perverting the course of justice

perverting the course of justice

a serious crime of interfering with public justice which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and an unlimited fine. It does not matter whether or not the acts actually result in the course of justice being perverted. The prosecution must show that a course of public justice has been commenced, such as an event from which it can reasonably be expected that an investigation will follow; or investigations which could bring proceedings have already started and are in progress; or proceedings of some kind have been started, or are about to be started.