Arson and explosive-related crimes

Abstract

This thesis aims at a thorough analysis of those provisions dealing with arson and the criminal employment of explosives as found in Sub-Title IV of Title IX of the Maltese Criminal Code- i.e. "Of Crimes against the Public Safety and of injury to Property." The individual offences are dissected and examined in depth, and the definitions of core terms such as "explosive substance" and "arson" are dwelt upon in some detail. After an analytical process that results in identifying Italian and English Law as the sources of the above-mentioned provisions, the corresponding foreign statutes are a recurrent point of reference throughout the thesis. Our provisions are juxtaposed with these foreign statutes and are further discussed in the light of foreign and local judgments and jurists' opinions. In conclusion the thesis presents the limitations of our law where arson and explosive related crimes are concerned and suggests possible amendments.