There is a presumption that a defendant should be unfettered in court unless there are reasonable grounds for restraint. The onus is on the prosecution to show reasonable grounds for the use of handcuffs.

The Fraud Act 2006 (the Act) came into force on 15 January 2007 and applies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

A firearm is "a lethal barrelled weapon of any description from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged" (section 57(1) Firearms Act 1968)

The Prosecution Advocate plays an important public role and as such may be considered a cornerstone of an open and fair criminal justice system. The principles so well articulated by Farquharson LJ and his committee as to the role of the prosecution advocate have served us well since they were published in 1986. However, the time has come for new guidance which, whilst building on the established principles, reflects the changes that have occurred in the criminal courts, at the Bar and within The Crown Prosecution Service over recent years. I welcome and commend the new Guidelines which, whilst not legally binding unless expressly approved by the Court of Appeal, nonetheless provide important practical guidance for practitioners involved in the prosecution process.

The main explosives offences relate to:

The relevant legislation relating to Electoral offences can be found in: