COMMENT A crime is an illegal act which may result in prosecution and punishment by the state if the accused is convicted. Generally, in order to be convicted of a crime, the accused must be shown to have committed an unlawful act (actus reus) with a criminal state of mind (mens rea). The main types of crime are: 1. crimes against the person: murder; manslaughter; assault, battery, wounding; grievous bodily harm; abduction; 2. crimes against property: theft; robbery; burglary; obtaining property or services or pecuniary advantage by deception; blackmail; handling stolen goods; going equipped to steal; criminal damage; possessing something with intent to damage or destroy property; forgery; 3. sexual offences: rape; buggery; bigamy; indecency; 4. political offences: treason; terrorism; sedition; breach of the Official Secrets Act; 5. offences against justice: assisting an offender; conspiracy; perjury; contempt of court; perverting the course of justice; 6. public order offences: obstruction of the police; unlawful assembly; obscenity; possessing weapons; misuse of drugs; breach of the peace; 7. road traffic offences: careless or reckless driving; drunken driving; driving without a licence or insurance.