An Act to implement the International Convention against the Taking of Hostages; and for connected purposes.
[13th July 1982]
Commencement Information
I1Act not in force at Royal Assent; Act wholly in force at 26.11.1982, see s. 6
An Act to implement the International Convention against the Taking of Hostages; and for connected purposes.
[13th July 1982]
(1)A person, whatever his nationality, who, in the United Kingdom or elsewhere,—
(a)detains any other person (“the hostage”), and
(b)in order to compel a State, international governmental organisation or person to do or abstain from doing any act, threatens to kill, injure or continue to detain the hostage,
commits an offence.
(2)A person guilty of an offence under this Act shall be liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life.
(1)Proceedings for an offence under this Act shall not be instituted—
(a)in England and Wales, except by or with the consent of the Attorney General; and
(b)in Northern Ireland, except by or with the consent of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.
(2)As respects Scotland, for the purpose of conferring on the sheriff jurisdiction to entertain proceedings for an offence under this Act, any such offence shall, without prejudice to any jurisdiction exercisable apart from this subsection, be deemed to have been committed in any place in Scotland where the offender may for the time being be.
(3)In Part I of Schedule 4 to the M1Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978 (scheduled offences for the purposes of that Act) after paragraph 19 there shall be inserted the following paragraph—
“ Taking of Hostages Act 198219AOffences under the Taking of Hostages Act 1982.”.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1The text of ss. 2(3) and 3(2) is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.
Marginal Citations
(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1
(2)In Schedule 1 to the M2Suppression of Terrorism Act 1978 (offences not to be regarded as of a political character) after paragraph 11 there shall be inserted the following paragraph—
“ Taking of hostages11AAn offence under the Taking of Hostages Act 1982.”.
(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2
(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1
(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2
Textual Amendments
F1Ss. 3(1)(4), 4, and 5(1) repealed by Extradition Act 1989 (c. 33, SIF 48), s. 37, Sch. 2
F2Ss. 3(3)(5) repealed by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33, SIF 39:1), ss. 123(6), 170, Sch. 8 para. 16, Sch. 16
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C2The text of ss. 2(3) and 3(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.
Marginal Citations
Textual Amendments
F3Ss. 3(1)(4), 4, and 5(1) repealed by Extradition Act 1989 (c. 33, SIF 48), s. 37, Sch. 2
(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F4
(2)Her Majesty may by Order in Council make provision for extending the other provisions of this Act, with such exceptions, adaptations or modifications as may be specified in the Order, to any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or any colony.
Textual Amendments
F4Ss. 3(1)(4), 4, and 5(1) repealed by Extradition Act 1989 (c. 33, SIF 48), s. 37, Sch. 2
(1)This Act may be cited as the Taking of Hostages Act 1982.
(2)This Act shall come into force on such day as Her Majesty may by Order in Council appoint.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C3Power of appointment conferred by section 6(2) fully exercised: 26.11.1982 appointed by S.I. 1982/1532, art. 1