MSM Law Managing Director Eoghan McKenna attended this significant criminal law event in London.
This was an exceptional Legal Action Group event as always but was particularly significant given the important PACE milestone under discussion.
It was wonderful to be back in person and meet so many interesting criminal defence legal colleagues. Thank you to Kingsley Napley for hosting the event in their impressive London offices.
Sandra Paul and Matthew Hardcastle gave very interesting and passionate insights into police station practice over the years of PACE including some current issues. The debate about providing an appropriate level of service in the future was worrying given some of the challenging issues identified in terms of government and police policies as well as within the criminal defence solicitor world.
It was breath taking listening to Ed Cape explain the position before PACE, the commencement of PACE as well as subsequent developments such as the area of adverse inferences. His insights were immense.
Hopefully the protections in PACE for the benefit of society, all citizens, the Criminal Justice System and our clients will endure and be enhanced even. In particular they should not be undermined any further by budgetary issues. Access to Justice and the Rule of Law are paramount foundations in any jurisdiction.
Thank you again to all involved. I look forward to the new edition of the much loved and much used updated book.