Part 6Weapons of Mass Destruction
Assisting or inducing weapons-related acts overseas
50C1 Assisting or inducing certain weapons-related acts overseas
1
A person who aids, abets, counsels or procures, or incites, a person who is not a United Kingdom person to do a relevant act outside the United Kingdom is guilty of an offence.
2
For this purpose a relevant act is an act that, if done by a United Kingdom person, would contravene any of the following provisions—
a
section 1 of the Biological Weapons Act 1974 (offences relating to biological agents and toxins);
b
section 2 of the Chemical Weapons Act 1996 (offences relating to chemical weapons); or
c
section 47 above (offences relating to nuclear weapons).
3
Nothing in this section applies to an act mentioned in subsection (1) which—
a
relates to a relevant act which would contravene section 47; and
b
is authorised by the Secretary of State;
and section 48(2) applies for the purpose of authorising acts that would otherwise constitute an offence under this section.
4
A person accused of an offence under this section in relation to a relevant act which would contravene a provision mentioned in subsection (2) may raise any defence which would be open to a person accused of the corresponding offence ancillary to an offence under that provision.
5
A person convicted of an offence under this section is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life.
6
This section applies to acts done outside the United Kingdom, but only if they are done by a United Kingdom person.
7
Nothing in this section prejudices any criminal liability existing apart from this section.