The Law

Although the United Kingdom is a unitary state, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all have their own legal systems and law courts. There is substantial similarity on many points, but considerable differences remain in law, organization and practice. In Northern Ireland procedure closely resembles that of England and Wales but there are of­ten differences in enacted law. However, a large volume of modern legis­lation applies throughout the United Kingdom and there is a common distinction between criminal law, concerned with wrongful acts harmful to the community, and civil law, concerned with individuals' rights, du­ties and obligations towards one another.

The main sources of law are legislation, common law and European Community law. Legislation consists of Acts of Parliament, Orders (rules and regulations made by ministers under the authority of an Act Of Par­liament) and by-laws made by local government or other authorities ex­ercising powers conferred by Parliament.

Commentary and Notes to text 1.7.4.

1. the Home Office — міністерство внутрішніх справ (у Великобританії)

2. Crime Concern, a national independent voluntary body — національне незалежне добровільне об'єднання (організація) «Відношення до злочинів».