LC2S207 - Criminal Law 01 Sep 2022 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 2

Associated Module Information

Module Code: LC2S207
Module Title: Criminal Law
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Law
Faculty Sub Group: Law
Module Leader: Hannah Coburn, Joanne Bates
Module Team: Wai Mo, Alexandra Dobson, Clare Lewis, Hannah Menard
First Intended Intake: SEP 2022 Final Year of Intake: 2027
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes:
HECOS Code Weighting:

Document Version Information

Version 2
Valid From 01 Sep 2022
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

The module will introduce students to the substantive area of criminal law.

The module will provide a basis for study for students to;

1. Develop knowledge, understanding and application of criminal law rules
2. Develop knowledge and understanding of criminal law doctrine in its social, political and human rights context.

Content Summary

The module will cover the following indicative content:

• An overview of the place of the criminal law within the criminal justice system.

· An analysis of criminal liability in terms of the external elements (actus reus) and the mental elements (mens rea) of a crime.

· The concept of fault in relation to the judicial interpretation of intention, recklessness and negligence.

· Secondary party liability – with particular emphasis on the sensitive issue of ‘joint enterprise doctrine’ - is then introduced

· Inchoate offences.

· The law relating to defences

· The law relating to homicide.

· The defences of loss of control and diminished responsibility (specific to murder and both provided for by the Coroners & Justice Act 2009)

· Non-fatal violent offences, both sex offences, in particular the offence of rape, and other non-fatal offences.

· Other substantive offences such as the law relating to criminal damage and theft.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 20
Seminar 20
Independent Study 88
Directed Study 72
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Evidence detailed knowledge and understanding of the ingredients of criminal liability, both generally and as they apply to factual situations
LO2 Evaluate, analyse and apply elements of substantive criminal law to offer reasoned conclusions

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Assessment (Exam) Onsite Open Book Examination 1 An unseen assessment where students have to answer questions from a range in key areas of the substantive rules of criminal law. Students may take an approved Criminal Law statute book into the examination. 120 N/A 50 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Essay 1 An individual coursework assessment on a key issue in criminal law and requiring analysis or application of the substantive rules of criminal law 0 2000 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Onsite Open Book Examination 1
Essay 1

Reading List

Ashworth, Principles of Criminal Law, OUP
Card, Card, Cross & Jones: Criminal Law, OUP
Clarkson and Keating, Criminal Law: Text & Materials, Sweet & Maxwell
Dine, Gobert and Wilson, Cases & Materials on Criminal Law, OUP
Lacey, Wells and Quick, Reconstructing Criminal Law, Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Loveless, Complete Criminal Law: Text, Cases and Materials, OUP
Monaghan,
Nicolson and Bibbings, Feminist Perspectives on Criminal Law 2000, Cavendish
Norrie, Crime, Reason and History, CUP
Padfield, Criminal Law (Core Text Series) OUP
Simester and Sullivan Criminal Law: Theory and Doctrine, Hart Publishing
Gobert and Punch, Rethinking Corporate Crime 2003, Butterworths
Ashworth and Mitchell [eds], Rethinking English Homicide Law 2000, OUP
Blom-Cooper and Morris, A Study of the Crime and Punishment for Homicide 2004, Hart Publishing
Morris and Blom-Cooper, Fine Lines and Distinctions: Murder, Manslaughter and the Unlawful Taking of Human Life 2011, Waterside Press
Horder, Provocation and Responsibility 1992, OUP