Theft Act 1968 Covering The Basics – a2 Law AQA
by A brief outline of theft as defined by the Theft Act 1968, to get anyone started whom may need to know it, namely those studying A2 Law for Aqa among the like.
A person is guilty of theft if they dishonestly appropriate property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving that other of it – basic definition of theft.
From this we can find each main section from the act logically. Section one being the definition, section two ‘dishonestly’, section three being ‘appropriate’, four ‘property’, five ‘belonging to another’ and finally six permanently depriving’.
Alternatively we can spilt these key sections into either the ‘actus rea’ (the doing) or ‘mens rea’ (state of mind) parts of theft. Section three, four and five being the actus rea and section two and six (it is easier to remember these as the first and last ‘real’ sections) being the mens rea.
Theft is a triable either way offence and carries a maximum sentence of 7 years. For the Aqa syllabus and generally all the above learning the definition puts you in good step for learning the details!
Liked it
