Book Review: Misuse of Drugs and Drug Trafficking Offences
| Published date | 01 April 1997 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X9707000220 |
| Date | 01 April 1997 |
| Subject Matter | Book Review |
Restitution and Compensation Orders" shows the powers of courts, in
addition to those of confiscation, which may divest the criminal of his
assets.
PART II
The second half of the book consists of 40 appendices which constitute,
in total, a unique Aladdin's cave of treasures to all who seek "assistance".
The appropriate parts of all therelevant legislation, practice directions and
rules appear, supplemented by an abundance of valuable cameos, such as
Model Indictments, Receivership Orders and Flow Charts.
With the usual tables and an efficiently organized indexing system, the
authors have achieved their objectives with honours.
COMPUTER EVIDENCE - A FORENSIC INVESTIGATION
HANDBOOK, by Edward Wilding. Sweet &Maxwell. Paperback £39.
To paraphrase the author, this book is written for investigators, lawyers,
technicians and auditors who encounter computers upon which evidence
may reside, The first three chapters concentrate on computer fraud,
elementary computer crime and basic investigativetechnicalities. Chapter 4
provides the reader with an appreciation of the legal technicalities
governing the admissibility of computer evidence. The next three deal
exclusively with the forensic examination of documents and other data,
whilst the final short chapter provides basic guidelines for investigating
anonymous letters and faxes.
With long experience in the field, the author affirms that the techniques
described have been used in hundreds of investigations and "work"
(examples are provided in the text). He admits that the material contained
is best described as an introduction to computer forensics and investigation,
but asserts that it provides pointers, guidelines and a clear insight into what
has become a vast subject.
Despite the author's modesty, this book should be of great value to all
who seek guidance on computer forensics.
MISUSE OF DRUGS AND DRUG TRAFFICKING OFFENCES, 3rd
edn, by Rudi Fortson. Sweet &Maxwell. Paperback £39.50.
The second edition of this book received a favourable review in the October
issue of The Police Journal in 1993. Inaccording a similar accolade to the
latest edition, therefore, we need only reiterate that it is a highly practical
guide to unravelling the complexities of the law relating to drug trafficking,
confiscation and money-laundering offences.
The great volume of case-law and statutory material that has been
generated in the past four years has caused the book to be substantially
revised, with only ch.15 standing unamended. Chapter 12(Drug Trafficking
Act 1994)has had to be completely rewritten and now occupies 170 pages.
In an interesting text, full discussion of cases and High Court decisions
highlight the breadth of the drug scene, whilst a table of recent sentencing
decisions adds a new dimension to the overall picture.
The author, a practising barrister and member of the Forensic Science
Society, is to be congratulated on his scholarship and literary bent.
April 1997 The Police Journal 185
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