International Criminal Court Act 2001

70 Offences under section 1 of the Geneva Conventions Act 1957

(1) In section 1 of the Geneva Conventions Act 1957 (c. 52) (punishment of grave breaches of the conventions)—

(a) in subsection (1), omit the words from “and on conviction on indictment” to the end; and

(b) omit subsections (3) to (5).

(2) After that section insert—

“1A Trial and punishment of offences under s.1

(1) The following provisions apply in relation to offences under section 1 of this Act.

(2) The offence is triable only on indictment.

(3) Proceedings for an offence shall not be instituted—

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

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

(4) If the offence is not committed in the United Kingdom—

(a) proceedings may be taken, and

(b) the offence may for incidental purposes be treated as having been committed,

in any place in the United Kingdom.

(5) A person convicted of an offence involving murder shall be dealt with as for an offence of murder.

In this subsection “murder” means the killing of a person in such circumstances as would constitute murder if committed in the part of the United Kingdon in which the proceedings are brought.

(6) In any other case a person convicted of an offence is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 30 years.”.

(3) The above amendments do not apply in relation to offences committed before the commencement of this section.