PART 1Criminal Justice

Dangerous offenders

1Maximum sentence for certain offences to be life imprisonment

1

In section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act 1883 (making or possession of explosive under suspicious circumstances)—

a

in subsection (1), for the words from “guilty” to the end substitute “ guilty of an offence ”, and

b

after that subsection insert—

1A

A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life.

1B

Where a person is convicted of an offence under subsection (1) the explosive substance is to be forfeited.

2

In section 54(6)(a) of the Terrorism Act 2000 (penalty on conviction on indictment of offence involving weapons training for terrorism), for “imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years” substitute “ imprisonment for life ”.

3

In section 6(5)(a) of the Terrorism Act 2006 (penalty on conviction on indictment of offence involving training for terrorism), for “imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years” substitute “ imprisonment for life ”.

4

The amendments made by this section apply only in relation to an offence committed on or after the day on which they come into force.

5

Where an offence is found to have been committed over a period of 2 or more days, or at some time during a period of 2 or more days, it must be taken for the purposes of subsection (4) to have been committed on the last of those days.