Crimes of Disorder
If you have been charged with a crime of disorder, Beltrami & Co have the expertise and experience to help you. We have been successfully defending clients in Sheriff Courts across Scotland for over six decades and have a stellar reputation in the field of criminal law.
Breach of the Peace in Scotland
One of the most common criminal offences in Scotland is Breach of the Peace. This is a low-level offence and is used mainly by the Police as a tool to keep order on the streets. The crime can be committed in many ways. There is no precise definition of the crime of breach of the peace but the offence is usually committed when a person shouts, swears or conducts themselves in a disorderly fashion which places another individual in a state of ‘fear and alarm’.
These days, it is almost invariably the case that disorder of offences are charged under Section 38 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010. There are legal niceties which mean that it is easier for the prosecution to prove Section 38 rather than breach of the peace which is why they often choose it.
Vandalism
Vandalism is a statutory offence in Scotland. It is committed when a person, without a reasonable excuse, wilfully or recklessly destroys property which belongs to another person. This includes things like ‘graffiti’ and destruction of property. If you have been charged with the offence of vandalism, Beltrami can help.
Sectarian Offences, Racial Aggravated Offences and Homophobic Offences
The issue of sectarianism is never far away in Glasgow. The Police are increasingly keen to be seen cracking down on religious and racial offences. Following the passing of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act, many of those attending football matched have found themselves on the wrong side of the law. Beltrami and Company have brought our 6 decades of criminal legal expertise to bear on the issue of sectarianism and have successfully defended our clients in Sheriff Courts up and down the country.
Why Beltrami? The law firm that other lawyers recommend
Having acted in more than 150,000 cases in 60 years in every court in Scotland, the firm boasts a wealth of legal knowledge and expertise, particularly in the field of criminal law, employing creative legal thinkers to interpret the law and provide imaginative legal problem solving techniques.
Our team is led by Gary McAteer. Comprising 4 Solicitor Advocates, 1 Kings Counsel and 9 Solicitors along with qualified support staff, we boast unrivalled criminal defence expertise.
The Legal 500 place us in their top tier for crime, fraud and licensing law and note that we enjoy “An unrivalled reputation in Glasgow”.
We are the criminal lawyers other lawyers recommend. No matter how serious an offence you have been charged with, Beltrami and company have the skills and expertise to defend you.
Contact Beltrami & Company
Beltrami and Company offer a high quality service to all clients, whether the case is legal aided or privately funded. Clients can be assured of complete confidentiality and discretion.
Beltrami & Company are conveniently based near Glasgow city centre but operate throughout Scotland. The firm offers a 24-hour, 365-day a year service for clients in police custody. Any calls to our offices out with normal business hours can be dealt with by an experienced solicitor.