This introductory text covers all the core aspects of Scots criminal law and is suitable as an introduction for students on LL.B. and non-LL.B. degrees who are new to this area.  It presents the main aspects and principles of criminal law in a clear and comprehensive fashion, including coverage of recent developments such as aspects of devolution and the impact of the European Convention on Human Rights (in particular as regards unreasonable delay in bringing the accused to trial).  There is also an introduction to aspects of computer crime. 

Treatment of the subject focuses on explanation and analysis of the main aspects of each topic, and emphasis is placed on modern cases in order to illustrate key principles.  Each chapter is structured so as to help the student to navigate their way through the text, with clear sub-headings, chapter summaries, flow diagrams giving the skeleton structure of each main topic, self-assessment questions and graded further reading.