This unit builds on Criminal Law A. It continues the study of general principles of the criminal law. The following crimes are studied in some depth: homicide, drug offences, serious driving offences and property offences. As with Criminal Law A, students will be encouraged to consider the criminal law in its historical, political and social context and to consider the adequacy of the criminal law as a means of solving social problems. As well as focusing on the substantive law, Criminal Law B and Criminal Procedure will introduce students to a range of pre-trial criminal procedural rules and processes. Decisions to prosecute offences, rules relating to commencing criminal proceedings, granting bail and exercising police powers to detain, interrogate and search are considered against their international human rights background. Students are encouraged to think critically about the significance and implications of these processes for the individuals involved, the trial process and the justice system as a whole. This unit also considers the need for and the limits of reform of the law.