Smith, Hogan, and Ormerod's Criminal Law

Smith, Hogan, & Ormerod's Criminal Law is rightly regarded as the leading doctrinal textbook on criminal law in England and Wales. The book owes its consistent popularity to its depth of analysis, breadth of coverage, and accessible style.

Over fifty years since the publication of the first edition, Professor David Ormerod and Karl Laird continue the tradition set down by Professors Sir John Smith and Brian Hogan by producing a textbook of unrivalled quality. The text continues to be an invaluable resource for undergraduate students and an essential reference source for criminal law practitioners.

Digital formats and resources

The sixteenth edition is available for students and institutions to purchase in a variety of formats, and is supported by online resources.

The e-book offers a mobile experience and convenient access along with functionality tools, navigation features and links that offer extra learning support: www.oxfordtextbooks.co.uk/ebooks

A selection of online resources accompany this text, including:
- A selection of additional online chapters
- A full bibliography arranged alphabetically and by chapter
- Annual updates

David Ormerod, Professor of Criminal Justice at University College London,Karl Laird, Stipendiary Lecturer and Tutor in Law at St Edmund Hall, Oxford and a Barrister at 6KBW College Hill

Professor David Ormerod QC (Hon) is Professor of Criminal Justice at University College London, Deputy High Court Judge, and a Door Tenant at Red Lion Chambers.




Karl Laird is a Stipendiary Lecturer and Tutor in Law at St Edmund Hall, Oxford. He has also taught at the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge, and at the LSE. He is a Barrister at 6KBW College Hill.

PART I. General Principles
1. An introduction to the criminal law
2. The elements of a crime: actus reus
3. The elements of a crime: mens rea
4. Crimes of negligence
5. Crimes of strict liability
6. Parties to crime
7. Assistance after the offence
8. Corporate and vicarious liability
9. Mental conditions, intoxication and mistake
10. General defences
11. Inchoate crime
PART II. Particular Crimes
12. Murder
13. Voluntary manslaughter
14. Involuntary manslaughter
15. Further homicide and related offences
16. Non-fatal offences against the person
17. Sexual offences
18. Theft
19. Robbery
20. Offences of temporary deprivation
21. Making off without payment
22. The Fraud Act 2006
23. Other offences involving fraud
24. Blackmail and related offences
25. Burglary and related offences
26. Handling and related offences
27. Offences of damage to property
28. Computer misuse offences (Online Chapter)
29. Forgery (Online Chapter)
30. Obscene communication and publication offences (Online Chapter)
31. Offences against public order (Online Chapter)
32. Selected road traffic offences (Online Chapter)
33. Money laundering (Online Chapter)
34. Offensive weapons (Online Chapter)