ABSTRACT
I begin this chapter by making two important preliminary observations. The first concerns its location. The present chapter and the three that follow (on homicide, sexual offending and arson) all have a common element – violence against persons or property (as for example in arson). The second concerns its content. In previous editions I provided a somewhat circumscribed approach to violent behaviour. Recent developments in the fields of criminal justice and forensic mental health have persuaded me that this is now a somewhat limited perspective. So, readers will find that in addition to those set out in the fourth edition, I have added such matters as stalking, hate crime, domestic violence and cyber crime.
