阿什沃斯核心原则评析——兼议英国刑法的消费者保护

Comments on Core Principle of Ashworth——Also on consumer protection in British Criminal Law

对于犯罪的定义、犯罪构成、归责原则等刑法上的重大问题,英国长期以来没有一个统一的标准。当刑法上的这些问题与消费者保护发生联系时,情形变得尤为复杂。如何在理论上对犯罪的原则进行界定并在实践中加以运用,阿什沃斯提出了刑法的四项基本原则。这些原则包括刑法适用的对象、执行刑法所应遵循的原则、对犯罪嫌疑人和被告人的法律保护以及罪刑相适应等多个方面。其思想对于英国当代的刑事立法、刑事司法和执法都具有重要影响。文章试图通过对这些原则的具体内容、历史背景以及英国学术界围绕这些原则所展开的争议、讨论进行分析,以期对我国刑法的改革与发展有所启迪,同时结合这些原则在英国消费者保护中的应用,为完善我国的消费者保护制度提供借鉴。

There are no uniform standards on the key issues of the definition of crime, its constitutive elements, and the criterion of liability in the United Kingdom. These issues become even more complicated when linked with consumer protection. In order to define the principles of crime and apply them to practical eases, Ashworth has set out four principles of criminal Zaw which inc/ude the target group of criminal law, equal treatment, suspects or defendants legal protection and proportionality. His thoughts have greatly influenced the legislation, administration of justice and law enforcement in modern UK. By analyzing these principles, the author attempts to prove some inspiration for the reform and development of criminal law and useful reference for consumer protection in China.