SLOs

• What are strict liability offences (SLOs)?

  Offences requiring no fault
• What are some examples of strict liability offences?

  Blake, Prince, Shah
• What is the principle from "Sweet v Parsley" for SLOs?


  Where a statute doesn't include any words indicating mens rea, judges will start by assuming that all criminal offences require mens rea
• What are the "Gammon tests"?

  1 ) Start with the presumption mens rea is required

  2 ) The presumption can only be displaced if this is clearly or by necessary implication the effect of the words of the statute

  3 ) The presumption is particularly strong where the offence is 'truly criminal'

  3 ) Strict liability should only apply if it will help enforce the law