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Criminal Law Act 1977
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- UK Public General Acts
- 1977 c. 45
- Part I
- Section 1
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Changes to legislation:
Criminal Law Act 1977, Section 1 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 23 December 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 1:
- s. 38A(5)(ia) by 2000 c. 43 Sch. 7 para. 55
- s. 38B(5)(a) by 2000 c. 43 Sch. 7 para. 56
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 38A(5)(ia) by 2000 c. 43 Sch. 7 para. 55
- s. 38B(5)(a) by 2000 c. 43 Sch. 7 para. 56
1 The offence of conspiracy.E+W
[F1(1)Subject to the following provisions of this Part of this Act, if a person agrees with any other person or persons that a course of conduct shall be pursued which, if the agreement is carried out in accordance with their intentions, either—
(a)will necessarily amount to or involve the commission of any offence or offences by one or more of the parties to the agreement, or
(b)would do so but for the existence of facts which render the commission of the offence or any of the offences impossible,
he is guilty of conspiracy to commit the offence or offences in question.]
F2(1A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F2(1B). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2)Where liability for any offence may be incurred without knowledge on the part of the person committing it of any particular fact or circumstance necessary for the commission of the offence, a person shall nevertheless not be guilty of conspiracy to commit that offence by virtue of subsection (1) above unless he and at least one other party to the agreement intend or know that that fact or circumstance shall or will exist at the time when the conduct constituting the offence is to take place.
F3(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4)In this Part of this Act “offence” means an offence triable in England and Wales F4. . ..
F2(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F2(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F1S. 1(1) substituted (with saving) by Criminal Attempts Act 1981 (c. 47, SIF 39:1), s. 5(1)
F2S. 1(1A)(1B)(5)(6) repealed (4.9.1998) by 1998 c. 40, s. 9(1)(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 4(a)(c), Sch. 2 Pt.II (with s. 9(3))
F3S. 1(3) repealed (16.10.1992) by Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (c. 52), ss. 300(1), 302, Sch. 1 (with Sch. 3 para. 2).
F4Words in s. 1(4) repealed (4.9.1998) by 1998 c. 40, s. 9(1)(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 4(b), Sch. 2 Pt.II (with s. 9(3)).
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 1(1) modified (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 42(6), 383(2); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4
C2S. 1(1) modified (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 45(1)(a), 383(2); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4
C3S. 1(1) modified (16.10.1992) by Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (c. 52), ss. 242, 302.
C4S. 1(2) modified (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 42(6), 383(2); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4
C5S. 1(2) modified (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 45(1)(b), 383(2); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4
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