See what's inside the app

Browse real offence cards, FPN tables, PACE codes and quick-reference mnemonics — exactly as they'll appear in Section.

Going Equipped for Theft
Theft Act 1968, s 25(1)
Either Way Recordable Notifiable Property
D
Definition
A person shall be guilty of an offence if, when not at his place of abode, he has with him any article for use in the course of or in connection with any burglary or theft.
P
Points to Prove
  • ✓
    Not at place of abode
  • ✓
    Had with them
  • ✓
    Article(s) for use in course of / in connection with
  • ✓
    A burglary or theft
S
Disposal & Sentencing
Mode of Trial
Either Way
On Indictment
3 years
Summary
6 months / fine
Crime Report
When charged
C
Charging Decision
Anticipated Guilty Plea
Police may charge unless: loss/damage > £5,000, sentence likely > 6 months, or suspect subject to Crown Court order. If any apply — seek CPS advice.
Anticipated Not Guilty Plea
CPS advice required. Either-way offence — defendant has denied or raised a defence.
!
Operational Notes
● If article is in a motor vehicle, the offence is still committed
● “Has with him” is narrower than possession — requires knowledge and control
● No need to prove defendant intended to use it — prove any person would use it
● Must prove article would be used in the future — past use is irrelevant
C
Offence Codes
H421
H428
H429
H420
Common Assault / Battery
Criminal Justice Act 1988, s 39
Summary Only Recordable Violence
D
Definition
An assault is any act by which a person intentionally or recklessly causes another to apprehend immediate unlawful personal violence. A battery is any act by which a person intentionally or recklessly applies unlawful force to another.
P
Points to Prove
  • ✓
    Intentionally or recklessly applied unlawful force (battery) OR caused apprehension of immediate unlawful force (assault)
  • ✓
    The force / apprehension was unlawful — not consented to, not justified by self-defence or lawful authority
  • ✓
    The act was intentional or reckless
  • ✓
    Identification — the defendant is the person who committed the act
S
Disposal & Sentencing
Mode of Trial
Summary
Max Custody
6 months
Fine
Unlimited
Time Limit
6 months
C
Charging Decision
Anticipated Guilty Plea
Custody Sergeant / Inspector may charge without CPS where evidential and public interest tests are clearly met and case is straightforward.
Anticipated Not Guilty Plea
CPS advice should be sought where: evidence disputed, credibility issues, self-defence raised, vulnerable complainant, or complainant retracts.
!
Operational Notes
● 6-month limitation — arrest or charge must be actioned promptly from date of offence
● Battery requires any unlawful touching — no injury required; document any redness or complaint of pain
● Preserve CCTV, BWV, 999 calls immediately — best evidence sources
● Consider whether injury crosses threshold for s.47 ABH — photograph injuries, obtain medical assessment
C
Offence Codes
CJ88001
Endorsable Offences
Traffic Signals
Endorsable
OFFENCE
CODE
PTS
FINE
Fail to comply with traffic light signals
TS10
3
£100
Fail to comply with double white lines
TS20
3
£100
Fail to comply with stop sign
TS30
3
£100
Fail to stop at pelican crossing red light
TS40
3
£100
Penalty Points
Fixed Penalty
Seatbelts
Non-Endorsable
OFFENCE
CODE
PTS
FINE
Driver fail to wear seatbelt
SB30
—
£100
Fail to ensure child under 14 wears seatbelt
SB40
—
£100
G
Power of Arrest
PACE 1984, s 24 • Code G
When a Constable May Arrest
Anyone who is about to commit an offence
Anyone who is in the act of committing an offence
Anyone whom there are reasonable grounds to suspect is about to commit / is committing an offence
If an offence has been committed — anyone guilty or reasonably suspected of being guilty
Necessity Criteria (s 24(5))
Arrest is only lawful if the constable has reasonable grounds to believe it is necessary for one or more of:
To ascertain the person's name
To ascertain the person's address
To prevent physical injury to self or others
To prevent loss of or damage to property
To prevent an offence against public decency
To prevent unlawful obstruction of the highway
To protect a child or vulnerable person
To allow prompt and effective investigation
To prevent the person's disappearance
Key Case Law
Hayes v CC Merseyside [2011] — Officer must believe arrest is necessary under s24(4) for a s24(5) reason, and this belief must be objectively reasonable
Blench v DPP [2004] — Delay in giving reasons cannot retrospectively render unlawful an arrest that was correctly made
IDCOPLAN
Necessity Criteria for Arrest • PACE s 24(5)
I
Investigation
To allow prompt and effective investigation of the offence or the conduct of the person
D
Disappearance
To prevent the person disappearing / making off before a summons can be served
C
Child / Vulnerable
To protect a child or other vulnerable person from the person in question
O
Obstruction
To prevent unlawful obstruction of the highway
P
Physical Injury
To prevent the person causing physical injury to themselves or another
L
Loss or Damage
To prevent the person causing loss of or damage to property
A
Address
To ascertain the person's address (where name given but address doubted or not given)
N
Name
To ascertain the person's name (where unknown or doubted to be genuine)

Like what you see?

Join the waitlist and be first to know when Section launches.

Join Waitlist