Smith, Hogan & Ormerod’s Criminal Law

This is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to review Smith, Hogan & Ormerod’s Criminal Law but I very much enjoyed reading this fifteenth edition: it gives the reader a thorough understanding of criminal law, from principles and definitions through to a comprehensive list of cases.

Such well structured material is always popular with students and I was very pleased to see that Smith, Hogan & Ormerod’s Criminal Law does exactly what students need. Whilst covering over 1000 pages with plenty of examples, it is a clear and accessible text: ideal for law students and practitioners alike. It also comes with a thorough array of online resources from the online resource centre, including a number of additional chapters, web links to further reading resources, a key to all abbreviations used in the text and even an online bibliography.

A clear table at the start clearly sets out the additions included in the 15th edition compared to the 14th edition including:

– eleven new cases;

– changes to reflect the changes to the test for dishonesty made by the Supreme Court; and

– details of the Supreme Court’s seminal judgment in Jogee.

Smith, Hogan & Ormerod’s Criminal Law is split into two distinct parts: (i) general principles and (ii) particular crimes. Each part has a number of chapters. For example, part (i) includes chapters on: elements of crime; crimes of negligence; crimes of strict liability; parties to crime; and assistance after the offence. Part (ii) includes chapters on: murder; manslaughter; sexual offences; theft; and fraud (to name but a few).

This layout is very clear with each chapter being broken down into accessible sections, which allows the reader to easily access particular topics of interest. Unlike some books, there is, however, nothing by way of self-test questions.

Taking everything into account, I recommend Smith, Hogan & Ormerod’s Criminal Law to anyone needing a clear and comprehensive account of this area of the law. The text is (on the whole) clear, accessible and engaging and is well deserving of the praise it receives. Another great publication by Oxford University Press.

Reviewed on 15 June 2020.