Unit 26 Aspects of Criminal Law Impacting on Business and Individuals Assignment Brief 2026

Unit 26 Aspects of Criminal Law Impacting on Business and Individuals Assignment Brief

Unit in brief

Learners examine crimes relating to people and property and the impact that crime has both on business and individuals. Learners will also consider strategies to improve security.

Unit introduction

Local, national and international news articles constantly show how businesses and individuals can be affected by crime as victims, offenders or witnesses. Security of resources is crucial for the success of business, as ‘prevention is better than cure’.

In this unit, you will examine crimes relating to people and property. You will consider the extent and impact of these crimes on businesses and individuals, including criminal statistics, current criminal cases and consequences of crime. You will plan the security of people, property and information for a local business by looking at policies, procedures, training and specific security measures, including new technologies. You will examine the role and impact of a range of enforcement agencies whose aim is to protect business organisations. These agencies may include the police, health and safety officers, Trading Standards, environmental health officers, Border Force and the Serious Fraud Office. In this part of the unit you will consider work skills and potential career plans.

Criminal law applies to everyone and every business and keeping up to date with the law and changes in the law is important. In this unit you will develop problem-solving, decision-making, analytical and critical-thinking skills. Studying criminal law in the context of its relationship to business will allow you to make an informed choice on the suitability of law as a specialism for your employment, training or studies.

Learning aims

In this unit you will:

A Examine the elements of crimes against people in order to establish liability
B Examine the elements of crimes against property in order to establish liability
C Explore strategies for crime prevention and the roles of enforcement agencies in protecting businesses.

Summary of unit

Content

Learning aim A: Examine the elements of crimes against people in order to establish liability

A1 Underlying principles of criminal liability

• Categories of criminal offences.
• Summary:
  o either way
  o indictable offences.
• Actus Reus (wrongful act):
  o positive and voluntary actions
  o omissions
  o state of affairs.
• Legal and factual causation.
• Mens Rea (guilty mind):
  o intention
  o recklessness
• Strict liability and its impact on businesses.
• Evaluation of these principles.

A2 Corporate criminal liability

• Types of crime that a business can be guilty of committing.
• Basis of corporate liability.
• When and in what circumstances will a business be vicariously liable for the crimes of their employees.
• Testing employment status for vicarious liability.
• Liability for crimes of employees.
• Recent case law examples relating to vicarious liability for crimes of employees.
• Arguments for and against corporate criminal liability.

A3 Corporate manslaughter

• Reasons for the creation of corporate manslaughter under the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act 2007.
• Elements of corporate manslaughter – defendant is a qualifying organisation, causation, relevant duty of care and gross breach as a result of serious management failure, investigation, prosecution, exemptions, sanctions under Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007.
• Recent case law examples relating to charges of corporate manslaughter to assess how such situations could be prevented.
• Evaluation of these principles.

Learning aim B: Examine the elements of crimes against property in order to establish liability

B1 The elements of offences under the Theft Acts

• Theft Acts 1968 and 1996, relevant case law.
• The elements of theft:
  o dishonesty
  o appropriation
  o property
  o belonging to another
  o intention to permanently deprive the rightful owner.
• Examine a range of offences which may include making off without payment, burglary, robbery, handling stolen goods, taking a conveyance and establish what has to be proved to establish criminal liability.
• Evaluation of these offences, principles and cases.

B2 The elements of offences under the Fraud Act

• Deception offences under fraud act legislation:
  o false representation
  o failing to disclose information
  o abuse of position
  o obtaining goods or services dishonestly.
• Recent case law examples relating to charges of offences against property committed in the workplace to assess how such situations could be prevented.
• Evaluation of these offences, principles and cases.

B3 The elements of criminal damage offences

• Criminal damage and aggravated criminal damage, arson and aggravated arson, relevant statute and case law.
• The elements which have to be proved to establish liability for criminal damage offences.
• Evaluation of these offences, principles and cases.

Learning aim C: Explore strategies for crime prevention and the roles of enforcement agencies in protecting businesses

C1 Strategies to prevent crime for businesses

• Extent of crime and how to interpret criminal statistics.
• Typical crimes against businesses, including shoplifting, theft by employees and supplier fraud.
• Workplace security surveys and risk assessments: purpose and benefits.
• Workplace policies, procedures and training for crime prevention.
• Onion peeling process:
  o target hardening
  o target removal
  o remove means to commit crime
  o reduce the pay off
  o access control, visibility and surveillance
  o environmental design
  o rule setting
  o increase the chance of being caught
  o deflecting offenders.
• Security measures which are up to date, appropriate, realistic and cost effective, including new technologies.

C2 The role and powers of specific enforcement agencies

• The role and powers of specific agencies in relation to crimes either committed or suffered by a business:
  o the police
  o Border Force
  o National Trading Standards eCrime team (NTSeCT)
  o Environmental health
  o Health and Safety Executive
  o Serious Fraud Office.
  o National Crime Agency.
• Positive impact of the agencies in protecting businesses and negative impact should a business breach any laws enforced by the agencies.
• Recent case law examples relating to the enforcement agencies to assess how such situations could be prevented.

Assessment criteria

Essential information for assignments

The recommended structure of assessment is shown in the unit summary along with suitable forms of evidence. Section 6 gives information on setting assignments and there is further information on our website.

There is a maximum number of two summative assignments for this unit. The relationship of the learning aims and criteria is:

Learning aims: A and B (A.P1, A.P2, B.P3, B.P4, A.M1, A.M2, B.M3, A.D1, B.D2)

Learning aim: C (C.P5, C.P6, C.M4, C.D3)

Further information for teachers and assessors

Resource requirements

For this unit, learners will need access to law reports and statutes.

Essential information for assessment decisions

Learning aims A and B

It is essential that learners do not copy large sections of information from textbooks or websites. Centres need to prepare a variety of detailed case studies, or scenarios, which allow learners to use their own words and fully demonstrate their understanding and application of the law and its processes using problem-solving, decision-making, analytical and critical-thinking skills.

The scenarios will cover all five areas of crime, and the elements covered in learning aims A and B.

Advice could be given either in written format or in a presentation supported by slides, notes questions and individual observation record.

It is also essential that learners reference all sources correctly, and give advice where required, in a professional format.

For distinction standard, learners will support their evaluations of the impact of criminal law on both businesses and individuals with original statements and examples. Learners should demonstrate a comprehensive use of relevant precedent and statutes to justify their arguments and conclusion. The scenarios will be drafted so that they require learners to demonstrate problem-solving, decision-making and analytical skills. Learners’ explanations of each of the offence categories must be clear and detailed and written in their own words to demonstrate a clear understanding. The application of the law to the scenarios must include all relevant decided cases and statutes to support the advice given.

For merit standard, learners will demonstrate a considered and comprehensive understanding of all areas of law covered by the assignment and assessment criteria. They will demonstrate good analytical skills which fully cover all possible decisions and outcomes from the scenarios. The application of the law to the scenarios must include some relevant decided cases and statutes to provide comprehensive and appropriate advice.

For pass standard, learners will show clear understanding of corporate manslaughter, non-fatal offences, offences against property and criminal damage, as required by the assignment and assessment criteria. They will demonstrate some analytical skills to cover possible decisions and outcomes from the scenarios. The application of the law to the scenarios must include some decided cases and statutes to provide comprehensive and appropriate advice.

Learning aim C

For distinction standard, learners will support their evaluations of the effectiveness of the law in protecting businesses, and the people connected to businesses, with individual statements and examples. Learners should demonstrate a comprehensive use and application of relevant precedent and statutes to justify their arguments and conclusion.

Learners will include client advice which must explain in detail both the role and benefits of enforcement agencies in protecting businesses. There must be specific application of precedent and statutory interpretation. The supporting materials must be comprehensive and clearly show understanding and application of concepts.

For merit standard, learners will demonstrate individual analysis and discussion on an appropriate security plan for crime prevention for a specific local business. This will include the support available from relevant enforcement agencies. They will demonstrate good analytical skills, providing and applying examples for all aspects of the criterion.

For pass standard, learners will demonstrate clear understanding by explaining why the business in question will need a strategy for crime prevention, and what this should include, referring to their research. They must apply the research to the specific requirements, location and business type, giving specific examples of required actions.

Links to other units

This unit links to:

• Unit 23: The English Legal System
• Unit 24: Employment Law
• Unit 25: Aspects of Civil Liability Affecting Business.

Employer involvement

Centres may involve employers in the delivery of this unit if there are local opportunities.

This unit would benefit from employer involvement in the form of:

• guest speakers
• participation in audience assessment of presentations
• design/ideas to contribute to unit assignment/case study/project materials
• work experience
• business materials as exemplars
• support from local business staff as mentors.

Answer

Request Answer of this Assignment