Part 4Police powers

CHAPTER 6Maritime enforcement: Scottish offences

Ships in England and Wales waters: hot pursuit

99Restriction on exercise of maritime enforcement powers in hot pursuit

(1)The authority of the Secretary of State is required before a law enforcement officer exercises any of the maritime enforcement powers, in reliance on section 98 in relation to a foreign ship, or a ship registered under the law of a relevant territory, within the territorial sea adjacent to England and Wales.

(2)The Secretary of State may give authority under subsection (1) in relation to a foreign ship only if—

(a)the home state has requested the assistance of the United Kingdom for the purpose of preventing, detecting or investigating an offence under the law of Scotland,

(b)the home state has authorised the United Kingdom to act for that purpose, or

(c)the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (Cmnd 8941) otherwise permits the exercise of the powers in relation to the ship.