This work serves as the definitive procedural and substantive guide for legal practitioners navigating the complexities of the criminal justice system in England and Wales. The editors, David Ormerod and David Perry, utilize their extensive expertise to compile a comprehensive framework that integrates statutory law, case law, and procedural rules. The text functions as an authoritative reference for barristers, solicitors, and judges, providing a structured analysis of criminal liability and the mechanics of court proceedings.

Legal professionals and academics consistently identify this work as the primary reference tool for criminal litigation in its jurisdiction. Readers frequently note the extreme density of the prose and the necessity of the multi-volume format for managing the vast breadth of legal information contained within.