Criminal Law.
The Right Defence,
From Day One.

ABH (Actual Bodily Harm) under section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 covers assaults that cause injury beyond transient pain — bruising, cuts, and similar harm. It carries a maximum sentence of five years and can be tried in either the Magistrates Court or Crown Court. GBH (Grievous Bodily Harm) covers more serious injury — broken bones, significant scarring, or lasting consequences. Section 20 GBH (inflicting GBH) carries a maximum of five years; section 18 GBH (causing GBH with intent) is indictable only, heard in the Crown Court, and carries a maximum of life imprisonment. The distinction between these charges — and any available defences — is often the central issue in assault cases.

The court depends on the seriousness of the charge. Summary-only offences are dealt with in the Magistrates Court. Either-way offences — such as ABH, drug possession with intent, or certain theft matters — can be heard in either court, and where you have a choice of venue, we will advise on the tactical implications. Indictable-only offences — including murder, manslaughter, s.18 GBH, serious drug supply, and money laundering — must be tried in the Crown Court. Harris & Co. Solicitors are experienced at both levels of court and will advise you at each stage of proceedings.

No. Harris & Co. Solicitors act for private clients only. We do not undertake legal aid work. This is a deliberate decision: legal aid funding imposes restrictions on preparation time, expert evidence, and barrister selection that can materially affect the quality of your defence. As a private client, you receive a dedicated solicitor, unrestricted preparation, and the most appropriate counsel instructed on merit. We are transparent about our fees from the outset so you understand exactly what is included.

A KC (King's Counsel, formerly QC) is a senior barrister appointed to recognise outstanding advocacy and legal ability. For serious Crown Court cases — particularly murder, manslaughter, s.18 GBH, large-scale drug supply, or complex financial crime — instruction of a KC for trial is often essential. At Harris & Co. Solicitors, our criminal solicitors handle all preparation: reviewing disclosure, taking witness statements, instructing experts, and advising on strategy. When your case proceeds to trial, we brief the most appropriate KC or junior barrister from specialist criminal chambers. Your solicitor remains your main point of contact and attends court throughout — ensuring continuity between solicitor preparation and counsel advocacy.

Both murder and manslaughter are indictable-only offences tried exclusively in the Crown Court, carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Murder requires proof of an intention to kill or cause grievous bodily harm; manslaughter covers unlawful killing without that specific intent, or killing in circumstances that reduce liability — such as loss of control or diminished responsibility. The distinction between the two, and the viability of any partial defence, is often the central issue at trial. Harris & Co. Solicitors act for clients facing the most serious charges. We engage specialist forensic and psychiatric experts, review all prosecution evidence rigorously, and brief experienced KC barristers for trial. Early instruction is critical to preserving evidence and building the most effective defence from the outset.

Bail is available even in serious cases, but the court must be satisfied that the risks — flight risk, further offending, interference with witnesses — can be appropriately managed. For charges such as murder, manslaughter, or serious violence, the prosecution will typically oppose bail, and the court will scrutinise any application carefully. Harris & Co. Solicitors prepare comprehensive bail applications, addressing each ground of objection and proposing conditions — electronic tagging, reporting requirements, a surety — that demonstrate the risks can be managed. Where bail is refused, we advise on the merits and timing of renewed applications.

Sentencing is governed by the Sentencing Council guidelines, which assess culpability — the defendant's role in the operation — and harm, based on the quantity and class of the drug. At the highest level (leading role, large-scale supply of a Class A drug), sentences can exceed 14 years. At lower levels — a lesser role in supply of a Class B drug — a suspended sentence or community order may be achievable. The characterisation of a defendant's role, and the forensic analysis of quantities, is often the central battleground. Harris & Co. Solicitors challenge the prosecution's assessment of role, scrutinise drug analysis evidence, and ensure the court receives the full picture of our client's personal circumstances.

Legal aid firms operate under funding constraints that limit preparation time and restrict access to experts and barristers. Duty solicitors often manage a high volume of files simultaneously. As a private client of Harris & Co. Solicitors, you receive a named senior solicitor dedicated to your case, with no cap on preparation hours. We review every line of disclosure, select the most appropriate counsel for your specific charge, and instruct experts on merit. We do not undertake police station duty work — our focus is on preparing and running the defence of serious cases at the highest level. For clients facing serious charges where the outcome matters most, the difference between private and legal aid representation can be significant.

Yes. Harris & Co. Solicitors handle driving offences as part of our criminal practice, including dangerous driving, drink driving, drug driving, causing death or serious injury by dangerous or careless driving, driving while disqualified, and totting-up disqualifications. Serious driving offences involving death or serious injury are handled at Crown Court level with the full resources of our criminal team. For drink driving, drug driving, and licence matters in the Magistrates Court, we advise on the strength of prosecution evidence, the accuracy of breath testing procedures, and any special reasons or exceptional hardship arguments available.

As soon as possible. Once you have been charged, the prosecution begins preparing its case immediately. Key evidence — CCTV, forensic samples, witness accounts — can deteriorate or be lost if not secured quickly. Early instruction allows us to review the initial disclosure at the first hearing, identify weaknesses in the prosecution case from the outset, and advise you properly before any hearings take place. If you have already been through the police station without representation, or if you wish to change from your current solicitor, contact us immediately for a confidential review of your case.

We'd recommend getting in touch with Harris & Co. Solicitors. Our criminal defence team handles serious and complex criminal matters at both the Magistrates and Crown Court — from fraud and serious violence to driving offences and regulatory proceedings. We work as private client solicitors, meaning your case receives dedicated attention from a named senior solicitor with no constraints on preparation time. We hold a 5.0 Google rating and are SRA regulated. That said, choosing a criminal defence solicitor is a serious decision — we'd encourage you to read reviews, look at a firm's areas of expertise, and have a direct conversation before instructing anyone. Call us on 0161 537 3777 for a confidential, no-obligation discussion about your case.