1 The nature of law 1
2 Sources of law, natural justice and judicial review 5
2.1 Common law and precedent 6
2.2 Equity 11
2.3 Natural justice and judicial review 14
2.4 Parliamentary law, interpretation and stare decisis 18
2.5 European(EEC)law 29
3 The Courts 37
3.1 The Magistrates'Court 37
3.2 The Crown Court 39
3.3 The County Court 43
3.4 The High Court 46
3.5 The Court of Appeal 47
3.6 The House of Lords 48
3.7 The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council 50
4 Tribunals and administrative justice 53
4.1 The scope of administrative justice 53
4.2 Inquiries 56
4.3 Ultra vires and discretion 57
5 Parliament 63
5.1 Law and the political system 63
5.2 The structure of Parliament 66
5.3 Parliamentary privilege 75
5.4 Ministerial answerability to Parliament 77
6 Agents of the law 82
6.1 Judges 82
6.2 The police 84
6.3 The Attorney-General and the Director of Public Prosecutions 88
6.4 The Lord Chancellor 92
6.5 Juries 93
6.6 Law Centres 98
6.7 Barristers and solicitors 99
6.8 Arbitrators 101
7 Constitutional law and individual rights 104
7.1 Freedom from arrest and the right to bail 104
7.2 Privacy and secrecy 112
7.3 Complaints against the police 119
7.4 Complaints about civil servants and other public officials 121
7.5 Freedom of association and assembly 124
7.6 Nationality and immigration 125
7.7 Race relations 131
7.8 Freedom from obscenity 133
7.9 The media and freedom of expression 135
7.10 Legal aid 140
7.11 Legal actions 143
7.12 Sexual equality 145
8 Crime and society 150
8.1 The nature of crime and delinquency 150
8.2 Sentencing and punishment 158
8.3 Penal institutions 175
9 Criminal law 179
9.1 The nature of criminal law 179
9.2 Inchoate offences (incitement, conspiracy and attempt) 208
9.3 Homicide 212
9.4 Non-fatal offences against the person 219
9.5 Sexual offences 224
9.6 Road traffic offences 230
9.7 Theft and other offences 235
9.8 Forgery 247
9.9 Criminal damage 250
9.10 Public morality 252
9.11 Public order 253
9.12 Offences affecting the national interest 258
9.13 Obstructing justice 262
10 Civil law: tort 269
10.1 The nature of tort 269
10.2 Defamation 280
10.3 Misrepresentation 288
10.4 Abuse of legal procedures 297
10.5 Trespass to the person 301
10.6 Negligence 304
10.7 Nuisance 322
10.8 Trespass to land 327
10.9 Interference with goods and bailment 331
10.10 Strict liability 338
10.11 Occupiers'liability 345
10.12 Vicarious liability and capacity 351
10.13 Economic and related torts 364
11 Civil law: the law of contract 379
11.1 The nature of contractual obligations 379
11.2 Formation of the contract 381
11.3 Consideration and intention to contract 384
11.4 Promissory estoppel 388
11.5 Form of the contract 390
11.6 Terms 392
11.7 Incapacity and illegality 401
11.8 Mistake and misrepresentation 412
11.9 Duress and undue influence 425
11.10 Privity, assignment and agency 428
11.11 Performance and discharge 436
11.12 Remedies and restitution 442
11.13 Consumer protection and credit 448
12 The philosophy of law 467
12.1 Law, justice and morality 467
12.2 Natural law and positivism 481
Appendix 1 492
Appendix 2 495
Appendix 3 497
Appendix 4 500
Appendix 5 502
Addendum 503
Index 506