Child Cruelty
Tuckers Solicitors has an outstanding reputation and extensive experience in representing clients facing child cruelty allegations.
There are many types of child cruelty offences. You can be confident that we have significant experience of defending such matters. Any case where the allegation involves a child is fraught with emotion. There are often multi-agency considerations with Social Services, medical and criminal investigations running at the same time. Often parents are charged with different offences. Our lawyers are sensitive to these issues and have experience in dealing with these cases with discretion and confidence.
Sentencing guidelines have recently changed for child cruelty offences. This was designed to incorporate three types of child cruelty:
- cruelty to a child;
- causing or allowing a child to die or suffer serious physical harm; and
- failing to protect a girl from the risk of female genital mutilation (FGM).
Child cruelty is a broad offence and involves ill-treatment and assault, neglect, abandonment, and failure to protect a child.
Causing or allowing a child to die or suffer serious physical harm is where a child has died or suffered serious physical harm as a result of an unlawful act, such as an assault, by a member of the household but there is not enough evidence to prove which of the defendants committed the act and they may both blame each other.
Failing to protect a girl from the risk of female genital mutilation (FGM) is committed when a parent or carer of a girl under 16 allows FGM to take place, unless they can show that they were not aware of such a risk and reasonably could not have been expected to be, or that they took reasonable steps in order to protect the girl.
The Sentencing Guidelines show that the courts place increasing weight on the psychological, developmental or emotional harm caused to the child. It ensures that sentences reflect what the offender has done and the harm to the child. Cases involving very significant force, or multiple incidents of serious cruelty will always be treated as being in the highest category of culpability.
Our expert lawyers are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing immediate legal advice, assistance and representation during criminal proceedings; ensuring the best possible outcome for our clients. For more information please contact us on 020 7388 8333 or email info@tuckerssolicitors.com