Assisting and Encouraging Crime/ Participating in Crime

Current project status

• Initiation: Could include discussing scope and terms of reference with lead Government Department
• Pre-consultation: Could include approaching interest groups and specialists, producing scoping and issues papers, finalising terms of project
• Consultation: Likely to include consultation events and paper, making provisional proposals for comment
• Policy development: Will include analysis of consultation responses. Could include further issues papers and consultation on draft Bill
• Reported: Usually recommendations for law reform but can be advice to government, scoping report or other recommendations

Our recommendations relating to assisting and encouraging crime have been implemented. Our recommendations relating to participating in crime have been accepted by Government but will not be implemented

The aim of this project was to reform the law governing the criminal liability of those who encourage or assist others to commit offences.

Our first report, Inchoate Liability for Assisting and Encouraging Crime, was published on 11 July 2006. The recommendations were reflected in Part 2 of the Serious Crime Act 2007.

Our second, and final, report, dealing with secondary liability, Participating in Crime, was published on 10 May 2007, together with two draft Bills.