Strict Liability

Definition of strict liability crimes & examples -

Offences of strict liability require no mens rea; the forbidden act must simply be performed. There is a presumption that mens rea should be present, however the words of a statute can reverse this (Sweet v Parsley). An extreme example of a strict liability crime is Winzar, where the D was charged with being drunk on a highway because he was led by police, drunk, via a highway; he therefore had no mens rea. 

However, the actus reus is usually performed voluntarily as in Harrow LBC v Shah, where the Ds were found guilty as a member of staff unknowingly sold a lottery ticket to a person underage despite their…