Criminal law book

Archbold: Your guide to the criminal law landscape

The essential criminal law text since 1822, this is the leading guide to practising criminal law in the Crown Court — tried, tested, and trusted

Stay informed, stay effective: Archbold 2025 for the latest criminal law developments

The new edition is as current and authoritative as ever

The 2025 edition features amendments and regulations made by new legislation, such as the Economic Crime and Corporate Treasury Act 2023, National Security Act 2023, Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Act 2024, Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, and the Online Safety Act 2023. Significant case law decisions include Casserly, Pierini, Rowan, Royle and ZA, and Attorney-General's Reference (No. 1 of 2023).

See all new content updates

Written by a team of expert practitioners, headed by General Editor His Honour Judge Mark Lucraft

The strength of any legal reference work lies in the abilities and insight of its authors; the unrivalled and expanded team that brings you Archbold comprises experienced solicitors, barristers, silks, and judges. Together, they ensure that you receive practical, citable explanations of the law and Crown Court procedure — all designed to help you win your case.

See the entire author team (PDF)

Weekly updates capturing the latest developments in the field

The Archbold e-update is a weekly email containing the latest updates to your content. The changes are presented in the Archbold style, using the same chapter and paragraph numbers so you can see at a glance exactly which parts have been affected by changes to the law as they happen. 

On-the-go offline access with the Archbold e-book on ProView 

We've designed Archbold on ProView to mirror the look and feel of the printed publication, with added search options to aid navigation and quick links to jump throughout the text. Page numbers and prelims match the printed book, and you can create and share PDFs as well as add bookmarks, notes, and annotations. You can now access Archbold from anywhere via your device, even when you are offline. 

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One book, three formats

Archbold in print

Experience the reassurance of having Archbold physically in your hands with its portable, accessible format.
Order here

Archbold as a ProView eBook

Engage with Archbold's expert content through our user-friendly, browser-based e-reader, accessible when offline from anywhere.
Learn more about Proview

Archbold on Westlaw UK

Access Archbold on this renowned platform for a combination of first-class criminal procedure guidance and a seamless, coherent, and integrated research experience.
Learn more about Westlaw UK

The value of Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice

Included features

Every edition of Archbold contains all the detailed case law and legislation in just a single volume. To keep you updated, we offer three cumulative updating supplements and a weekly e-update so you can confidently know you have the latest authorities.

The Archbold service also includes a standalone Sentencing Guidelines Supplement for court and 10 issues of Archbold Review.

Expert editorship

Each new edition of Archbold benefits from the collective knowledge and wisdom of 40 expert practitioner editors. These seasoned professionals ensure the content is both accurate and authoritative.

An ever-evolving companion

First published in 1822 and a trusted companion in the criminal courts for more than 200 years, Archbold is an essential part of practicing criminal law in the Crown Court.

Breadth and depth of coverage

Alongside the Criminal Procedure Rules and legislation, Archbold contains references to over 7,000 cases, all meticulously tabled to ensure you can navigate to what you need in a hurry.

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Frequently asked questions

What topics does the Archbold Main Work cover?

Archbold offers complete Crown Court coverage. 

View the full table of contents for the 2025 edition (PDF).
What is included in the sentencing supplement?

The sentencing supplement includes the current Sentencing Guidelines published by the Sentencing Council, reproduced in print or on ProView, brief summaries of superseded guidelines, and case law commentary on the sentencing guidelines.
What is Archbold Review?

Archbold Review publishes 10 issues per Archbold edition cycle and contains case summaries in brief, sentencing case summaries, features, and articles.
How do I sign up for the weekly update, and what’s in it?

You can sign up for the weekly update by emailing Archbold@thomsonreuters.com. The update is delivered directly to your inbox and contains case and legislation updates to the content in Archbold, cross-referred to the Main Work.
How do I renew or change my standing order to Archbold after purchase?

With your initial purchase of an edition of Archbold, you are signing up for a continuous subscription. We will send an advance price notification (APN) before the publication of the following edition. The APN will list the next edition's relevant product and pricing details. If you wish to continue with your subscription for the new edition, no action is needed; however, if you want to change your subscription, the APN will let you know how to contact us.

You can also contact our customer support team at any time at 0345-600-9355 for help with your purchase.