Prof Rudi Fortson

Research Overview

GENERAL CRIMINAL LAW

Particularly in relation to the general principles of criminal law, joint-enterprise, evidence, drug law, pharmaceutical law, weapons, intoxication, security, and artificial intelligence.

DRUGS AND THE LAW

A specialism since the start of Rudi’s career. Rudi has collaborated with The Loop (Professor Fiona Measham, University of Liverpool); ‘DrugScience’; ‘Release’’; and other organisations.

ASSET-RECOVERY AND MONEY LAUNDERING

Initially a subset of Drugs and the Law, but which has extended to all criminal activity (especially since the enactment of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002)

WEAPONS

Notably firearms, other offensive and defensive weapons, offences relating to pyrotechnics and explosive substances.


SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

1. ‘Misuse of Drugs and Drug Trafficking Offences’ (Sweet & Maxwell, 6th ed., 2012; book).

2. ‘The Serious Crime Act 2007’ (OUP, 2008; book).

3. ‘The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005’ (Sweet & Maxwell)

4. ‘Criminal Justice Act 2003’ (Sweet & Maxwell; Current Law Statutes Annotated).


OTHER PUBLICATIONS:

1. Contributing chapter: ‘Drug Science and British Drug Policy: Critical Analysis of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971’; eds., I. Crome, D. Nutt, A. Stevens; Waterside Press; 2022).

2. Contributing chapter: ‘Research Handbook on Transnational Crime’ (V. Mitsilegas, S. Hufnagel, A. Moiseienko; Edward Elgar Publishing; 2019).

3. Contributing chapters: (‘Money Laundering Offences’, and ‘Terrorism money laundering’): ‘Banks and Financial Crime: The International Law of Tainted Money’ (Sir William Blair; R. Brent and T. Grant, OUP; 2017).

4. Introductory chapter: ‘Abuse of Process’ (ed., Colin Wells, 2017; OUP; 2nd edn in preparation).

5. Contributing chapter: ‘New Psychoactive Substances and the Criminal Law’: ‘Forensic Toxicology: Drug Use and Misuse’ (eds., S. Davies, A. Johnston, D. Holt; Royal Society of Chemistry; 2016).

6. Contributing chapter: ‘Mental Condition Defences and the Criminal Justice System Perspectives from Law and Medicine’ (edited by B. Livings, A. Reed and N. Wake, Cambridge Scholars Publishing; 2015).

7. Contributing chapter: ‘Participation in Crime’ (specifically ‘Inchoate Liability and the Part 2 offences under the Serious Crime Act 2007’: edited by A. Reed and M. Bohlander, Ashgate Publishing; 2013).

8. Contributing chapter on Diminished Responsibility: ‘Loss of Control and Diminished Responsibility, Domestic, Comparative and International Perspectives’ (edited by A. Reed and M. Bohlander, Ashgate Publishing, November 2011).

9. Contributing chapter ‘The Sentencing of Drug Couriers’ (ed. P. Green, ‘Drug Couriers: A New Perspective’, 1996, Quartet Books).