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Suppression of Terrorism Act 1978

1978 CHAPTER 26

An Act to give effect to the European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism; to amend the law relating to the extradition of criminals and the obtaining of evidence for criminal proceedings outside the United Kingdom; to confer jurisdiction in respect of certain offences committed outside the United Kingdom; and for connected purposes.

[30th June 1978]

1 Cases in which certain offences are not to be regarded as of a political character.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2 Restriction on return of criminal under Extradition Act 1870, or to Republic of Ireland, in certain cases.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4 Jurisdiction in respect of offences committed outside United Kingdom.

(1) If a person, whether a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies or not, does in a convention country any act which, if he had done it in a part of the United Kingdom, would have made him guilty in that part of the United Kingdom of—

(a) an offence mentioned in paragraph 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, . . . 11B, 12, 13, 14 or 15 of Schedule 1 to this Act; or

(b) an offence of attempting to commit any offence so mentioned,

he shall, in that part of the United Kingdom, be guilty of the offence or offences aforesaid of which the act would have made him guilty if he had done it there.

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) If a person who is a national of a convention country but not a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies does outside the United Kingdom and that convention country any act which makes him in that convention country guilty of an offence and which, if he had been a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, would have made him in any part of the United Kingdom guilty of an offence mentioned in paragraph 1, 2 or 13 of Schedule 1 to this Act, he shall, in any part of the United Kingdom, be guilty of the offence or offences aforesaid of which the act would have made him guilty if he had been such a citizen.

(4) Proceedings for an offence which (disregarding the provisons of the Internationally Protected Persons Act 1978) , the Nuclear Material (Offences) Act 1983 , the United Nations Personnel Act 1997 and the Terrorism Act 2000 would not be an offence apart from this section shall not be instituted—

(a) in Northern Ireland, except by or with the consent of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland; or

(b) in England and Wales, except by or with the consent of the Attorney General;

. . .

(5) Without prejudice to any jurisdiction exercisable apart from this subsection, every sheriff court in Scotland shall have jurisdiction to entertain proceedings for an offence which (disregarding the provisions of the Internationally Protected Persons Act 1978 and the Nuclear Material (Offences) Act 1983 , the United Nations Personnel Act 1997 and the Terrorism Act 2000 ) would not be an offence in Scotland apart from this section.

(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7) For the purposes of this section any act done—

(a) on board a ship registered in a convention country, being an act which, if the ship had been registered in the United Kingdom, would have constituted an offence within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty; or

(b) on board an aircraft registered in a convention country while the aircraft is in flight elsewhere than in or over that country; or

(c) on board a hovercraft registered in a convention country while the hovercraft is in journey elsewhere than in or over that country,

shall be treated as done in that convention country; and subsection (4) of section 92 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982(definition of ’in flight’ or, as applied to hovercraft, ’in journey’) shall apply for the purposes of this subsection as it applies for the purposes of that section.

5 Power to apply section 4 to non-convention countries

(1) The Secretary of State may by order direct that section 4 above shall apply in relation to a country falling within subsection (2) below as it applies in relation to a convention country, subject to the exceptions (if any) specified in the order.

(2) A country falls within this subsection if—

(a) it is not a convention country; and

(b) it is a category 1 territory or a category 2 territory within the meaning of the Extradition Act 2003.

6 Amendment of Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975, Sch. 3.

(1) For paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 3 to the Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975 (postponement of operation of order for return to Republic of Ireland of person accused of extraterritorial offence where he is serving a sentence imposed for any offence) there shall be substituted—

“ (2) If at the time when the order under this paragraph is made the accused stands charged with or convicted of an offence other than the extra-territorial offence, so much of the order as directs him to be delivered as aforesaid shall not take effect until the conclusion of the proceedings (including any appeal or retrial) in respect of that other offence and of any sentence of imprisonment or detention imposed in those proceedings. ” .

(2) This section shall extend to Northern Ireland only.

7 Extension to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and other countries.

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, this Act shall extend to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, and shall have effect as if each of them were part of the United Kingdom.

(2) Her Majesty may by Order in Council direct that this Act shall, in its application to any of the said islands, have effect subject to such exceptions, adaptations or modifications as may be specified in the Order.

(3) Her Majesty may by Order in Council make provision for extending any provisions of this Act, with such exceptions, adaptations or modifications as may be specified in the Order, to any colony, other than a colony for whose external relations a country other than the United Kingdom is responsible, or any country outside Her Majesty’s dominions in which Her Majesty has jurisdiction in right of the government of the United Kingdom.

(4) An Order in Council under subsection (3) above shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(5) An Order in Council under subsection (2) or (3) above may be varied or revoked by a subsequent Order in Council under that subsection.

8 Provisions as to interpretation and orders.

(1) In this Act—

(2) Except so far as the context otherwise requires, any reference in this Act to an enactment is a reference to it as amended by or under any other enactment, including this Act.

(3) For the purpose of construing references in this Act to other Acts, section 38(1) of the Interpretation Act 1889 shall apply in cases of repeal and re-enactment by a Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly or by an Order in Council under the Northern Ireland Act 1974 as it applies in cases of repeal and re-enactment by an Act.

(4) Any power to make an order conferred on the Secretary of State by any provision of this Act—

(a) shall be exercisable by statutory instrument; and

(b) shall include power to revoke or vary a previous order made under that provision.

(5) No order shall be made—

(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b) under section 5 above at any time,

unless a draft of the order has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

(6) Any statutory instrument containing . . . an order made under subsection (1) above shall be laid before Parliament after being made.

9 Short title, repeals and commencement.

(1) This Act may be cited as the Suppression of Terrorism Act 1978.

(2) The enactments specified in Schedule 2 to this Act (which contains provisions superseded by section 3 above) are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule.

(3) This Act shall come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by order appoint, and different days may be so appointed for different purposes.

SCHEDULES

Sections 1 and 4.

SCHEDULE 1 List of Offences

Common law offences

1 Murder.

2 Manslaughter or culpable homicide.

3 Rape under the law of Scotland or Northern Ireland .

4 Kidnapping, abduction or plagium.

5 False imprisonment.

6 Assault occasioning actual bodily harm or causing injury.

7 Wilful fire-raising.

Offences against the person

8 An offence under any of the following provisions of the Offences against the Person Act 1861—

(za) section 4 (soliciting etc. to commit murder);

(a) section 18 (wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm);

(b) section 20 (causing grievous bodily harm);

(c) section 21 (attempting to choke etc. in order to commit or assist in the committing of any indictable offence);

(d) section 22 (using chloroform etc. to commit or assist in the committing of any indictable offence);

(e) section 23 (maliciously administering poison etc. so as to endanger life or inflict grievous bodily harm);

(f) section 24 (maliciously administering poison etc. with intent to injure etc.);

(g) section 48 (rape).

9 An offence under any of the following provisions of the Sexual Offences Act 2003—

(a) sections 1 or 2 (rape, assault by penetration);

(b) section 4 (causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent), where the activity caused involved penetration within subsection (4)(a) to (d) of that section;

(c) section 5 or 6 (rape of a child under 13, assault of a child under 13 by penetration);

(d) section 8 (causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity), where an activity involving penetration within subsection (3)(a) to (d) of that section was caused;

(e) section 30 (sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder impeding choice), where the touching involved penetration within subsection (3)(a) to (d) of that section;

(f) section 31 (causing or inciting a person, with a mental disorder impeding choice, to engage in sexual activity), where an activity involving penetration within subsection (3)(a) to (d) of that section was caused.

9A The offence of torture under section 134 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

Abduction

10 An offence under any of the following provisions of the Offences against the Person Act 1861—

(a) section 55 (abduction of unmarried girl under 16);

(b) section 56 (child-stealing or receiving stolen child).

11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Taking of hostages

11A An offence under the Taking of Hostages Act 1982.

11B An offence under section 2 of the Child Abduction Act 1984(abduction of child by person other than parent etc.) or any corresponding provision in force in Northern Ireland.

Explosives

12 An offence under any of the following provisions of the Offences against the Person Act 1861—

(a) section 28 (causing bodily injury by gunpowder);

(b) section 29 (causing gunpowder to explode etc. with intent to do grievous bodily harm);

(c) section 30 (placing gunpowder near a building etc. with intent to cause bodily injury).

13 An offence under any of the following provisions of the Explosive Substances Act 1883—

Nuclear material

13A An offence under any provision of the Nuclear Material (Offences) Act 1983.

(a) section 2 (causing explosion likely to endanger life or property);

(b) section 3 (doing any act with intent to cause such an explosion, conspiring to cause such an explosion, or making or possessing explosive with intent to endanger life or property).

Firearms

14 The following offences under the Firearms Act 1968—

(a) an offence under section 16 (possession of firearm with intent to injure);

(b) an offence under subsection (1) of section 17 (use of firearm or imitation firearm to resist arrest) involving the use or attempted use of a firearm within the meaning of that section.

15 The following offences under the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004—

(a) an offence under Article 58(1) consisting of a person’s having in his possession any firearm or ammunition within the meaning of that Article with intent by that means to endanger life, or to enable another person by that means to endanger life;

(b) an offence under Article 59(1) (use of firearm or imitation firearm to resist arrest) involving the use or attempted use of a firearm within the meaning of that Article.

Offences against property

16 An offence under section 1(2) of the Criminal Damage Act 1971 (destroying or damaging property intending to endanger life or being reckless as to danger to life).

17 An offence under Article 3(2) of the Criminal Damage (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 (destroying or damaging property intending to endanger life or being reckless as to danger to life).

Offences in relation to aircraft

18 An offence under Part I of the Aviation Security Act 1982(other than an offence under section 4 or 7 of that Act)

18A An offence under section 1 of the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990.

Offences relating to ships and fixed platforms

18B An offence under Part II of the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990(other than an offence under section 15 of that Act).

Offences relating to Channel Tunnel trains and the tunnel system

18C An offence under Part II of the Channel Tunnel (Security) Order 1994 No. 570.

Financing terrorism

19A An offence under any of sections 15 to 18 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Attempts

20 An offence of attempting to commit any offence mentioned in a preceding paragraph of this Schedule.

Conspiracy

21 An offence of conspiring to commit any offence mentioned in a preceding paragraph of this Schedule.

Section 9.

SCHEDULE 2 Repeals

Status: There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Suppression of Terrorism Act 1978.
Suppression of Terrorism Act 1978 (1978/26)

Displaying information

Status of this instrument

footnotecommentarytransitional and savingsin force statusrelated provisionsgeo extentinsert/omitsource countin force adj
C1Act applied (15.11.1993) by S.I. 1993/2533 , art.2 ; London Gazette No. 53484, Friday 12th November 1993.
C2S. 7 applied by S.I. 1986/2146 , art. 3 , Sch. 2 para. 3 and by Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 (c. 31, SIF 39:2) , s. 51(2)
C3S. 8 applied by S.I. 1986/2146 , art. 3 , Sch. 2 para. 4
C4Sch. 1 paras. 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 applied by S.I. 1986/2146 , art. 3 , Sch. 2 para. 5
C5Sch. 1 paras. 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 applied by S.I. 1986/2146 , art. 3 , Sch. 2 para. 5
C6Sch. 1 paras. 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 applied by S.I. 1986/2146 , art. 3 , Sch. 2 para. 5
C7Sch. 1 paras. 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 applied by S.I. 1986/2146 , art. 3 , Sch. 2 para. 5
C8Sch. 1 paras. 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 applied by S.I. 1986/2146 , art. 3 , Sch. 2 para. 5
C9Sch. 1 para. 8 ( a )( b ) applied by S.I. 1986/2146 , art. 3 , Sch. 2 para. 5
C10Sch. 1 paras. 10 , 11 applied by S.I. 1986/2146 , art. 3 , Sch. 2 para. 5
C11Sch. 1 paras. 10 , 11 applied by S.I. 1986/2146 , art. 3 , Sch. 2 para. 5
C12Sch. 1 para. 11A applied by S.I. 1986/2146 , art. 3 , Sch. 2 para. 5
C13Sch. 1 paras. 12 ( a )( b )( c ), 13 applied by S.I. 1986/2146 , art. 3 , Sch. 2 para. 5
C14Sch. 1 paras. 12 ( a )( b )( c ), 13 applied by S.I. 1986/2146 , art. 3 , Sch. 2 para. 5
C15Sch. 1 paras. 14 applied by S.I. 1986/2146 , art. 3 , Sch. 2 para. 5
C16Sch. 1 paras. 15 applied by S.I. 1986/2146 , art. 3 , Sch. 2 para. 5
C17Sch. 1 paras. 16 , 17 applied by S.I. 1986/2146 , art. 3 , Sch. 2 para. 5
C18Sch. 1 paras. 16 , 17 applied by S.I. 1986/2146 , art. 3 , Sch. 2 para. 5
C19Sch. 1 paras. 18 applied by S.I. 1986/2146 , art. 3 , sch. 2 para. 5
C20Sch. 1 para. 20 applied by S.I. 1986/2146 , art. 3 , Sch. 2 para. 5
E1Sch. 1 para. 18C and crossheading apply outside the United Kingdom only where jurisdiction is conferred by art. 30 or 38 of the international articles as defined in S.I. 1994/570 , art. 3(1)(3) .
E2Sch. 1 para. 18C and crossheading apply outside the United Kingdom only where jurisdiction is conferred by art. 30 or 38 of the international articles as defined in S.I. 1994/570 , art. 3(1)(3) .
F1S. 1 repealed (1.1.2004) by Extradition Act 2003 (c. 41) , ss. 219(1) , 220 , 221 , Sch. 3 para. 4 , Sch. 4 ; S.I. 2003/3103 , art. 2 ((subject to savings in Order) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3258 ; S.I. 2003/3312 ))repealed
F2S. 2 repealed (1.1.2004) by Extradition Act 2003 (c. 41) , ss. 219(1) , 220 , 221 , Sch. 3 para. 4 , Sch. 4 ; S.I. 2003/3103 , art. 2 ((subject to savings in Order) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3258 ; S.I. 2003/3312 ))repealed
F3S. 3 repealed by Extradition Act 1989 (c. 33, SIF 48) , s. 37 , Sch. 2repealed
F4Word in s. 4(1)(a) repealed (1.5.2004) by Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42) , ss. 140 , 141 , Sch. 7 ; S.I. 2004/874 , art. 2repealed
F5Figure inserted by Child Abduction Act 1984 (c. 37, SIF 39:4) , s. 11(4)inserted
F6S. 4(2)(6) repealed by Internationally Protected Persons Act 1978 (c. 17) , s. 5(4) ( a )(5)repealed
F7Words inserted by Internationally Protected Persons Act 1978 (c. 17) , s. 5(4) ( b )(5)inserted
F8Words substituted (27.4.1997) by virtue of 1997 c. 13 , ss. 7 , 10(2) , Sch. para. 3 .substituted
F9Words in s. 4(4)(5) substituted (26.4.2004) by Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003 (c. 32) , ss. 91(1) , 94 , Sch. 5 para. 4 ; S.I. 2004/786 , art. 3(2)substituted
F10Words in s. 4(4) repealed (12.4.2010) by Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26) , ss. 86 , 87 , Sch. 13 ; S.R. 2010/113 , art. 2 , Sch. para. 21(j)repealed
F11Words substituted by Civil Aviation Act 1982 (c. 16, SIF 9) s. 109, Sch. 15 para. 21substituted
F12S. 5 substituted (1.1.2004) by Extradition Act 2003 (c. 41) , ss. 219(1) , 221 , Sch. 3 para. 5 ; S.I. 2003/3103 , art. 2 ((subject to savings in Order) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3258 ; S.I. 2003/3312 ))substituted
F13S. 8(5)(a) repealed (1.1.2004) by Extradition Act 2003 (c. 41) , ss. 220 , 221 , Sch. 4 ; S.I. 2003/3103 , art. 2 ((subject to savings in Order) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3258 ; S.I. 2003/3312 ))repealed
F14Words in s. 8(6) repealed (1.1.2004) by Extradition Act 2003 (c. 41) , ss. 220 , 221 , Sch. 4 ; S.I. 2003/3103 , art. 2 ((subject to savings in Order) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3258 ; S.I. 2003/3312 ))repealed
F15Words in Sch. 1 para. 3 inserted (1.5.2004) by Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42) , ss. 140 , 141 , Sch. 6 para. 23(2) ; S.I. 2004/874 , art. 2inserted
F16Sch. 1 para. 8(za) inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33, SIF 39:1) , ss. 22(2) , 171inserted
F17Sch. 1 para. 9 substituted (1.5.2004) by Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42) , ss. 140 , 141 , Sch. 6 para. 23(3) ; S.I. 2004/874 , art. 2substituted
F18Sch. 1 para. 9A inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33, SIF 39:1) , ss. 22(3) , 171inserted
F19Sch. 1 para. 11 repealed (1.5.2004) by Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42) , ss. 140 , 141 , Sch. 7 ; S.I. 2004/874 , art. 2repealed
F20Sch. 1 para. 11A inserted by Taking of Hostages Act 1982 (c. 28, SIF 39:2) , s. 3(2)inserted
F21Sch. 1 para. 11B inserted by Child Abduction Act 1984 (c. 37, SIF 39:4) , s. 11(4)inserted
F22Sch. 1 para. 13A inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33, SIF 39:1) , ss. 22(4) , 171inserted
F23Sch. 1 para. 15 substituted (N.I.) (1.2.2005) by The Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/702 (N.I. 3)) , arts. 1 , 82(1) , Sch. 7 para. 2 (with art. 81 ); S.R. 2005/4 , art. 3 (with transitional provisions in arts. 4-7 )this amendment is subject to savings and/or transitional provisions, see the commentary.this amendment (text substituted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.substituted: Northern Irelandsubstituted
F24Sch. 1 paras. 18 , 19 substituted by para. 18 by Aviation Security Act 1982 (c. 36, SIF 9) , s. 40 , Sch. 2 para. 7substituted
F25Sch. 1 paras. 18A , 18B inserted by Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 (c. 31, SIF 39:2) , s. 53(1) , Sch. 3 para. 6inserted
F26Sch. 1 para. 18C and crossheading inserted (5.3.1994) by S.I. 1994/570 , art. 38 , Sch. 3 para.2 .inserted
F27Sch. 1 para. 18C and crossheading inserted (5.3.1994) by S.I. 1994/570 , art. 38 , Sch. 3 para.2 .inserted
F28Sch. 1 para. 19A and cross-heading substituted (19.2.2001) by 2000 c. 11 , s. 125 , Sch. 15 para. 3(2) ; S.I. 2001/421 , art. 2(a)substituted
F29Sch. 1 para. 19A and cross-heading substituted (19.2.2001) by 2000 c. 11 , s. 125 , Sch. 15 para. 3(2) ; S.I. 2001/421 , art. 2(a)substituted
F30Sch. 1 para. 21 added by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33, SIF 39:1) , ss. 22(5) , 171added
I1Act not in force at Royal Assent. Act wholly in force at 21.8.1978 see s. 9(3)
M11978 c. 17 .
M21978 c. 17 .
M31975 c. 59 .
M41972 c. 22 .
M51974 c. 28 .
M61889 c. 63 .
M71974 c. 28 .
M81861 c. 100 .
M91861 c. 100 .
M101861 c. 100 .
M111883 c. 3 .
M121968 c. 27 .
M131971 c. 48 .
M14S.I. 1977/426 (N.I. 4)
P121.8.1978 appointed under s. 9(3) by S.I. 1978/1063
X1The text of ss. 2(2), 6, 9(2), Sch. 2 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.
X2The text of ss. 2(2), 6, 9(2), Sch. 2 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.
X3The text of ss. 2(2), 6, 9(2), Sch. 2 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.
Defined TermSection/ArticleIDScope of Application
acts. 8legTermhvMLNA7Y
convention countrys. 8legTermNFbY8w73
countrys. 8legTerm1AQHX8dp
enactments. 8legTermMK0QEAvO
in flights. 4in_flight_msqmJe5R
in journeys. 4in_journey_msqN06Hi
  • Overseas Territories (Change of Name) (No. 10) Order 2011 (2011/2983)
  • Suppression of Terrorism Act 1978 (Designation of Countries) (No. 2) Order 2003 (2003/1863)
  • Suppression of Terrorism Act 1978 (Designation of Countries) Order 2003 (2003/6)

Status of changes to instrument text

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