CO129-602-5 Limits of territorial waters 27-10-1949 - 9-12-1949 — Page 34

[41 & 42 VICT.]

Territorial Waters Jurisdiction

Act, 1878

W WHE

RELIC SERVICE

DIEDE

COLONIAL

MON DROIT

OFFICE

ARY

[CH. 73.]

33

CHAPTER 73.

An Act to regulate the Law relating to the Trial of Offences A.D. 1878.

committed on the Sea within a certain distance of the Coasts of Her Majesty's Dominions. [16th August 1878.]

WH

HEREAS the rightful jurisdiction of Her Majesty, her heirs and successors, extends and has always extended over the open seas adjacent to the coasts of the United Kingdom and of all other parts of Her Majesty's dominions to such a distance as is necessary for the defence and security of such dominions :

And whereas it is expedient that all offences committed on the open sea within a certain distance of the coasts of the United Kingdom and of all other parts of Her Majesty's dominions, by whomsoever committed, should be dealt with according to law:

Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

1. This Act may be cited as the Territorial Waters Jurisdiction Short title. Act, 1878.

to the

2. An offence committed by a person, whether he is or is not a Amendment subject of Her Majesty, on the open sea within the territorial waters of the law as of Her Majesty's dominions, is an offence within the jurisdiction jurisdiction of the Admiral, although it may have been committed on board of the or by means of a foreign ship, and the person who committed such offence may be arrested, tried, and punished accordingly.

Admiral.

on institution

3. Proceedings for the trial and punishment of a person who is Restriction not a subject of Her Majesty, and who is charged with any such of proceed- offence as is declared by this Act to be within the jurisdiction of the ings for Admiral, shall not be instituted in any court of the United Kingdom, of offence.

punishment

except with the consent of one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries

[Public.-73.]

1