ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the legal perspective on crime in libraries in an English context only, it is nevertheless true to assert that English law is a model for legal systems in other parts of the world, and many of the principles identified apply in other countries too. It aims to help the librarian to understand what the law is, how it might apply to particular circumstances, and what the implications will be if criminal proceedings are to follow. The chapter considers the sources of the criminal law, what constitutes a crime and how different crimes may be classified, and the essential elements which must be present for an act to be a crime. It examines how the society defines crime, what elements are necessary before a particular act can be called a crime, the parties involved in a criminal act and the often close relationship between criminal and civil responsibility.
