Introduction to Criminal Law QLS Level 3

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Course Content

Unit 1 General Principles of Criminal Liability

• Criminal law
• Sources of criminal law
• Precedent
• Ratio decidendi and obiter dicta
• Statutory interpretation
• Elements of criminal liability
• Mens rea and actus reus
• Specific and basic intent crimes

Unit 2 The Courts and Access to Legal Advice

• The criminal court system
• The magistrates court and the crown court
• Appeals
• The legal profession: judges, magistrates and juries
• The crown prosecution service
• Sentencing
• Types of sentence
• Legal aid for criminal cases

Unit 3 Police Powers

• The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
• Stop and search
• Search of premises
• Arrest
• Time limits relating to detention
• Custody officer
• Rights of the detained person
• Fingerprints and body samples
• Out of court disposal
• Complaints against the police

Unit 4 Property Offences

• Theft
• Robbery
• Burglary
• Blackmail
• Fraud
• Damage to property
• Simple criminal damage
• Aggravated criminal damage

Unit 5 Non-Fatal Violence Offences Against the Person

• Assault
• Battery
• Offences against the Person Act 1861
• Wounding
• Psychiatric injury
• Actual and grievous bodily harm
• Law in action
• General defences
• Law reform

Unit 6 Unlawful Homicide

• Murder
• Causation
• Mens rea of murder
• The actus reus of murder
• Joint enterprise
• Partial defences to murder
• Manslaughter (voluntary and involuntary)
• Gross negligence manslaughter