Crime (Sentences) Act 1997

Part I Powers of transfer

Transfer of prisoners: general

1 (1) The Secretary of State may, on the application of—

(a) a person remanded in custody in any part of the United Kingdom in connection with an offence; or

(b) a person serving a sentence of imprisonment in any part of the United Kingdom,

make an order for his transfer to another part of the United Kingdom or to any of the Channel Islands, there to be remanded in custody pending his trial for the offence or, as the case may be, to serve the whole or any part of the remainder of his sentence, and for his removal to an appropriate institution there.

(2) Where—

(a) a person is remanded in custody in any of the Channel Islands in connection with an offence; or

(b) a person has been sentenced to imprisonment in any of the Channel Islands,

the Secretary of State may, without application in that behalf, make an order for his transfer to any part of the United Kingdom, there to be remanded in custody pending his trial for the offence or, as the case may be, to serve the whole or any part of his sentence or the remainder of his sentence, and for his removal to an appropriate institution there.

(3) In this paragraph “appropriate institution”—

(a) in relation to a person remanded in custody, means any prison or other institution;

(b) in relation to a person sentenced to imprisonment, means, subject to sub-paragraph (4) below, any institution which would be appropriate for the detention of an offender of the same age serving an equivalent sentence passed by a court in the country or island to which he is transferred.

(4) Sub-paragraph (3)(b) above shall have effect in relation to a person serving a sentence of a length which could not have been passed on an offender of his age by a court in the place to which he has been transferred as if it defined “appropriate institution” as meaning such place as the Secretary of State may direct.

Transfer of prisoners for trial

2 (1) If it appears to the Secretary of State that—

(a) a person remanded in custody in any part of the United Kingdom in connection with an offence; or

(b) a person serving a sentence of imprisonment in any part of the United Kingdom,

should be transferred to another part of the United Kingdom or to any of the Channel Islands for the purpose of attending criminal proceedings against him there, the Secretary of State may make an order for his transfer to that other part or that island and for his removal to a prison or other institution there.

(2) If it appears to the Secretary of State that—

(a) a person remanded in custody in any of the Channel Islands in connection with an offence; or

(b) a person serving a sentence of imprisonment in any of the Channel Islands,

should be transferred to a part of the United Kingdom for the purpose of attending criminal proceedings against him there, the Secretary of State may make an order for his transfer to that part and for his removal to a prison or other institution there.

(3) Where a person has been transferred under sub-paragraph (1)(a) or (2)(a) above for the purpose of any proceedings, the Secretary of State may, if that person is not sentenced to imprisonment in those proceedings, make an order for his return to the country or island from which he was transferred under that sub-paragraph.

(4) Where a person has been transferred under sub-paragraph (1)(b) or (2)(b) above for the purpose of any proceedings, the Secretary of State may—

(a) if that person is sentenced to imprisonment in those proceedings, make an order under paragraph 1(1)(b) or (2)(b) above (but without application in that behalf) transferring him back to the country or island from which he was transferred under that sub-paragraph;

(b) if he is not so sentenced, make an order for his return to the said country or island, there to serve the remainder of the sentence referred to in that sub-paragraph.

Transfer of prisoners for other judicial purposes

3 (1) If the Secretary of State is satisfied, in the case of—

(a) a person remanded in custody in any part of the United Kingdom in connection with an offence;

(b) a person serving a sentence of imprisonment in any part of the United Kingdom; or

(c) a person not falling within paragraph (a) or (b) above who is detained in a prison in any part of the United Kingdom,

that the attendance of that person at any place in that or any other part of the United Kingdom or in any of the Channel Islands is desirable in the interests of justice or for the purposes of any public inquiry, the Secretary of State may direct that person to be taken to that place.

(2) If the Secretary of State is satisfied, in the case of—

(a) a person remanded in custody in any of the Channel Islands in connection with an offence;

(b) a person serving a sentence of imprisonment in any of the Islands; or

(c) a person not falling within paragraph (a) or (b) above who is detained in a prison in any of the Channel Islands,

that the attendance of that person at any place in the United Kingdom is desirable in the interests of justice or for the purposes of any public inquiry, the Secretary of State may direct that person to be taken to that place.

(3) Where any person is directed under this paragraph to be taken to any place he shall, unless the Secretary of State otherwise directs, be kept in custody while being so taken, while at that place, and while being taken back to the prison or other institution or place in which he is required in accordance with law to be detained.

Transfer of supervision of released prisoners

4 (1) The Secretary of State may, on the application of a person undergoing or about to undergo supervision in any part of the United Kingdom, make an order for the transfer of his supervision to another part of the United Kingdom or to any of the Channel Islands, that is to say, an order—

(a) for his supervision or, as the case may be, the remainder of his supervision to be undergone in that country or island; and

(b) for responsibility for his supervision to be transferred to an appropriate person there.

(2) The Secretary of State may, on the application of a person undergoing or about to undergo supervision in any of the Channel Islands, make an order for the transfer of his supervision to any part of the United Kingdom, that is to say, an order—

(a) for his supervision or, as the case may be, the remainder of his supervision to be undergone in that country; and

(b) for responsibility for his supervision to be transferred to an appropriate person there.

Conditions of transfers

5 (1) A transfer under this Part shall have effect subject to such conditions (if any) as the Secretary of State may think fit to impose.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3) below, a condition imposed under this paragraph may be varied or removed at any time.

(3) Such a condition as is mentioned in paragraph 6(1)(a) below shall not be varied or removed except with the consent of the person to whom the transfer relates.