Customs and Excise Management Act 1979

34 Power to prevent flight of aircraft [F1 or departure of railway vehicles]. U.K.

(1) If it appears to any officer or constable that an aircraft is intended or likely to depart for a destination outside the United Kingdom [F2 and the Isle of Man] from—

(a) any place other than a [F3 regulated aerodrome]; or

(b) a [F4 regulated aerodrome] before [F5 the aircraft is cleared for departure],

he may give such instructions and take such steps by way of detention of the aircraft or otherwise as appear to him necessary in order to prevent the flight.

[F6 (1A) If it appears to any officer or constable—

(a) that a railway vehicle is intended or likely to depart for a destination outside the United Kingdom, and

(b) that—

(i) the last place at which goods may be loaded onto or unloaded from, or passengers may board or disembark from, the vehicle before it leaves the United Kingdom is not within a railway customs area, or

(ii) it is intended or likely to depart from a railway customs area before being cleared for departure,

the officer or constable may give such instructions and take such steps by way of detention of the vehicle or otherwise as appear necessary in order to prevent its departure.]

(2) Any person who contravenes any instructions given under subsection (1) [F7 or (1A)] above shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of [F8 level 4 on the standard scale], or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to both.

(3) If an aircraft flies [F9 or railway vehicle departs] in contravention of any instruction given under subsection (1) [F10 or (1A)] above [F11 or flies or departs notwithstanding] any steps taken to prevent the flight [F12 or departure], the owner and [F13 the vehicle operator] thereof shall, without prejudice to the liability of any other person under subsection (2) above, each be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of [F14 level 4 on the standard scale], or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to both, unless he proves that the flight [F12 or departure] took place without his consent or connivance.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 34 heading inserted (13.9.2018 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22), s. 57(1)(a), Sch. 7 para. 25(6) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2020/1449, reg. 3 and 2020 c. 26, Sch. 2 para. 7(7)-(9)); S.I. 2020/1642, reg. 4(a)

F2 Words inserted by Isle of Man Act 1979 (c. 58), Sch. 1 para. 5

F3 Words in s. 34(1)(a) substituted (11.7.2023) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2023 (c. 30), s. 340(3)(d)

F4 Words in s. 34(1)(b) substituted (11.7.2023) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2023 (c. 30), s. 340(3)(d)

F5 Words in s. 34(1)(b) substituted (13.9.2018 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22), s. 57(1)(a), Sch. 7 para. 25(2) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2020/1449, reg. 3 and 2020 c. 26, Sch. 2 para. 7(7)-(9)); S.I. 2020/1642, reg. 4(a)

F6 S. 34(1A) inserted (13.9.2018 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22), s. 57(1)(a), Sch. 7 para. 25(3) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2020/1449, reg. 3 and 2020 c. 26, Sch. 2 para. 7(7)-(9)); S.I. 2020/1642, reg. 4(a)

F7 Words in s. 34(2) inserted (13.9.2018 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22), s. 57(1)(a), Sch. 7 para. 25(4) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2020/1449, reg. 3 and 2020 c. 26, Sch. 2 para. 7(7)-(9)); S.I. 2020/1642, reg. 4(a)

F8 Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38, 46 and (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), ss. 289F, 289G and (N.I.) by S.I. 1984/703, (N.I. 3) arts. 5, 6

F9 Words in s. 34(3) inserted (13.9.2018 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22), s. 57(1)(a), Sch. 7 para. 25(5)(a) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2020/1449, reg. 3 and 2020 c. 26, Sch. 2 para. 7(7)-(9)); S.I. 2020/1642, reg. 4(a)

F10 Words in s. 34(3) inserted (13.9.2018 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22), s. 57(1)(a), Sch. 7 para. 25(5)(b) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2020/1449, reg. 3 and 2020 c. 26, Sch. 2 para. 7(7)-(9)); S.I. 2020/1642, reg. 4(a)

F11 Words in s. 34(3) substituted (13.9.2018 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22), s. 57(1)(a), Sch. 7 para. 25(5)(c) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2020/1449, reg. 3 and 2020 c. 26, Sch. 2 para. 7(7)-(9)); S.I. 2020/1642, reg. 4(a)

F12 Words in s. 34(3) inserted (13.9.2018 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22), s. 57(1)(a), Sch. 7 para. 25(5)(d) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2020/1449, reg. 3 and 2020 c. 26, Sch. 2 para. 7(7)-(9)); S.I. 2020/1642, reg. 4(a)

F13 Words in s. 34(3) substituted (13.9.2018 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22), s. 57(1)(a), Sch. 7 para. 25(5)(e) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2020/1449, reg. 3 and 2020 c. 26, Sch. 2 para. 7(7)-(9)); S.I. 2020/1642, reg. 4(a)

F14 Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38, 46 and (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), ss. 289F, 289G and (N.I.) by S.I. 1984/703, (N.I. 3) arts. 5, 6

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 34 restricted (1.1.1993) by Finance (No. 2) Act 1992 (c. 48), s. 4(1)(3)(f)(6).