Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Criminal attempts definition

What does Criminal attempts mean? Criminal attempts describes the offence of trying to commit a crime where, although the full offence is not completed, the suspect has gone beyond mere preparation. In practice, prosecutors charge attempt where there is intent to commit the target offence and conduct that is more than merely preparatory. Liability can arise even where the offence was impossible on the facts as the defendant believed them to be. In England & Wales, the offence is defined by the Criminal Attempts Act 1981 and applies to indictable offences, subject to specific exclusions. An attempt cannot be charged in relation to conspiracy,...

Attempt offences under the Criminal Attempts Act 1981: more than merely preparatory, intent, recklessness, impossibility, restrictions, jurisdiction and sentencing (England and Wales)

Published by a LexisNexis Corporate Crime expert

Practice notes

An individual is guilty of attempting an offence where, with the intention of committing that offence, they perform conduct that goes further than mere preparation for its commission. Attempt is an offence of specific intent; it necessitates a purposeful intention to commit the offence. The offence comprises both the criminal act and the requisite mental element. In every case, it is a matter of fact whether the defendant has advanced sufficiently towards the completed offence to amount to the act of attempt. Once the preparatory threshold has been crossed, the offence of attempt is made out, and it is no defence that the person then chose to withdraw rather than complete the offence. In most situations, attempts to commit criminal offences are governed by section 1 of the Criminal s Act 1981 (CAA 1981), though certain statutory exceptions continue to apply...

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Angharad Hughes

Howard Kennedy LLP

Angharad Hughes is a barrister at Howard Kennedy LLP. She came to the firm with experience of a flourishing criminal defence practice from a leading criminal set. Angharad’s instructions cover a wide range of matters including violent crime, dishonesty, confiscation, weapons, drugs, road traffic and public order offences. She also has experience in bringing private prosecutions on behalf of corporate entities.She now specialises in financial and complex crime, civil recovery and fraud. She is known for her ability to quickly and competently grasp central issues.She is also the founder of Griffin-LAW, a pro-bono project advancing social mobility at the Bar....

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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