This free online law course provides an overview of the UK’s criminal justice system used to prosecute suspects.

This course provides a comprehensive view of crime and criminal law in the United Kingdom. We compare civil and criminal law and outline different categories of criminal offences. Then we discuss significant elements of crimes and their definitions and characteristics. The course identifies different types of inchoate offences and accomplices. We lay out the theoretical foundations of various crime prevention strategies.

Police are the first line of defence against crime and play a crucial role in providing security in almost every country. This course explores every aspect of police work and outlines the factors that influence the decision to prosecute. Furthermore, we delve into trials, trial roles, evidence, juries and the appeals system. We also go over the procedures, aims and determining factors of sentencing.

The course compares fatal, non-fatal and sexual offences as we distinguish between crimes like murder and manslaughter. We then examine the characteristics of theft, blackmail, robbery, burglary and ‘white-collar’ crime before moving on to terrorism, property crimes, cybercrime, piracy and war crimes. The course then discusses prisons and probation services. This law course explains the UK’s criminal justice system so sign up to understand the laws and supporting legal systems designed to protect society from crime.