Our lawyers are well equipped to represent individuals in what can be complex investigations, often involving high-tech surveillance techniques and voluminous communications evidence. We are aware of the sensitive nature of even minor drug offences and routinely represent professionals and high-profile individuals who have found themselves subject to investigation.
Whilst many of the basic principles in relation to the control and criminalisation of drug use have remained unchanged for decades, in more recent times the law has struggled to keep up with developments, such as the proliferation of ‘legal highs’. Responses such as the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 have attempted to make up for the existing regime’s shortcomings. In addition to legislative developments, modern changes to sentencing practice have seen the introduction of stiffer sentences for most drug offences.
Any finding of guilt in relation to a drugs offence can have far reaching consequences for an individual’s reputation, career, and ability to travel to certain countries. We are particularly experienced in avoiding our clients being charged through pressing for out of court disposals and avoiding court proceedings. In contested matters, we work with a close network of barristers and forensic experts with extensive experience in drugs cases.
Our expertise
BCL are ranked in Band 1 for Crime in Chambers and Partners and Band 1 for Crime: General in The Legal 500.
Achieving the best possible outcome for our clients is our sole focus. We have avoided prosecutions, secured acquittals and achieved out-of-court disposals for clients subject to drugs investigations, including cannabis warnings, community resolution and cautions.
Our expert lawyers can help with a wide range of drugs offences, including:
- Possession of controlled drugs;
- Supplying or offering to supply controlled drugs;
- Possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply;
- Production of controlled drugs;
- Importation and exportation of controlled drugs;
- Cultivating cannabis;
- Supply of articles for administering or preparing controlled drugs;
- Management of premises knowingly permitting or suffering drug-related activities;
- Contravention of directions, notices or regulations relating to controlled drugs;
- Offences related to psychoactive substances; and
- Offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and confiscation proceedings.
Our experience
Examples of our instructions include:
- Representing an individual charged with conspiracy to import industrial amounts of Class A controlled drugs and conspiracy to supply drugs, which concerned the infiltration of the EncroChat communications network.
- Acting for a man of previously good character in a large-scale cannabis cultivation case, including in confiscation proceedings brought under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Through the instruction of a drugs expert, we were able to demonstrate that the number of yields capable of being grown at the site was significantly lower than the prosecution alleged, resulting in a significantly lower sentence and confiscation order.
- Representing a university graduate prosecuted for possession of a Class A controlled drug with intent to supply, who was subjected to pressure and force, raising issues of duress and modern slavery.
- Successfully defending a young man accused of a conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, in a case involving the supply of drugs to Oxford from London, via county lines. Our client was the only defendant acquitted in this multi-handed case.
- Acting for the teenage son of a businessman who was remanded into custody upon charge for attempted burglary and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs. Following our client’s guilty plea (on a limited basis) to the drug offences, he was acquitted at trial of attempted burglary. Upon sentence, an order was made for his release in light of time served.
- Acting for a client with links to the United States by applying for the deletion of records from the PNC, including the expungement of a caution for possession of Class A drugs which was preventing our client from emigrating to America. Following disclosure of material from the police in response to our Right of Access Request, we prepared written representations to challenge the issuing of the caution. As a result, our client’s criminal record was deleted.
Our reputation
BCL has long been top-ranked by the major legal directories in the area of Crime and is currently ranked as follows:
- Band 1 – Chambers and Partners, Crime
- Tier 1 – Legal 500: Crime
- Leading Firm – The Times Best Law Firms: Financial Crime & Fraud & Regulatory
