For more information

The Terrence Higgins Trust helpline, THT Direct, has experience of dealing with this issue. It can advise individuals who are involved in cases and can give details of experienced lawyers. Contact THT Direct on 0808 802 1221.

A regularly updated table of UK cases is available from NAT at: http://www.nat.org.uk/Our-thinking/Law-stigma-and-discrimination/Criminal-prosecutions.aspx

BHIVA/BASHH HIV Transmission, the Law and the Work of the Clinical Team (January 2013). Available at: http://bhiva.org/Reckless-HIV-Transmission-2013.aspx

NAM/NAT HIV Forensics: The use of phylogenetic analysis as evidence in criminal investigation of HIV transmission (February 2007). Available at: http://www.nat.org.uk/Media library/Files/PDF Documents/HIV-Forensics.pdf

NAT 'HIV Forensics II: Estimating the likelihood of recent HIV infection – Implications for criminal prosecutions'. (July 2011.) Available at: http://www.nat.org.uk/media/Files/Policy/2011/RITA%20Testing%20Report.pdf

The ‘My HIV’ website from THT includes a substantial section that covers the law in all UK jurisdictions and includes specific information for people who want to complain and those who are accused, as well as those who have been asked to be a witness. Available at: http://www.tht.org.uk/myhiv/Telling-people/Law

England and Wales

NAT/THT Prosecutions for HIV Transmission: A guide for people living with HIV in England and Wales. (May 2010) Available at: http://www.nat.org.uk/Media library/Files/Policy/2010/NAT-THT Guide re Prosecutions DOWNLOAD UPDATE MAY2010.pdf

NAM The basics: Transmission and the law (February 2012). Available at: http://www.aidsmap.com/Transmission-and-the-law/page/2258338/

NAT Police Investigation of HIV Transmission. (May 2011) Available at: http://www.nat.org.uk/Media library/Files/Policy/2011/Police Investigation of HIV Transmission ACPO leaflet 2011-3.pdf (Also applies to Northern Ireland)

Scotland

HIV Scotland/NAT/THT Prosecutions for HIV & STI transmission or exposure: a guide for people living with HIV in Scotland. (February 2013). Available at: http://www.tht.org.uk/sexual-health/Resources/Publications/Policy/Prosecutions-for-HIV-_and_-STI-transmission-Scotland

England and Wales

Crown Prosecution Service Intentional or Reckless Sexual Transmission of Infection: Legal guidance (July 2011). Available at: http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/h_to_k/intentional_or_reckless_sexual_transmission_of_infection_guidance/

Crown Prosecution Service Policy for prosecuting cases involving the intentional or reckless sexual transmission of infection (July 2011). Available at: http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/prosecution/sti.html

Scotland

Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Guidance on 'Intentional or Reckless Sexual Transmission of, or Exposure to, Infection'. (May 2012) Available at: http://www.crownoffice.gov.uk/images/Documents/Prosecution_Policy_Guidance/Guidelines_and_Policy/Sexual%20Transmission%20or%20Exposure%20to%20Infection%20-%20Prosecution%20Policy.PDF

England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Association of Chief Police Officers ACPO Investigation Guidance relating to the Criminal Transmission of HIV. (2010) Available at: http://www.nat.org.uk/Our-thinking/Law-stigma-and-discrimination/Police-investigations.aspx

Police investigation flowchart. Available at: http://www.nat.org.uk/Media library/Files/Policy/2010/Police Investigation Flowchart2-1.pdf

Police evidential flowchart. Available at: http://www.nat.org.uk/Media library/Files/Policy/2010/EVIDENTIAL FLOWCHART HIV 2010.pdf

NAT (National AIDS Trust) Why NAT opposes prosecutions for reckless HIV transmission. (April 2010) http://www.nat.org.uk/Media%20library/Files/Policy/2010/Why%20NAT%20opposes%20prosecutions%20for%20reckless%20HIV%20transmission2.pdf

THT: Our social policies >Prosecutions for HIV transmission. Available at: http://www.tht.org.uk/our-charity/Campaign/Our-social-policies/Prosecutions-for-HIV-transmission

Dodds C et al. Keeping Confidence: HIV and the criminal law from service provider perspectives. (Sigma/Birkbeck, 2013) Available at: http://sigmaresearch.org.uk/projects/policy/project55/

Power L Policing Transmission. (THT, 2009) Available at: http://www.tht.org.uk/sexual-health/Resources/Publications/Policy/Policing-Transmission

Bourne A et al. Relative safety II: risk and unprotected anal intercourse among gay men with diagnosed HIV. (Sigma, 2009) Available at: http://sigmaresearch.org.uk/go.php?/projects/gay/project41/

Dodds C et al. Responses to criminal prosecutions for HIV transmission among gay men with HIV in England and Wales. (Reproductive Health Matters,17(34):135–145, 2009) Available at: http://www.sigmaresearch.org.uk/files/RHM34_Dodds_Criminalisation.pdf

Dodds C et al. Homosexually active men’s views on criminal prosecutions for HIV transmission are related to HIV prevention need. (AIDS Care, 20(5): 509-514, 2008) Available at: http://sigmaresearch.org.uk/go.php?/articles/gay/article2008d/

Dodds C and Keogh P Criminal prosecutions for HIV transmission: people living with HIV respond. (International Journal of STD & AIDS, 17(5): 315-318(4), 2006.) Available at: http://sigmaresearch.org.uk/go.php?/articles/african/article2006a/

Dodds C et al. Grievous harm? Use of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 for sexual transmission of HIV. (Sigma, 2005) Available at: http://www.sigmaresearch.org.uk/files/report2005b

Global Commission on HIV and the Law. Between 2010 and 2012, the Global Commission on HIV and the Law undertook extensive dialogue and consultation to gain a clearer picture of the impact of laws on HIV. Its report, HIV and the Law: Rights, Risks and Health, published in June 2012, provides a global analysis of the way HIV responses across the globe are undermined by the legal environment. This website, containing a wealth of international resources, is available at: http://www.hivlawcommission.org/

Global Criminalisation Scan. This website from the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) documents laws, judicial practices, case studies and media reports, providing a broad overview of laws and prosecutions in some 200 jurisdictions. Available at: http://www.gnpplus.net/criminalisation/

HIV Justice Network. A global information and advocacy hub for individuals and organisations working to end the inappropriate use of the criminal law to regulate and punish people living with HIV. Available at: http://www.hivjustice.net/

International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). IPPF’s 'Criminalize Hate Not HIV' website is part of a global campaign to raise awareness about the impact of the criminal law on national responses to HIV. Available at: http://www.hivandthelaw.com/

NAM. HIV and the criminal law (2010). An international resource exploring the full range of issues relating to the criminalisation of HIV non-disclosure, exposure and transmission. Available at: http://www.aidsmap.com/law