2.6 possible participants to a crime

• A person who commits an offence is often referred to as the principal offender. 
• principle offender


  This is a person who has committed the actus reus (guilty act) and has mens rea (a guilty mind)
• The law states that even if a person is ‘involved in a crime’ that person will be responsible for the crime to the same degree as the principal offender. 
• being involved in a crime

  • In cases where a person encourages another person to commit a crime, the encouragement must be communicated. ​
  • The person must try to dissuade or stop the other offenders from committing the crime to make clear that their support has been withdrawn. 
• being involved in a crime

  Participation in a crime usually requires the person to be at the scene of the crime but a person may still be involved if they were not present when some aspects of the crime were committed. 
• being involved in a crime

  A person involved in a crime can be found guilty even if other participants (including the principal offender) have not been prosecuted or convicted. 
• An accessory is a person who, without lawful excuse, assists a principal offender following the commission of a crime (i.e. after the crime has been committed). 
• accessory to a crime

  The accessory must believe or know that the offender has committed a serious indictable offence (punishable by 5 years or more imprisonment). 
• accessory to a crime

  • They must do something to try and stop the offender from being arrested, prosecuted convicted or punished for the crime. ​
• accessory to a crime

  • An accessory can be found guilty regardless of whether the principal offender is also found guilty.