Encouraging or assisting a crime in English law: Difference between revisions

There is no defence of later withdrawing from the act; however, there is one of "acting reasonably" under Section 50. This takes two forms: either that the acts themselves were reasonable; or that the defendant reasonably believed in circumstances which did not exist and acted reasonably under those circumstances. The existence of this defence has been attacked by peofessorsprofessors of criminal law Andrew Simester and Bob Sullivan on the grounds it may be acting as a "sop" to counteract excess brevity in other sections of the act.<ref>Simester et al. (2010). p. 298&ndash;99.</ref> Victims are extended the "Tyrell" defence &ndash; that one cannot aid, abet, counsel or procure an offence against oneself &ndash; although exactly when a victim is protected can be unclear.<ref>Simester et al. (2010). p. 299&ndash;300.</ref>