Section 1 Genocide.

United Kingdom

(1)

A person commits an offence of genocide if he commits any act falling within the definition of “genocide” in Article II of the Genocide Convention as set out in the Schedule to this Act.

(2)

A person guilty of an offence of genocide shall on conviction on indictment—

(a)

if the offence consists of the killing of any person, be sentenced to imprisonment for life;

(b)

in any other case, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years.

C1(3)

Proceedings for an offence of genocide shall not be instituted in England or Wales except by or with the consent of the Attorney General and shall not be instituted in Northern Ireland except by or with the consent of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.

C2(4)

In Schedule 1 to the Criminal law Act 1967 the following paragraph shall be added at the end of List B (offences outside the jurisdiction of quarter sessions):— “ 20. Offences of genocide and any attenpt, conspiracy or incitement to commit such an offence ”.

(5)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

(6)

Section 70 of the Army Act 1955 M1 and section 70 of the Air Force Act 1955 (civil offences) M2 shall each be amended by inserting:—

(a)

in subsection (3), the following paragraph (before paragraph (b)):— “ (ab) if the corresponding civil offence is an offence of genocide consisting of the killing of any person, be liable to imprisonment for life; ”

(b)

in subsection (4), after the words “or rape” the words “or an offence of genocide”; and

(c)

in subsection (5), after the words “or manslaughter” the words “or an offence of genocide consisting of the killing of any person”.

(7)

In the Naval Discipline Act 1957 M3:—

(a)

in section 42(1)(b) (punishment of murder) after the words “offence of murder” there shall be inserted the words “or of genocide consisting of the killing of any person”; and

(b)

in section 48(2) (exclusion of jurisdiction of courts-martial) after the words “or rape” there shall be inserted the words “or genocide” and after the words “or manslaughter” there shall be inserted the words “or an offence of genocide consisting of the killing of any person”.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: S. 1(5) repealed by Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (c. 23), Sch. 7 Pt. I

Marginal citations

M1: 1955 c. 18
M2: 1955 c. 19
M3: 1957 c. 53

Modifications

C1: S. 1(3) explained by Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975 (c. 59), s. 12
C2: The text of s. 1(4)(6)(7) is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.

Notes on the whole Act

Textual amendments

F1: Act repealed (E.W.N.I.) (1.9.2001) by 2001 c. 17, s. 83, Sch. 10 (with s. 78); S.I. 2001/2161, art. 2 and (S.) (17.12.2001) by 2001 asp 13, s. 1(3) (with s. 29); S.S.I. 2001/456, art. 2