Criminal procedures

From mid-December, new rules are introduced about disclosing criminal records in criminal trials. Disclosure of previous misconduct is allowed if it corrects a false impression given by the defendant or if it is alleged that the defendant has a record of committing those sorts of offences.

In most cases, details of previous convictions must be 'strikingly similar' to the new allegations, but in theft or child sexual abuse cases, it is likely to be easier to establish the similarity.

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