This new book is partly based on an earlier book, Criminal Justice, Police Powers and Human Rights (Blackstone's, 2001), which was published immediately after the Human Rights Act came into force. The subsequent developments in the criminal justice/human rights field have been so numerous, that a new dedicated text on the subject is required as opposed to just a new edition of the authors' previous book.

This new book provides a detailed and practical analysis of the impact of UK human rights law on the investigation and prosecution of crime. It deals systematically with the various stages of investigation, arrest and detention in police custody, court procedure, evidence, sentencing, and appeals. The narrative provides a comprehensive, in-depth examination of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), looking in detail at the relationship between human rights and police investigatory and surveillance powers.

The book is aimed directly at practitioners, and is logically divided into chapters dealing with a particular aspect of human rights in relation to the criminal process, including; the interception of communications and surveillance and intelligence issues; arrest and detention; bail; disclosure; mental health and capacity; sentencing; the rights of victims; extradition; and proceeds of crime.