Publisher's Synopsis
Covering the major summary offences, "Blackstone's Criminal Practice" has been designed as a complete reference work for the practitioner of criminal law. It presents the general principles of criminal law and covers all important offences including the major summary offences. Each offence is described, as appropriate, in relation to its definition, appropriate procedural rules, form of indictment, alternative verdicts, range of sentence and any sentencing guidelines.;The book also deals, respectively, with criminal procedure, sentencing and evidence, and concentrates on the realities of practice, both at trial and appellate level, and in relation both to summary trial and trial on indictment. The procedural material covers the whole spectrum, starting with police investigative powers and ending with the final appeal.;The first part contains a treatise on the general principles of criminal law, which is intended to equip the reader for argument before the appellate tribunals, and serves as a leading source of academic criticism and opinion. In the second section all important criminal offences are dealt with and analyzed. Due regard is paid to summary offences. The substantive offences are classified into sections by subject matter. Each indictable offence is then described, as appropriate, in relation to its definition, applicable procedural rules, range of sentence and any sentencing guidelines, form of indictment, alternative verdicts, elements and defences. The most significant summary offences in each section are dealt with alongside the indictable offences. The final section deals respectively with criminal procedure, sentencing and evidence, providing a detailed treatment of the realities of practice, both at the trial level and at the appellate level and in relation both to summary trial and trial on indictment.;The appendices include the Crown Court rules, the code of conduct for the bar, the PACE codes of practice, the Attorney General's guidelines and road traffic penalty points.
