increased from 4% to 10% of cases (n=1 to n=4) post lockdown, with ‘grievous bodily harm (GBH) reducing from half to 1/5th of all cases (n=13 to n=8), and ‘domestic violence’ from 8% of cases to no cases post lockdown (DV) ‘post lockdown’. •‘Pre-lockdown’ 10% of DSH patients (n=1) were noted to have a prior mental health diagnosis or psychiatric care, ‘post-lockdown’ this increased to 61.5% (n=16) of DSH patients. •Data from our tertiary trauma centre in London has shown a change in aetiology, psychiatric co-morbidity and number of PNIs pre and post lockdown.

Migrants and crime in Russia's Central Federal District

The article deals with the issues of criminality of international migrants. Interest in this issue has increased due to the implementation of a range of restrictive measures related to the movement of persons in 2020 and 2021. Taking into account the uneven distribution of migration flows across the territory of the Russian Federation, attention is paid to studying the situation in the Central Federal District, which is the most attractive in migration relation. The data of the state statistical reporting for the period of ten years from 2011 to 2020 are analysed. Two main indicators are used – quantitative indicators for identified foreign citizens and stateless persons who have committed crimes, and their share in the total number of identified persons. The information on the subjects of the Central Federal District as a whole on crime, categories of crime and in the context of individual articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation has been studied. The attention is focused on the situation in Moscow. The indicators of court reports in Moscow on convicted foreign citizens were used. General tendencies of criminality of foreign citizens are noted, the degree of public danger is assessed. As one of the conclusions, it is indicated that this category of criminals makes a significant contribution to the criminal situation in the Central Federal District. In particular, in Moscow there is a high proportion of foreign citizens among those who have committed murder, deliberate infliction of grievous bodily harm, rape, theft, robbery, brigandage, and bribery in the period of ten years.

Murderous intent—The attitude of a murderer?

There is a controversy in the definition of murder in England and Wales. This relates to ‘intention’ in the mental element, which can include the defendant’s foresight of death or grievous bodily harm (GBH) as ‘virtually certain’. This ‘oblique’ intent is criticised as morally under-inclusive. In this article, it is argued the crime can better capture those killings that should be categorised as murder by rejecting oblique intent. It is accepted that GBH ought to be a part of the mental element. However, the article proposes murder should capture heinous forms of risk-taking through knowledge of likely death or GBH which, if it were to occur, might be useful in contributing to the defendant’s purpose. This cognitive approach supports a murderous attitude called reconciliation. That attitude is contrasted with the dictionary definition of intention in which death or GBH can be used in pursuit of, or is, the defendant’s purpose.

13. Voluntary manslaughter

Manslaughter is defined by common law as any unlawful homicide that is not murder. The offence is limited by murder at one extreme and accidental killing at the other. Manslaughter can be either ‘voluntary’ or ‘involuntary’. This chapter deals with voluntary manslaughter: this occurs when someone had the intention to kill or do grievous bodily harm, but relies on a partial defence to murder. The two partial defences considered in this chapter are loss of self- control and diminished responsibility (suicide pact is dealt with in Ch 15). This chapter scrutinizes the defences available to the accused and in particular the developing case law under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 on loss of control and diminished responsibility, including the Supreme Court’s decision in Golds and the series of Court of Appeal cases since that decision.

25. Burglary and related offences

Burglary is an offence under the Theft Act 1968. The offence is not confined to ‘breaking and entering’ in order to steal, but involves entering any building or part of a building as a trespasser and with intent to steal anything in the building or inflict or attempt to inflict on any person therein any grievous bodily harm. A separate form of burglary is found in s 9(1)(b) of the Theft Act 1968 where a person has entered as a trespasser and thereafter attempted to steal, actually stole something, inflicted grievous bodily harm or attempted to inflict grievous bodily harm. This chapter looks at burglary and related offences and also discusses aggravated burglary and the articles of aggravation, as well as trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence.

16. Non-fatal offences against the person

This chapter focuses on non-fatal offences against the person, including assault and battery, wounding and inflicting grievous bodily harm, poisoning offences, kidnapping, harassment and possession and use of offensive weapons. The chapter also discusses defences to assault and battery including consent and lawful chastisement, in addition to the Law Commission’s Report on reforming offences against the person. The discussion includes a detailed analysis of the relevant statutory offences including the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. It also considers coercive control as well as racially or religiously aggravated versions of the relevant offences.

10. Non-fatal offences against the person

Course-focused and contextual, Criminal Law provides a succinct overview of the key areas on the law curriculum balanced with thought-provoking contextual discussion. This chapter discusses the main non-fatal offences involving violence against the person. Non-fatal offences include assault and battery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, wounding and inflicting grievous bodily harm, wounding or causing grievous bodily harm with intent, administering poison, and offences related to explosive substances and corrosive fluids (including offences related to ‘acid attacks’). The chapter analyses in detail consent as a defence to non-fatal offences against the person, including discussion of recent case law on whether consent is a defence to acts of ‘body modification’. The chapter also outlines necessity and lawful correction. The chapter’s ‘The Law in Context’ feature examines the scope of ‘hate crime’ legislation.

METHODS OF INVESTIGATION OF GRIEVOUS BODILY HARM BY MEDICAL PERSONNEL

Введение: статья посвящена анализу методики расследования причинения тяжкого вреда здоровью, совершенного медицинскими работниками. Материалы и методы: методологическую основу исследования составляет общенаучный диалектический метод познания закономерностей объективных явлений и процессов реальной действительности, имеющих место в сфере деятельности правоохранительных органов, в том числе по вопросам расследования уголовных дел. В процессе исследования использовалась совокупность общенаучных и частнонаучных методов, таких как сравнение, анализ, синтез, формально-логический, структур- но-функциональный. Результаты исследования: выявлены типичные следственные ситуации при расследовании причинения тяжкого вреда здоровью медицинскими работниками. Обсуждение и заключения: предложен алгоритм следственных действий для расследования причинения тяжкого вредя здоровью медицинскими работниками.

7. Non-fatal offences against the person

This chapter deals with non-fatal offences against the person, a variety of offences designed to criminalise behaviour ranging from the infliction of serious (non-fatal) injuries to potential targeting of any non-consensual contact. The chapter begins by explaining the offences of assault and battery, the actus reus and mens rea of each, and defences. It then considers relevant provisions of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 with respect to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm, and wounding or causing grievous bodily harm with intent. The chapter then considers ‘conduct focussed’ offences against the person, such as harassment and poisoning. Finally, the chapter outlines potential legal reforms concerning modernisation and re-codification, constructive liability, and consent; and the potential application of the offences against the person within a problem question. Relevant cases are highlighted throughout the chapter, with a brief summary of the main facts and judgment.