JR Spencer is Professor Emeritus in the Law Faculty at the University of Cambridge, Life Fellow of Selwyn College and a Bye-Fellow at Murray Edwards College, Cambridge.
Professor Spencer writes in an extremely clear and concise manner...Practising criminal lawyers are...likely to take heart from the updating of this often-cited, and often-persuasive volume. It deals with a notoriously contentious area of English criminal procedure in a straightforward way and deserves to remain the authoritative work on this topic. -- Tomas Hamilton * The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume 53, No. 1 (Review of 2nd Edition) * ...remains at the forefront of tackling this extremely important subject...this book is of a high and scholarly standard and the new edition is very welcome. -- Rob Jerrard * Internet Law Book Reviews (Review of 2nd Edition) * It is easy to see why this book has such broad appeal. Spencer has a certain genius when it comes to bringing concision and clarity to material which others would most probably render lengthy and difficult...Spencer's work is an essential starting point for getting to grips with bad character evidence, and yet there remains plenty of scope for others to contribute their own arguments. -- Jonathan Rogers * Criminal Law Review (Review of 2nd Edition) * This is a concise, highly portable and valuable little book. -- Benedict Mills * New Law Journal (Review of 1st Edition) * It is difficult to see how this complex legislation could be presented or explained more clearly...essential for all criminal practitioners. -- Nigel Pascoe QC * Counsel (Review of 1st Edition) * This book is..timely and presents a thorough and remarkably clear analysis of the bad character provisions...After spending only a short time reading this book I am now much clearer on these provisions than I have been at any time over the last year. You can expect to see this book produced widely in court. -- Andrew Keogh * Crimeline Updater (Review of 1st Edition) * ...the commentary is of a high and scholarly standard...It is small and light enough to be slipped into the case of travelling counsel, and is likely to be considered authoritative enough to be cited in court...It should be required reading for counsel and the judiciary... -- Jon Mack * Internet Law Book Reviews (Review of 1st Edition) * This book will provide valuable comparative material for evidence scholars and post-graduate students who wish to consider different approaches to the vexed question of prejudicial evidence. It will also, once the Act has come into force, provide valuable material for prosecuting and defence counsel looking for precedents for the analysis by Courts of such statutory provisions. All criminal lawyers will want ready access to this book this year. -- Bernard Robertson * New Zealand Law Journal (Review of 1st Edition) *