General Criminal Offences

Clear Advice for a Wide Range of Criminal Allegations

Michael Carroll & Co advises and represents clients facing a broad range of criminal allegations, including assault, public order offences, theft, robbery, and criminal damage.

These matters may arise from a single incident, a dispute, an allegation made by another person, a police investigation, or events involving several people. Some cases may appear straightforward at first but can become more serious depending on the evidence, the alleged circumstances, previous history, or the approach taken by the police and prosecution.

The firm provides practical advice and representation from the earliest stage, including police station attendance, voluntary interviews, court proceedings, trial preparation, sentencing, appeals, and second opinions where appropriate.

The Offences Covered

This page covers general criminal allegations including:

How These Cases Commonly Arise

General criminal offences can arise in many different situations, including disputes in public places, incidents at home, workplace disagreements, shop-related allegations, damage to property, confrontations, or allegations involving friends, family members, neighbours, or members of the public.

The evidence may include witness statements, CCTV, police body-worn footage, phone messages, photographs, medical evidence, forensic evidence, or police interview records. Careful review of the evidence is important before decisions are made about interview, plea, trial, or sentence.

What You Can Expect From Us

Drug Offences We Advise On

Common Assault and Actual Bodily Harm

Common assault and Actual Bodily Harm allegations can involve a range of circumstances, from minor physical contact or threats to allegations involving visible injury.

These cases may turn on issues such as self-defence, accident, identification, intention, the level of injury, the credibility of witness accounts, or the wider background to the incident. Michael Carroll & Co can advise on the evidence, police interview strategy, possible defences, court process, and likely outcomes.

Public Order Offences

Public order allegations often arise from arguments, group incidents, confrontations, demonstrations, licensed premises, transport settings, or disputes in public or private places.

The firm can advise on the strength of the allegation, the role of each person involved, CCTV or body-worn footage, witness evidence, and whether the facts support the offence alleged.

Theft, Robbery and Criminal Damage

Theft and criminal damage allegations may involve shops, vehicles, homes, businesses, personal property, or public property. Robbery allegations are treated more seriously because they involve an allegation of theft together with force or the threat of force.

These cases may involve questions about dishonesty, ownership, intent, identification, value, damage, or the circumstances in which property was allegedly taken or damaged. The firm provides advice on the evidence, possible defences, court proceedings, and alternatives to prosecution where appropriate.

FAQ's

Legal advice should be obtained before speaking to the police or attending any interview. This applies following an arrest, voluntary interview request, or arranged police attendance.

Yes. A voluntary interview is a formal police interview, and anything said may be used as evidence. Legal advice should be obtained before attendance.

Yes. Michael Carroll & Co provides police station advice and representation, including advice before and during interview.

The firm advises and represents clients in relation to allegations including common assault, Actual Bodily Harm, public order offences, theft, robbery, criminal damage, and related criminal matters.
Common assault usually involves an allegation of unlawful force or fear of immediate unlawful force. Actual Bodily Harm involves an allegation where injury has been caused. The seriousness of the allegation will depend on the facts and the evidence.
In some cases, an out-of-court disposal may be considered. This will depend on the allegation, the evidence, any previous history, and the approach taken by the police or prosecution.
Yes. Robbery is generally treated more seriously because it involves an allegation of theft together with force or the threat of force. Cases involving robbery may be dealt with in the Crown Court depending on the circumstances.
General criminal offence cases may involve CCTV, witness statements, police body-worn footage, phone evidence, messages, photographs, medical evidence, forensic evidence, property evidence, and police interview records.
This will depend on the offence, seriousness of the allegation, evidence, previous history, and any aggravating features. Some matters may remain in the Magistrates’ Court, while more serious cases may proceed to the Crown Court.

Yes. The firm can advise and represent clients after charge, including at Magistrates’ Court, Crown Court where applicable, trial preparation, sentencing, and appeals.

Yes. A criminal allegation or conviction may affect employment, professional standing, reputation, travel, and future prospects, depending on the nature of the allegation and the outcome of the case.

A solicitor should be contacted as early as possible, particularly before any police interview, charging decision, bail decision, court hearing, or response to prosecution evidence.

Team

Speak to Our Criminal Defence Team

If advice is required in relation to common assault, Actual Bodily Harm, public order offences, theft, robbery, criminal damage, or another general criminal allegation, early contact is recommended.