Strict Liability in Harrow v. Shah

Imagine you follow every rule in your shop and still end up guilty. That's what happened

in Harrow v. Shah in 2000. A shop assistant sold a National Lottery ticket to

a 13-year-old girl. The owners, Mr. and Mrs. Shah, had clear rules. Staff had to check

ID, signs were put up, and they often reminded workers to follow the law.

Even with all these checks, the sale still happened. The key point is that this was a

strict liability offense. The prosecution didn't need to prove mens rea.

This means they didn't have to show intention, knowledge, or carelessness.

In strict liability, the action alone is enough, so just selling a ticket to someone