Criminal Damage Overview
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Questions and Answers

What type of property can be classified as belonging to another individual?

  • Property given as a gift but not yet received
  • Property that has been exchanged in a transaction
  • Property left unattended by the owner
  • Property in the custody or control of another (correct)

    • What constitutes criminal damage in the context of property?

  • Harmless alterations made to someone's property
  • Having an intention to harm the property of oneself
  • Destroying property so that it can no longer be used or repaired (correct)
  • Any action that results in a loss of value of the property

    • In the act of criminal damage, what does 'intending' specifically indicate?

  • To recklessly handle property without care
  • To steal property with the intent to resell
  • To unintentionally harm property
  • To deliberately destroy or damage someone else's property (correct)

    • Which of the following actions would qualify as reckless behavior?

    <p>Being aware of a risk and still proceeding with an action</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does joint ownership impact the classification of property damage?

    <p>Any joint owner can be convicted for damaging partnership property</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an essential component of intent in property damage cases?

    <p>The intent must be directed specifically at the damaged property</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If a person mistakenly damages a neighboring property while intending to damage their own, what is this considered?

    <p>Intentional damage to another's property</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor does NOT contribute to defining criminal damage?

    <p>The emotional state of the person causing the damage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the maximum penalty for an offence of threats to damage property when tried on indictment?

    <p>14 years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements is true regarding the threat to damage one's own property?

    <p>It can constitute an offence of threats to damage property.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Under what circumstance can a person be arrested without a warrant according to Article 26 PACE (NI) Order 1989?

    <p>If it is necessary for the investigation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the key element that must be present for a threat to damage property to be considered an offence?

    <p>The intent to cause fear in the victim.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can a threat to damage property be communicated according to the content?

    <p>It can be communicated in any form.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the largest offence committed under the category of volume crime?

    <p>Criminal damage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which document contains the laws regarding criminal damage in Northern Ireland?

    <p>Criminal Damage (NI) Order 1977</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes a situation in which a person has a lawful excuse for damaging property?

    <p>The person believes the owner would consent to the damage if aware of the circumstances.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is required for an act to be deemed an offence of criminal damage?

    <p>The act must be done intentionally.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What must a person believe to have a lawful excuse when protecting property?

    <p>The means of protection are necessary and reasonable based on the situation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT an element of criminal damage according to the law?

    <p>Being aware of the value of the property</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What statistic indicates the prevalence of criminal damage incidents in Northern Ireland?

    <p>Average of 21,000 incidents per year</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes recklessness in the context of criminal damage?

    <p>Ignoring the possibility that damage might occur.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is required for the lawful excuse of Permission in the context of Criminal Damage?

    <p>The person must have consent from someone believed to be entitled to give that consent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In protecting property, which of the following factors is important for the lawful excuse?

    <p>The reasonableness of the means of protection adopted.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about belief in criminal damage is true?

    <p>A belief can be considered valid regardless of whether it was justified.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Under what condition does a person not commit an offence related to property damage?

    <p>If they mistakenly believe the property belongs to them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following actions would classify as 'destroying' property?

    <p>Pulling down structures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'damages' mean in the context of property?

    <p>The property must be made imperfect or unworkable.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best defines property in the context of Criminal Damage?

    <p>Something tangible that can be physically touched.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes the damage that is covered under the Criminal Damage definition?

    <p>Damage can be temporary but must make the property less valuable.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What action did the defendant take to avoid being struck by the car?

    <p>He jumped onto the bonnet of the car.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key element that must be proven for a conviction of arson?

    <p>Intent or an element of recklessness in relation to the use of fire.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the maximum penalty for arson if tried summarily?

    <p>Six months imprisonment and/or a fine.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What constitutes criminal damage in relation to the defendant's actions?

    <p>Foreseeable damage resulting from reckless behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What must be proven regarding the article in the context of possession of articles for criminal damage?

    <p>It is intended for use without lawful excuse.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'lawful excuse' refer to in the context of causing criminal damage?

    <p>Only applicable when no lives are endangered.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the sum of damages caused to the car by the defendant's actions?

    <p>£517.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which method is commonly used to prove whether a person acted intentionally or recklessly?

    <p>Questioning the suspect.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Criminal Damage

    • Criminal damage is the largest offence committed under the umbrella of “volume crime”, which also includes burglary and theft.
    • Criminal damage is defined in the Criminal Damage (NI) Order 1977.
    • A person who destroys or damages another’s property without lawful excuse, and intends to do so, or is reckless as to whether the property would be destroyed or damaged is guilty of an offence.
    • The two key elements of the lawful excuse are Permission and Protection.
    • Permission – An example would be a police officer being asked to help a motorist into their car who has locked their keys inside and, whilst doing this, damages the rubber surround at the window.
    • Protection – This is basically causing damage to property in order to protect other property.
      • The property must be in immediate need of protection.
      • The means of protection must be reasonable.
    • It is immaterial whether a belief was justified as long as it was honestly held.
    • If a person honestly believes, but mistakenly, that the property is their own, there is no offence.
    • To ‘damage’ can mean that the property has been harmed, rendered less useful, made less valuable, made unworkable, or just defaced.
    • The damage does not need to be permanent but must render the property imperfect, inoperative or less valuable.

    Property

    • The damage must be to something ‘real’; that is, something that you can touch. It must be ‘property of a tangible nature’.
    • This includes land and personal items, including money.
    • Wild animals kept in captivity are included, but not wild flowers.
    • Destroying an item, making it unusable, constitutes criminal damage.
    • The cost of ‘damage’ would be the cost of replacing the item.
    • A person can criminally damage their own property, but only if it also belongs to someone else (e.g. jointly owned property.)

    Arson

    • Arson is destroying or damaging property by fire.
    • The majority of the damage must have been caused by fire to constitute arson (excluding smoke damage).
    • For the offence to be proven, there must be intent or reckless use of fire.
    • If tried summarily, the maximum penalty is six months imprisonment and/or a fine.
    • If tried on indictment, the penalty can be life imprisonment.

    Possession of Articles

    • A person who intends without lawful excuse to use an article, or cause or permit another to use it, to destroy or damage any property belonging to someone else or to destroy or damage their own property, in a way which they know is likely to endanger the life of another person, is guilty of an offence.
    • The key element is the intention to use an article to cause criminal damage or to endanger life.
    • The lawful excuses detailed earlier apply, but only if the offence did not involve endangering the life of another person.

    Threats to Destroy or Damage Property

    • A person commits an offence if they make a threat, intending to cause another person to fear it will be carried out, to:
      • Destroy or damage property belonging to that person or a third person.
      • Destroy or damage their own property in a way which they know is likely to endanger the life of that person or a third person.
    • The threat can be made in any way, including a letter, telephone call, verbal message, or any other means of communication.
    • It is not necessary for the victim to believe the threat will actually be carried out.
    • It is sufficient that the person making the threat intended for the victim to fear it would be carried out.

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    Related Documents

    Investigative Skills Criminal Damage PDF

    Description

    Explore the legal definition and implications of criminal damage as defined in the Criminal Damage (NI) Order 1977. This quiz covers the elements of lawful excuse, including permission and protection, and examines examples and key concepts related to this volume crime. Test your understanding of what constitutes criminal damage and its consequences.

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