'The law on robbery has been confusing for the courts to apply, and such difficulties require Parliament to intervene and update the law on this subject.' Discuss.

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20/4/05

'The law on robbery has been confusing for the courts to apply, and such difficulties require Parliament to intervene and update the law on this subject.' Discuss.

The law on robbery is contained in the Theft Act 1968; an act in which the government attempted to clarify the law on theft and related offences. Robbery as an offence can be seen as an aggravated theft - it is necessary that the elements of theft be satisfied before the prosecution can attempt to achieve a successful conviction for robbery. While the law surrounding the offence of Theft has been subject to deliberation and criticism since the passing of the act, the law on robbery has proved equally difficult to apply. It is because of this that many legal commentators and reform groups have proclaimed the need for updated legislation on the subject.

S8(2) Theft Act 1968 provides that the maximum sentence for a conviction of Theft is life imprisonment, making it the most serious of the theft offences. The government however has taken an increasingly strict attitude towards the offence, and s2 Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 attempted to provide new guidelines concerning the sentencing for a conviction