# Territorial Waters Jurisdiction Act 1878, Introduction: Introductory text


An Act to regulate the law relating to the Trial of Offences committed on the Sea within a certain distance of the Coasts of Her Majesty’s Dominions.
[16th August 1878]
Whereas 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:

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/41-42/73/introduction (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/territorial-waters-jurisdiction-act-1878/introduction
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.