Complicity in Crime

Abstract

There may only be one person involved in committing an offence, and some offences, such as rape, are perhaps more often committed this way. But there is no legal rule which limits the number of people who may be charged with any offence, and very often there will be more than one person involved (in a robbery or burglary, for example). The involvement may be at the preparatory stage, in supplying equipment, or a car; or during the crime itself, by driving the car, or acting as a lookout; or afterwards, by helping to dispose of stolen property. In this chapter we are going to examine the different ways of participating in criminal offences, and what this means in terms of criminal liability.