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 2027 for the latest criminal law developments
The new edition is as current and authoritative as ever
Updated for the Crime and Policing Act 2026, Sentencing Act 2026 and Victim and Courts Act 2026, with coverage of major Supreme Court and Court of Appeal decisions on terrorism, public nuisance, domestic abuse-related homicide offences, whole life orders, private prosecution costs, res gestae evidence, joint participation, modern slavery and consent.
See all new content updates
Written by a team of expert practitioners, headed by General Editor His Honour Judge Mark Lucraft KC
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)
Much more than a book
An Archbold subscription also includes a standalone Sentencing Guidelines Supplement for use in court and Archbold Review, a monthly newsletter covering cases and developments in criminal law and procedure.
Capturing the latest developments in the field
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.. Presented, 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.
One book, three options
Archbold in print
Experience the reassurance of having Archbold physically in your hands with its portable, accessible format.
Archbold as a ProView eBook
Accessible when offline from anywhere, with page numbers and prelims that match the printed book. With ProView you can create and share PDFs as well as add bookmarks, notes, and annotations.
Archbold print and ProView bundle
Work more flexibly with a Print and ProView bundle, so that Archbold can be kept in the office for desk research and accessed quickly via a laptop or mobile device when on the go.
Introducing the Archbold Criminal Courts Duo
The definitive references for Crown Court and Magistrates' Courts criminal practice, available together in one package.
- Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice 2027 with three updating supplements, a standalone Guidelines Supplement, and opt in to digital access to Archbold Review and e-update.
- Archbold Magistrates' Courts Criminal practice 2027
Bringing together complete coverage of both Magistrates Court and Crown Court criminal procedure, these two books are now available as a set so you can rest assured that you are covered for everything.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Archbold offers complete Crown Court coverage.
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.
Archbold Review publishes 10 issues per Archbold edition cycle and contains case summaries in brief, sentencing case summaries, features, and articles.
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.
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.
The duo includes both Archbold Criminal Pleading Evidence & Practice 2027, and Archbold Magistrates' Courts Criminal Practice 2027, at a special discounted pack price
Archbold is available at a discounted rate to barristers undergoing pupillage and barristers within 5 years call. You can find out more here.
Questions about how to order? We’re here to help.
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