This book provides an introduction to state crime, with a particular focus on the UK, where the use of crime to achieve policy and political objectives is an underdeveloped aspect of academic study. The book overviews the various definitional issues, before exploring possible examples of state crime in the UK, and considering why state crime occurs and how it is investigated and adjudicated. Questions addressed include:

• what are state crimes?
• how far does state crime require evidence of official policy, approved by those who are the leaders of the state, or state institutions?
• who exactly decides that this should be official policy?
• how and who adjudges on such conduct?