The usual practice where there was clear evidence of a statutory offence was for it to form the basis of a case over a common law offence but it was not inappropriate to convict a registrar, who had issued false birth certificates to be used in benefit fraud, of misconduct in public office as well as statutory fraud offences as there had been serious consequences for the public.

CA (Crim Div) (Sharp LJ, Williams J, Lindblom J)

21/11/2013