The K-Zone: joint enterprise

It is clear that if a number of people participate directly in the commission of a crime, then all are liable as principals (see: Principalcriminal). In addition, it is well established that a number of people can be accomplices to each other. What is less clear is whether English law supports a separate notion of `joint enterprise'. Some authorities have maintained that offenders can be jointly liable by each contributing to the commission of the offence, such that all are `principals' even though only one person carries out the ActusReus of the offense. This view can be supported by the notion that the person who commits the act is the agent of the other offenders. An alternative view is that if the offenders have a common purpose, they will `aid and abet' each other, and thus be caught by the existing law of Accomplice.

CriminalLaw