Offences at Sea Act 1799

The Offences at Sea Act 1799 (39 Geo. 3. c. 37) is an act of the Parliament of Great Britain. It is still in force. It extended the jurisdiction of British courts to crimes committed by British subjects on the high seas. It does not apply to foreign citizens. (However crimes committed by foreigners in British territorial waters, or on board British ships on the high seas, can be prosecuted in British courts.) Jurisdiction over piracy on the high seas already existed before 1799, whether committed by British subjects or not.

The act appears to determine the sentence for piracy iure gentium in cases where section 2 of the Piracy Act 1837 (7 Will. 4 & 1 Vict. c. 88) does not apply.Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice. 1999. Para 25 - 46 at p 1979.

Provisions Section 1 of the act now reads:

Subsequent developments The preamble to, the words "of the same nature respectively, and to be" and the words from "and shall be inquired of" onwards in section 1, and section 2, of the act repealed for England and Wales by section 10(2) of, and part I of schedule 3 to, the Criminal Law Act 1967, which came into force on 1 January 1968.

See also Offences at Sea Act Territorial Waters Jurisdiction Act 1878 Piracy Act 1837

Notes

References

External links