Policing and Crime Act 2017

Ships in England and Wales waters: hot pursuit

98 Hot pursuit of ships in England and Wales waters

(1) A law enforcement officer may, for the purpose of preventing, detecting or investigating an offence under the law of Scotland, exercise any of the maritime enforcement powers in relation to a ship in England and Wales waters if—

(a) the ship is pursued there,

(b) immediately before the pursuit of the ship, the ship was in Scotland waters or international waters,

(c) before the pursuit of the ship, a signal was given for it to stop,

(d) the signal was given in such a way as to be audible or visible from the ship, and

(e) the pursuit of the ship is not interrupted.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(e), pursuit is not interrupted by reason only of the fact that—

(a) the method of carrying out the pursuit, or

(b) the identity of the ship or aircraft carrying out the pursuit,

changes during the course of the pursuit.

(3) This section is subject to section 99 (which requires the authority of the Secretary of State before the maritime enforcement powers are exercised in relation to a foreign ship, or a ship registered under the law of a relevant territory, within the territorial sea adjacent to England and Wales).

99 Restriction on exercise of maritime enforcement powers in hot pursuit

(1) The authority of the Secretary of State is required before a law enforcement officer exercises any of the maritime enforcement powers, in reliance on section 98 in relation to a foreign ship, or a ship registered under the law of a relevant territory, within the territorial sea adjacent to England and Wales.

(2) The Secretary of State may give authority under subsection (1) in relation to a foreign ship only if—

(a) the home state has requested the assistance of the United Kingdom for the purpose of preventing, detecting or investigating an offence under the law of Scotland,

(b) the home state has authorised the United Kingdom to act for that purpose, or

(c) the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (Cmnd 8941) otherwise permits the exercise of the powers in relation to the ship.