Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Act (c.11) which received Royal Assent on 25 March 2010 Explanatory Notes

1. Introduction

2. Summary and Background

3. Overview of Structure

4. Territorial Extent and Application

5. Commentary on Sections

   1. Section 1: Munitions to which Act applies

   2. Section 2: Offences

   3. Section 3: Meaning of acquisition and transfer

   4. Section 4: Application of section 2

   5. Section 5: Enabling destruction

   6. Section 6: Other purposes permitted by Convention

   7. Section 7: Defences relating to state of mind of defendant etc

   8. Section 8: Visiting forces

   9. Section 9: International military operations and activities

   10. Section 10: Supplementary provision: evidential burden and authorisations

   11. Section 11: Suspicious objects

   12. Section 12: Power to enter premises and search for prohibited munitions

   13. Section 13: Removal or immobilisation of prohibited munitions

   14. Section 14: Power to destroy removed prohibited munitions

   15. Section 15: Destruction of immobilised prohibited munitions

   16. Section 16: Power to enter premises and destroy immobilised prohibited munitions

   17. Section 17: Compensation for destruction

   18. Section 18: Offences relating to destruction etc

   19. Section 19: Securing destruction of prohibited munitions: supplementary

   20. Section 20: Information and records for Convention purposes

   21. Section 21: Power to search and obtain evidence: issue of warrant

   22. Section 22: Power to search and obtain evidence: supplementary

   23. Section 23: Disclosure of information

   24. Section 24: Consent to prosecution

   25. Section 25: Forfeiture in case of conviction

   26. Section 26: Offences by bodies corporate etc.

   27. Section 27: Safeguards etc. in connection with exercise of powers of entry

   28. Section 28: Service of notices

   29. Section 29: Power to modify Act

   30. Section 30: Interpretation

   31. Section 31: Amendments of other Acts

   32. Section 32: Crown application

   33. Section 33: Extent

   34. Section 34: Commencement and short title

6. Schedules

   1. Schedule 1:  Definitions of cluster munition, explosive bomblet etc

   2. Schedule 2: Offences to which section 9 applies

   3.  Schedule 3:  Amendments of other Acts

7. Commencement Date