The Territorial Waters Jurisdiction Act 1878 (41 & 42 Vict. c. 73) is an Act of the

Parliament of the United Kingdom The Parliament of the United Kingdom is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace of Westminster, London. It alone possesses legislative suprema ...

. It is still in force. It codifies the law relating to offences committed in the

territorial waters The term territorial waters is sometimes used informally to refer to any area of water over which a sovereign state has jurisdiction, including internal waters, the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone, and potent ...

of the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

, including crimes committed on foreign ships. Under section 7 of the Act, the applicable law is the law of

England and Wales England and Wales () is one of the three legal jurisdictions of the United Kingdom. It covers the constituent countries England and Wales and was formed by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542. The substantive law of the jurisdiction is Eng ...

, even if the offence is committed off the coast of Scotland or Northern Ireland. Section 3 of the Act requires the consent of the Secretary of State to prosecute someone under the Act if they are not a British subject.

References

* Paterson, William (ed). "Territorial Waters Jurisdiction Act, 1878". The Practical Statutes of the Session 1878. Law Times Office. London. 1878. Page
341
to 346. * {{UK legislation English criminal law United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 1878 Borders of the United Kingdom

See also

References