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Criminal law is a set of rules which govern the conduct of its citizens, and which, if these rules are broken, can punish this conduct by using sanctions. Though private prosecution is possible1, it is highly unusual and, in almost every instance, the Crown prosecutes on behalf of its citizens. In Scotland the Lord Advocate brings cases before the High Court if the charges are serious, with the Procurator Fiscal in charge of prosecuting more minor offences2, heard before the Sheriff and District Courts. The criminal law consists of both written and unwritten rules - common-law offences like murder and rape, and statutory offences such as being drunk on public transport3 respectively. Both common law and statutory crimes require 'Actus Reus' ("Criminal Act") and 'Mens Rea' ("Criminal Mind"), unless the crime is one of strict liability4. Actus Reus is more than a mere though to commit a crime5, there has to be...

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