CRIMINAL LAW

LW601/LAWS6010

2024-2025

MODULE GUIDE

This module guide contains all the information you need for success
in this module. It is essential that you familiarise yourself with its
content at the start of the course. This guide should be used in
collaboration with the guidance on the Law Student Guide.

Module convenor: Lucinda Griffiths

[email protected]

Number of credits: 30

Anticipated Teaching content delivery: 2 x 1-hour lectures per week

1 x 2-hour seminar fortnightly

Expected student study hours for the module

including taught and private study: 300
Contents

CRIMINAL LAW 1
Introduction 3
Teaching Staff 4
Learning Outcomes 4
Reading 5
Teaching Arrangements 6
Teaching Schedule 7
Assessment Methods and Schedule 8

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Introduction

Welcome to Criminal Law!

This 30-credit (Level 6) law module is designed to introduce students to the legal concepts, principles
and rules of criminal law. At this level, students will consider each discrete topic to a much greater
depth, making use of, and improving, skills developed in earlier years of their degree programme.

Criminal law makes up so much of the work which appears before our courts and is the focus of
much of our news and media representations of law. It is often an area of law that students are
quite familiar with before they begin their study of law.

This course aims to achieve two primary objectives (broader objectives are listed below). Firstly, we
want you to know and understand the core principles of criminal law and so this course will cover
the fundamental elements of a crime and some of the more important topics such as homicide, non-
fatal offences against the person, sexual offences, property offences, and inchoate offences, as well
as the primary defences to criminal law. Drawing on a broad range of sources – legislation, case-law,
academic writings – you will understand the law to the level of being able to apply to a given
scenario.

But simply knowing the law and being able to apply is just one part of this course. The second
aspect is our effort to encourage you to analyse and critique that law. We will aid you to think
critically about the subject, contextualising it and recognising its place in and impact on society.
Indeed, we will push you to ask fundamental questions such as why are certain actions deemed
criminal? What makes one action wrong and another right in the eyes of the law? Why do we
permit certain defences and what are the consequences for society, or certain groups, of the way
the law has been defined? Often, as we shall explore, there have been quite gendered
repercussions to the way the criminal law has developed and, in this vein, we will also discuss
whether there are aspects of the criminal law still in need of reform.

The module is structured to provide students with the opportunity to explore the major issues in
criminal law through class discussions, through consideration of essay style topics and to engage in

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critical analysis of topics by considering criminal law problem questions. Students will be expected to
discuss particular issues of criminal law and their implications for a wider social context.

Criminal law is a fascinating area of law and forces us to question many of the fundamental
assumptions we have about right and wrong. It can be challenging and complicated, but we are
confident that you will find the course interesting and stimulating.

Enjoy the module!

Curriculum Synopsis

 Introduction to the concept of crime, the structure of criminal justice system and the general
principles of liability including the penal system
 Harm and the boundaries of criminal law
 Murder: the problem of causation and omissions and intent to kill
 Defences to murder: loss of control and diminished responsibility
 Manslaughter: unlawful act and gross negligence
 Non-fatal offences against the person
 General Defences
 Sexual offences
 Property offences: Theft Act 1968 & the Fraud Act 2006
 Inchoate offences: conspiracy, attempts, Serious Crime Act 2007

Teaching Staff

The members of teaching staff on the module are:

 Lucinda Griffiths
 Dr Mo Afshary

Contact hours will be communicated by each seminar leader to their groups. The meetings will be
conducted at the seminar leaders’ discretion as to how they will be conduct them i.e., holding the
meetings in person or online.

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Learning Outcomes

Intended subject specific learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a sound grounding in the concepts, principles and rules of criminal

offences
2. Demonstrate a thorough and critical understanding of the wider debate in respect of
the place of criminal law in the social context, the definitions of harm and the
boundaries of criminal law.
3. Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the major theoretical debates in the
criminal law field.
4. Critically assess criminal liability in a given factual situation and identify any defences by
applying relevant legal principles, case law and statute law to the facts, and critically
debate any issues raised.
5. Engage in an intricate, reasoned and informed discussion of the major areas of criminal
law-making appropriate reference to legal and academic source authorities.
6. Critically evaluate the operation of the criminal law in the social context

Intended generic learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module, you will:

1. Demonstrate enhanced skills in summarising cases and developing argument.

2. Demonstrate comprehensive research and presentation skills through class presentations and
through assessment.
3. Undertake detailed independent legal research and identify and retrieve up to date
information, using a range of paper and electronic sources.
4. Present a cogent legal argument both in class and through assessment.
5. Recognise potential alternative conclusions for particular situations and provide supporting
reasons for them.
6. Use relevant legal terminology with care and accuracy.
7. Present and evaluate information in a numerical or statistical form.

Personal Development

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By the end of this module, you will have developed:

1. A range of skills including legal research using various sources and presenting them in written
and oral form.

2. The ability to engage in teamwork but to also work independently.

Reading

The reading list can be accessed via the reading list site - https://rl.talis.com/3/kent/lists/870CAF71-
333D-960A-484F-A142952394B7.html?lang=en

Teaching Arrangements

This module runs for autumn and spring terms.

Lectures
Two in person lectures will be delivered each week which students are expected to attend. These
will be uploaded to Moodle shortly afterwards with links given on each relevant topic page.
HOWEVER, this is not intended as your primary means of obtaining lecture content and so please
attend all lectures where possible.

Seminars
The issues raised in the lectures will be discussed in seminars. Seminars will be timetabled and take
place in person. The preparation for these small group sessions is displayed on the relevant Moodle
topic page weekly and additional resources will be posted in advance on Moodle. You are expected
to attend all sessions fully prepared to participate.

Module Forum
The Moodle forum can also be used as a way for students to communicate with each other but will
be monitored by the convenor to ensure that information is correct – do NOT rely on Whatsapp
chats!

Teaching Schedule

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Please see below the teaching schedule for the Autumn term. Lectures will take place on Thursdays
5-6pm in WLT1 and Fridays 9-10am in WLT1. Please note that the Spring schedule will be released
before the Winter Vacation.

Kent Week Lectures & Workshops Seminar

Criminal Procedure & the Criminal

Justice System
8
Contemporary issues in Criminal
No Seminars in Week 8
Justice

Punishment
No Seminars in Week 9
9 Contemporary issues in
Punishment Theory

Morality & Harm

10 Contemporary issues in Trial Procedure in the

Criminalisation Criminal Justice System

Miscarriages of Justice Theories of Punishment

11 Actus Reus – Causation

12 Actus Reus – Omissions Morality, Miscarriages of

Justice & Contemporary
Mens Rea
issues in Criminalisation

RESEARCH & ASSESSMENT WEEK (13)

Assessment 1 Information on Oral Morality, Miscarriages of

Presentations Justice - Contemporary issues
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in Criminalisation
Homicide - Murder

Homicide (2) Partial Defences:

Loss of self-control

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 15 Homicide (3) Partial Defences: Actus Reus
Diminished Responsibility
Mens Rea
Homicide (4) Involuntary
Murder
Manslaughter: Unlawful Act
16
Homicide (5) Involuntary
Manslaughter: Gross Negligence

Revising Term 1

17 Essay Writing

Assessment 1 – Oral
Presentations
18 No Lectures

RESEARCH AND ASSESSMENT WEEK (19)

Spring Term
*Please note that this a provisional timetable only and may be subject to change

Kent Week Lectures & Workshops Seminar

Offences Against the Person

(OAPA)
24 Partial Defences
Offences Against the Person
(OAPA)
Involuntary Manslaughter –
UAM and GN
General Defences 1 – Self
Defence & Intoxication
25
General Defences 2 – Insane &
None Insane Automatism

Assessment 2 Prep – Advice Note

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26 Advice Note – Homicide and
Defences

Sexual Offences
OAPA & General Defences
27 Rape Myths & Stereotypes

Property Offences 1 – Theft AR

28 Property Offences 2 – Theft MR Unseen Essay Question &

Peer Review

Unseen advice note practise

Sexual Offences

RESEARCH & ASSESSMENT WEEK (29)

Property Offences 3 – Robbery &

Burglary
30 Unseen Essay Question &
Advice Note – Property Offences Peer Review

Unseen advice note practise

Sexual Offences

Fraud & Making off without

Payment
31

Advice Note – Property Offences

Property Offences – Theft,
Robbery and Burglary

32 Criminal Damage

Public Order

Inchoate Offences 1 – Conspiracy Fraud

& Attempts
33 Criminal Damage
Inchoate Offences 2 – Complicity
Public Order
Offences & Joint Enterprise
Fraud
Revision
Criminal Damage

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 34 Revision Public Order

RESEARCH AND ASSESSMENT WEEK (35) – Additional seminar on Inchoate Offences

Assessment Methods and Schedule

This module is assessed as follows:

There are two alternative assessment patterns for this module and students are able to select which
path to follow. The aim of this is to allow students to develop their existing skills and knowledge in
the way that best reflects their own learning experience.

Path A – 40% coursework and 60% dissertation

Oral presentation (Group) - 20% PASS COMPULSORY: This element must be passed alongside the
other elements to pass the module overall.

Advice Note (2500 words) - 20%

Dissertation (7000 words) - 60% PASS COMPULSORY

Path B – 40% coursework and 60% examination

Oral presentation (Group) - 20% PASS COMPULSORY: This element must be passed alongside the
other elements to pass the module overall.

Advice Note (2500 words) - 20%

Exam 3 hours (60%)

Assessment 1 – Oral Presentation (including written mini-essay)

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Assignment type and weighting: ORAL PRESENTATION (20%)

Time limit: 8 minutes EACH student plus 2-3 minutes group

questions

Written submission: 800 words

Submission Deadline: Seminars of Week 17 & 18

The first assessment is an oral presentation which will be conducted in PAIRS/GROUPS but will be
marked INDIVIDUALLY.

Important note: As part of the assessment students are required to present an evaluation of the use
of statistical data in criminal law. The statistics must be used to further your arguments. This is a
crucial element for marking your presentation and must be adhered to.

Following each student’s individual presentation, you will as a group be asked 1-2 questions by your
seminar leader which are intended to explore and develop your argument further. These may take
the form of asking you to consider a counterargument to a chosen position or asking you to develop
a particular point. Students will be given 1-2 minutes to discuss these as a group before a chosen
group member or members responds to the seminar leader’s question (s).

In addition, each student must submit a 800-word mini-essay outlining the counterargument to
their respective positions and which must include any academic sources that have been used to
further their arguments. is a word document and each group submission must comply with KLS’s
preferred referencing style (OSCOLA) as well as the required writing style (see undergraduate
assessment guide)

Please note that you must submit a copy to the Turnitin box by 2pm the day before your group’s
presentation is due to take place. This is to allow all students to receive feedback and comments.

These assessments will take place in Weeks 17 & 18 during your usual timetabled seminar.

Further details will be provided in the Week 11 lecture as well as by your seminar leader.

See Assessment page on Moodle for further information.

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You should familiarise yourself with the law coursework submission guidance available on the Law
Student Guide.

Undergraduate Assessment Guide

The Undergraduate Assessment Guide is a handy guide to the KLS UG Assessment process including
e.g. marking criteria, expected citation style, academic good practice and the word count policy.

Learning Outcomes

See above but further includes Present and evaluate information in a numerical or statistical form.

PLEASE NOTE: The Oral presentation is a COMPULSORY PASS - you must pass this
component to pass the module.

Assessment 2 – Advice Note

Assignment type and weighting: ADVICE NOTE (for both Pathways A & B) 20% of

final module mark

Students are to identify the legal issues and any defences by applying relevant legal principles, case

law and statute law to the facts in a scenario.

Word limit: 2,500 words

Submission Deadline: 2pm on 13th March (Week 32)

You should familiarise yourself with the law coursework submission guidance available on the Law
Student Guide.

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Submission Requirements

Your submission must be submitted electronically via Turnitin ensuring that you use the
‘Essay/Problem Question submission sheet’ available via the module Moodle page assessment
section.

Undergraduate Assessment Guide

The Undergraduate Assessment Guide is a handy guide to the KLS UG Assessment process including
e.g. marking criteria, expected citation style, academic good practice and the word count policy.

Learning Outcomes:

See above

Additional help with your work

Kent Law School offers a Skills Hub as an online space for Law students designed to support you with your
studies. The resources here are designed for law students and there is specific guidance on advice notes.
Appointments with Skills Hub advisors are also available Monday to Friday. For information please visit
the Skills Hub Moodle Page.

You are welcome to discuss your understanding of the module content with seminar leaders during their
contact hours. However, seminar leaders will not read/correct any draft work or plans.

The Student Learning Advisory Service also offers workshops, online study guides, and one-to-one
appointments to help with study skills: http://www.kent.ac.uk/uelt/about/slas.html

PATHWAY A ONLY – DISSERTATION – 60% of final mark

Word Limit: 7000 words in length.

General dissertation guidelines are available from Kent Law School Office
and on Moodle.

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For some students, the opportunity to conduct research on an aspect of criminal law is an exciting
one and this pathway provides an opportunity to enhance research skills. Students considering this
option must appreciate that the dissertation option requires a great deal of self-discipline and
motivation.

Supervision of the dissertation will consist of at least ONE compulsory meeting with their supervisor
before the end of the Autumn term to allow students (and supervisor) to reflect on whether the
dissertation pathway is the right option for them. Failure to attend this meeting (unless extenuating
circumstances exist) may result in students being asked to reconsider and possibly withdraw from
the dissertation pathway. Students will have several meetings with their dissertation leader
(organised primarily by the student) with the option of feedback on one chapter/section of the work
once completed. Students who opt for the dissertation are still required to attend all seminars.

The topic of the dissertation must relate to some aspect of criminal law that is covered by the
module (not criminal justice more broadly) and the dissertation will have to satisfy the module
outcomes sufficiently for approval to be given. The dissertation can certainly contain a comparative
element, but it must relate to a substantial degree to the criminal law of England and Wales.

Dissertation topics MUST be agreed in advance with the module convenor, Lucinda Griffiths, but
supervision for the dissertations will be allocated to and marked by one of the LAWS6010 team, in
accordance with the timetable below.

It is also important that the idea for the dissertation is clear and well-developed before the form is
signed. If you wish to pursue the dissertation option, the following is the schedule (not following
this may mean that the forms do not get completed on time and will be refused):

 Ideas should be discussed with Lucinda Griffiths during her contact hours in Weeks 9 and 10

 An initial written proposal must be submitted by email to Lucinda by 2pm Friday 18th

October (Week 11). Details of the required contents of this proposal are in the proposal

guidance document which can be found on the LAWS6010 Moodle Dissertation tab

 Comments will be provided during Week 12, which will often require amendments to the

proposal by your dissertation marker (not necessarily your seminar leader).

 Submission of form to Office by 2pm Friday 1st November (Week 13)

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  Only once you have received approval should you then submit the dissertation notification

form (this will only be made visible once all proposals have been approved)

 Late proposals will NOT be considered.

 If accepted onto the dissertation pathway, students will be required to meet their

supervisor at least ONCE before the end of Autumn term to discuss whether the

dissertation is the right option for them and to provide sufficient time to withdraw and

register for the exam pathway if so choosing

 Further guidance on the dissertation pathway will be made available via the Dissertation

section of the LAWS6010 Moodle page.

Students should not assume that they can change to Pathway B at a later point and so students
should only opt for the dissertation Pathway if they are sure they wish to do this. During the
schedule outlined above, Lucinda Griffiths will happily discuss with students whether the
dissertation is the correct option for them. It is also a requirement that students opting for the
dissertation pathway attend the seminars to receive a full understanding of the principles in criminal
law.

There are specific rules should a student wish to withdraw. These are available on Moodle or ask
KLS for assistance.

PLEASE NOTE: Dissertation is a COMPULSORY PASS - you must pass this component to
pass the module.

PATHWAY B ONLY - EXAMINATION – 60% of the final mark

Details for the 2024 exam will be confirmed in due course.

 The exam in worth 60% of the module

 The duration of the exam is 3 hours

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  The examination takes the form of two sections – A and B. You must answer one question in
section A and two questions in section B.
 Revision lectures and seminar will take place in weeks 34 and 35. Past papers are also
available through the Moodle page.

The two pathways will be shown below – students may choose ONE pathway. As explained above
and shown below, the primary difference between the two assessment patterns is that one contains
an examination taken in the summer term (60%) and the other is assessed through a dissertation
pathway (60%). Both pathways contain the advice note and oral presentation.

PATHWAY A

Assessment Type Question Release Submission % of final

no. Date Date mark

1 Oral Presentation TBC Weeks 17/18 20%

2 Advice Note TBC 2pm 13th March 20%

To be decided
3 Dissertation TBC 60%
by the student

Feedback and mark return deadlines will be available via KentVision.

PATHWAY B

Assessment Type Question Release Submission % of final

no. Date Date mark

1 Oral Presentation TBC Weeks 17/18 20%

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 2 Advice Note TBC 2pm 13th March 20%

3 Exam TBC TBC 60%

Feedback and mark return deadlines will be available via KentVision.

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