Criminal Law

Criminal Law covers the key underpinning principles and most important offences and defences. Chapter 1 introduces criminal law, explaining its scope and its significance for society and politics. Chapter 2 explains key principles of criminal law and illustrates them with an example offence: criminal damage. In Chapter 3 the conduct element of offences (the actus reus) is described. Chapter 4 describes the mental element of offences (the mens rea). In Chapter 5 voluntary homicide is described, including murder and voluntary manslaughter (where a partial defence of loss of control or diminished responsibility is available). Chapter 6 covers involuntary manslaughter, including constructive act manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter. Chapter 7 explains the different types of assault and related offences against the person, as well as the defence of consent. In Chapter 8 the key sexual offences of rape and sexual assault are explained, together with the significance of the potential defence of consent. Chapter 9 focusses on theft and other related property offences, including robbery and burglary. In Chapter 10 the offence of fraud and other related offences covered by the Fraud Act 2006 are explained. Chapter 11 explains the key drugs offences of possession and supply. In Chapter 12 a number of defences, where there is an absence of fault, are described including automatism, insanity and intoxication. Chapter 13 examines defences relation to justification, including self-defence, duress and necessity. Chapter 14 discusses offences relating to participation in a crime, including the concepts of the principal and the accessory. In Chapter 15 inchoate offences are described. These cover partial or incomplete offences. Finally, Chapter 16 introduces environmental crime.