Criminal law

Law dealing with criminal offences, such as theft and violence, which can lead to criminal punishment.

Law concerned with offences treated as wrongs against the state, which can lead to punishment following conviction.

Civil law and criminal law deal with different kinds of legal problem. Civil law resolves disputes between individuals, businesses or other organisations and protects their rights. Criminal law deals with offences treated as wrongs against the state, even when an individual person is the victim.

When explaining criminal law, link an example such as violence or theft to protecting the public from harm.

Do not describe civil law as dealing with ‘less serious crimes’. Civil and criminal law have different purposes, and both can involve serious matters.

Criminal law makes acts such as violence, theft and fraud offences. This establishes that these actions are unacceptable and allows the justice system to respond when they occur.

Law dealing with criminal offences, which aims to protect the public from harm and hold offenders accountable.

Definition

How each exam board covers it

AQA GCSE Citizenship Studies · 8100

Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies · 1CS0

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