Changes to legislation: Criminal Law Act 1977 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 26 August 2021. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. (See end of Document for details) View outstanding changes Criminal Law Act 1977 1977 CHAPTER 45 An Act to amend the law of England and Wales with respect to criminal conspiracy; to make new provision in that law, in place of the provisions of the common law and the Statutes of Forcible Entry, for restricting the use or threat of violence for securing entry into any premises and for penalising unauthorised entry or remaining on premises in certain circumstances; otherwise to amend the criminal law, including the law with respect to the administration of criminal justice; to provide for the alteration of certain pecuniary and other limits; to amend section 9(4) of the Administration of Justice Act 1973, the Legal Aid Act 1974, the Rabies Act 1974 and the Diseases of Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 and the law about juries and coroners’ inquests; and for connected purposes. [29th July 1977] Editorial Information X1 The text of ss. 1–5, 14–49, 57, 58, 60–65, Schs. 1–9, 11–14 was taken from S.I.F. Group 39:1 (Criminal Law: General), ss. 51, 63(2), 65(1)(3)(7)(10) from S.I.F. Group 39:2 ( Criminal Law: Public Safety and Order), ss. 53, 54, 65(1)(3)(7)(9)(10) Group 39:5 (Criminal Law: Sexual Offences and Obscenity), ss. 6–13, 65(1)(3)(7)–(10), Sch. 14 para. 5 Group 39:6 (Criminal Law: Offences against Property); provisions omitted from S.I.F have been dealt with as referred to in other commentary. Modifications etc. (not altering text) C1 Power to apply Act conferred by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33, SIF 39:1), s. 50(3)(b)(ii), Sch. 8 para. 16 C2 By Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, SIF 39:1), s. 101(1), Sch. 12 para. 23; S.I. 1991/2208, art. 2(1), Sch.1 it is provided (14.10.1991) that in relation to any time before the commencement of s. 70 of that 1991 Act (which came into force on 1.10.1992 by S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2) references in any enactment amended by that 1991 Act, to youth courts shall be construed as references to juvenile courts. Commencement Information I1 Act not in force at Royal Assent, Act wholly in force on 20.5.1985 see s. 65(7). 2 Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45) Part I – Conspiracy Document Generated: 2021-08-26 Changes to legislation: Criminal Law Act 1977 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 26 August 2021. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. (See end of Document for details) View outstanding changes PART I CONSPIRACY Modifications etc. (not altering text) C3 Pt. I (ss. 1-5) extended (1.10.1996) by 1996 c. 29, ss.1, 3; S.I. 1996/2262, art.2. 1 The offence of conspiracy. [F1(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Part of this Act, if a person agrees with any other person or persons that a course of conduct shall be pursued which, if the agreement is carried out in accordance with their intentions, either— (a) will necessarily amount to or involve the commission of any offence or offences by one or more of the parties to the agreement, or (b) would do so but for the existence of facts which render the commission of the offence or any of the offences impossible, he is guilty of conspiracy to commit the offence or offences in question.] F2(1A) . F2(1B) . (2) Where liability for any offence may be incurred without knowledge on the part of the person committing it of any particular fact or circumstance necessary for the commission of the offence, a person shall nevertheless not be guilty of conspiracy to commit that offence by virtue of subsection (1) above unless he and at least one other party to the agreement intend or know that that fact or circumstance shall or will exist at the time when the conduct constituting the offence is to take place. F3(3) . (4) In this Part of this Act “offence” means an offence triable in England and Wales F4. .. F2(5) . F2(6) . Textual Amendments F1 S. 1(1) substituted (with saving) by Criminal Attempts Act 1981 (c. 47, SIF 39:1), s. 5(1) F2 S. 1(1A)(1B)(5)(6) repealed (4.9.1998) by 1998 c. 40, s. 9(1)(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 4(a)(c), Sch. 2 Pt.II (with s. 9(3)) F3 S. 1(3) repealed (16.10.1992) by Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (c. 52), ss. 300(1), 302, Sch. 1 (with Sch. 3 para. 2). F4 Words in s. 1(4) repealed (4.9.1998) by 1998 c. 40, s. 9(1)(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 4(b), Sch. 2 Pt.II (with s. 9(3)). Modifications etc. (not altering text) C4 S. 1(1) modified (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 42(6), 383(2); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4 Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45) 3 Part I – Conspiracy Document Generated: 2021-08-26 Changes to legislation: Criminal Law Act 1977 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 26 August 2021. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. (See end of Document for details) View outstanding changes C5 S. 1(1) modified (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 45(1)(a), 383(2); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4 C6 S. 1(1) modified (16.10.1992) by Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (c. 52), ss. 242, 302. C7 S. 1(2) modified (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 42(6), 383(2); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4 C8 S. 1(2) modified (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 45(1)(b), 383(2); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4 [F51A Conspiracy to commit offences outside [F6England and Wales] . (1) Where each of the following conditions is satisfied in the case of an agreement, this Part of this Act has effect in relation to the agreement as it has effect in relation to an agreement falling within section 1(1) above. (2) The first condition is that the pursuit of the agreed course of conduct would at some stage involve— (a) an act by one or more of the parties, or (b) the happening of some other event, intended to take place in a country or territory outside [F7England and Wales] . (3) The second condition is that that act or other event constitutes an offence under the law in force in that country or territory. (4) The third condition is that the agreement would fall within section 1(1) above as an agreement relating to the commission of an offence but for the fact that the offence would not be an offence triable in England and Wales if committed in accordance with the parties’ intentions. (5) The fourth condition is that— (a) a party to the agreement, or a party’s agent, did anything in England and Wales in relation to the agreement before its formation, or (b) a party to the agreement became a party in England and Wales (by joining it either in person or through an agent), or (c) a party to the agreement, or a party’s agent, did or omitted anything in England and Wales in pursuance of the agreement. (6) In the application of this Part of this Act to an agreement in the case of which each of the above conditions is satisfied, a reference to an offence is to be read as a reference to what would be the offence in question but for the fact that it is not an offence triable in England and Wales. (7) Conduct punishable under the law in force in any country or territory is an offence under that law for the purposes of this section, however it is described in that law. (8) Subject to subsection (9) below, the second condition is to be taken to be satisfied unless, not later than rules of court may provide, the defence serve on the prosecution a notice— (a) stating that, on the facts as alleged with respect to the agreed course of conduct, the condition is not in their opinion satisfied, 4 Criminal Law Act 1977 (c.