Strict Liability Offences Flashcards
What are most SLO?
Summary offences
SLO need to be distinguished from what?
Absolute liability offences and state of affairs
What are absolute liability offences?
Those in which offences are committed but they are involuntary
What is a case example of an absolute liability offence?
R V Larsonneur 1933 and Winzar V chief constantly of Ment 1983
What is R V Larsoneur about?
D went back to Ireland when her permission to be in the uk expired so the police brought her back
What is Winzar V Chief Constable of Kent about?
D was convicted of being drunk on the highway, he was taken to hospital because they thought he was ill but just drunk, he refused to leave and so they took him to the police car and was found guilty of being drunk on the highway because the car was on the road
You will be guilty of a SLO if the courts decide what?
That the offence does not require the prosecution to prove MR for at least part of the AR then the offence is one of strict liability
What is the case R V Prince about?
D was charged under s55 OAPA 1861 because he unlawfully took an unmarried girl under the age of 16 without parental consent. It did not matter that she thought he was 18
Despite not being to blame, D can still he convicted for bringing about prohibited consequences. Which case demonstrates this?
Callow V Tillstone 1900
What is callow V Tillstone about ?
D, a butcher asked a vet to examine a carcass to check it was fit for human consumption . The vet said it was fine and so he sold it. The vet had been negligent and it turns out it wasn’t fit for human consumption. D was convicted for exposing unsound most for sale even though he had exercised due care and had taken reasonable steps to not commit the offence .
Under which act is D criminally liable for drink driving even if he was unaware that his drink was spiked?
S.4 Road Traffic Act 1988
Some SLOS are common law offences such as outraging public decency. Which case demonstrates this?
Gibson V Sylveire 1991
What was Gibson and Sylveire 1991 about?
Gibson created an art exhibition of a model head with earrings which were made out of real freeze dried human foetuses
Which case is about protection against the selling of unfit food?
Smedleys V Breed 1974
What was Smedleys V Breed 1974 about?
Convicted for selling peas some of which had caterpillars in. Case went to HL which ruled that all producers should take reasonable care
Which case is about protection against pollution?
Alphacell V Woodward 1972
What was Alphacell V Woodward 1972about?
A firm was unaware that it’s pumps had been obstructed. Pollution entered a river and they were convicted
Which case is about protection against unlawful weapons?
R V Howells 1977
What is R v Howells 1977 about?
D was convicted for failing to obtain a firearms certificate despite the fact that he believed his gun was just an antique
How is it decided if Mr is needed or not?
It is left up to the courts to decide by statutory interpretation