Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993

[F1 1AB Restricted eligibility for release on licence of terrorist prisoners E+W+S

(1) This section applies to a person other than a life prisoner (a “terrorist prisoner”) who—

(a) is serving a sentence of imprisonment imposed (whether before or after this section comes into force) in respect of an offence within subsection (2), and

(b) has not been released on licence.

(2) An offence is within this subsection ([F2 whenever it was committed]) if—

(a) it is specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1A (offences under counter-terrorism legislation),

[F3 (b) it is a service offence as respects which the corresponding civil offence is so specified, or

(c) it was determined to have a terrorist connection.]

(3) The Scottish Ministers must refer the case of a terrorist prisoner to the Parole Board—

(a) as soon as the prisoner has served two-thirds of the prisoner's sentence, and

(b) where there has been a previous reference of the prisoner's case to the Parole Board under this subsection and the Parole Board did not recommend the prisoner's release, no later than the second anniversary of the disposal of that reference.

(4) As soon as the Parole Board has recommended the release of a terrorist prisoner under this section in pursuance of a referral under subsection (3), the Scottish Ministers must release the prisoner on licence.

(5) The Parole Board must not make a recommendation under subsection (4) unless it is satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that the terrorist prisoner should be confined.

[F4 (5A) For the purposes of this section, an offence was determined to have a terrorist connection if it was—

(a) proved to have been aggravated by reason of having a terrorist connection under section 31 of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008, or

(b) determined to have a terrorist connection under—

(i) section 30 or 32 of that Act, or

(ii) section 69 of the Sentencing Code (including as applied by section 238(6) of the Armed Forces Act 2006),

(in the case of an offender sentenced in England and Wales or Northern Ireland, or for a service offence, but now subject to the provisions of this Part).

(5B) Subsection (4) is subject to sections 1A and 1B.]

(6) For the purposes of this section, “service offence” [F5 and “corresponding civil offence”] have the same meanings as in the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 (see section 95 of that Act).

(7) This section is subject to section 8 of the Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Act 2020 (transitional provision for terrorist prisoners subject to supervised release orders).]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 1AB inserted (26.2.2020) by Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Act 2020 (c. 3), ss. 3(2), 10(4) (with s. 8)

F2 Words in s. 1AB(2) substituted (30.4.2021) by Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 (c. 11), s. 50(1)(i), Sch. 13 para. 52(4)(a)(i)

F3 S. 1AB(2)(b)(c) substituted (30.4.2021) by Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 (c. 11), s. 50(1)(i), Sch. 13 para. 52(4)(a)(ii)

F4 S. 1AB(5A)(5B) inserted (30.4.2021) by Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 (c. 11), s. 50(1)(i), Sch. 13 para. 52(4)(b)

F5 Words in s. 1AB(6) substituted (30.4.2021) by Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021 (c. 11), s. 50(1)(i), Sch. 13 para. 52(4)(c)