'Critically Evaluate the Meaning of the term Recklessness to Describe an Aspect of Mens Rea and explain how it is currently applied to offences in English Law'.

... 'Critically Evaluate the Meaning of the term Recklessness to Describe an Aspect of Mens Rea and explain how it is currently applied to offences in English Law' Recklessness is the taking of an unjustifiable risk. There are two levels of recklessness, first, 'subjective' recklessness. This is where the defendant realises that a risk may arise if a certain action is taken, and in spite of this he takes that action and ignores the consequences involved. Second, 'objective' recklessness arises when it is obvious to all that a reasonable prudent person would have realised that there was a risk, so the fact that the defendant may not have even considered whether there were any risks is irrelevant (as a normal person would have in that situation). The idea of subjective recklessness ties in more readily with the policy of punishing someone for something she is morally responsible for, as it takes into consideration

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