UK regulator launches probe into deepfake AI content
What this means for businesses using AI Artificial intelligence is no longer sitting in a regulatory grey area. This month, Britain’s media regulator opened a formal investigation into X (formerly Twitter) over the hosting of AI-generated sexual imagery. The investigation relies on new criminal offences introduced under recent online safety legislation and marks one of […]
A Guide to Businesses’ Rights in Criminal Investigations
Businesses, like individuals, have the right to access criminal justice services when they are victims of crimes. Recognising and exercising these rights is vital; it allows organisations to receive the necessary support while assisting an underfunded police force and prosecution service with their essential work. The Victims’ Code The Victims’ Code provides a set of […]
New Fire Safety Rules April 2026
New fire safety rules will come into force in England on 6 April 2026, introducing Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for qualifying residential buildings. These duties are expected to affect multi-occupied residential properties that: Property owners and those with legal responsibility for building safety, including Responsible Persons, landlords, freeholders and managing agents will need to review their […]
Capping Costs in UK Judicial Review Proceedings – A Practical Guide
Judicial Review is a vital mechanism in the UK for holding public bodies accountable however bringing a claim can be expensive and financially risky. To reduce this barrier to justice, the courts have the power to grant a Judicial Review Costs Capping Order (JRCCO) which limits a party’s exposure to legal costs. This article explains what JRCCOs […]
Awaab’s Law Is Now in Force – Are Social Housing Providers Prepared for the New Legal Risks?
Awaab’s Law came into force on 27 October 2025. Is your organisation prepared? Two-year-old Awaab Ishak died in 2020 after prolonged exposure to mould in his social housing. Despite repeated reports, no action was taken for three years. Now, social housing landlords face strict statutory timeframes: 24 hours for emergency hazards, 14 days for investigations […]
Blue Monday Is a Myth – Employer Mental Health Duties Are Not
Blue Monday isn’t real. Your legal duty to protect employee mental health is. So apparently, today is ‘Blue Monday’, the most depressing day of the year. Except it’s not. It’s a marketing myth from 2005 with no scientific basis whatsoever. But here’s what we know is very real in corporate manslaughter and health and safety […]
AI in the Courts and the Transparency Gap in Criminal Justice
In October, the judiciary published updated guidance on the use of AI. A Tax Tribunal judge recently disclosed he’d used AI to draft a decision on a disclosure application. He wasn’t obliged to tell anyone – he chose to. The guidance doesn’t require disclosure. So, how many other decisions have been AI-assisted without anyone knowing? […]
Judge-Only Trials and the Jury Question – Are We Undermining Justice to Fix Backlogs?
There has been much discussion across media platforms over recent months about the proposals to fundamentally change how justice works in England and Wales and the basic fixable improvements that could be made. The government nevertheless appears hell-bent on moving 75% of Crown Court cases to judge-only trials. Only murder, rape, manslaughter and ‘public interest’ […]
Human Rights Due Diligence Is Coming – What UK Businesses Need to Know Now
Human Rights Day is a timely reminder that business and human rights aren’t parallel conversations anymore, they’re shaping the future of corporate strategy. At the Council of Europe’s first Business and Human Rights Forum (BRAVE 2025) in Strasbourg, leaders from law, policy, and industry came together to discuss how businesses can turn human rights principles […]
Compliance as Strategy – The Businesses That Treat Regulation as an Opportunity
In our role defending businesses against regulatory action, we notice one consistent pattern: the companies that thrive are those who view compliance as an opportunity, not an obligation. With an increasing move towards risk based compliance, having documented systems can mean the difference between constructive dialogue and criminal proceedings. Here are some essentials for UK […]