Crime (Sentences) Act 1997

3 Minimum of seven years for third class A drug trafficking offence. E+W

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a person is convicted of a class A drug trafficking offence committed after the commencement of this section;

(b) at the time when that offence was committed, he was 18 or over and had been convicted in any part of the United Kingdom of two other class A drug trafficking offences; and

(c) one of those other offences was committed after he had been convicted of the other.

(2) The court shall impose a custodial sentence for a term of at least seven years except where the court is of the opinion that there are [F1 particular circumstances] which—

(a) relate to any of the offences or to the offender; and

(b) would make [F2 it unjust to do so] in all the circumstances.

(3) Where the court does not impose such a sentence, it shall state in open court that it is of that opinion and what the [F3 particular circumstances] are.

(4) Where—

(a) a person is charged with a class A drug trafficking offence (which, apart from this subsection, would be triable either way); and

(b) the circumstances are such that, if he were convicted of the offence, he could be sentenced for it under subsection (2) above,

the offence shall be triable only on indictment.

(5) In this section “class A drug trafficking offence” means a drug trafficking offence committed in respect of a class A drug; and for this purpose—

• “class A drug” has the same meaning as in the M1 Misuse of Drugs Act 1971;

• “drug trafficking offence” means a drug trafficking offence within the meaning of the M2 Drug Trafficking Act 1994, the M3 Proceeds of Crime (Scotland) Act 1995 or the M4 Proceeds of Crime (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.

(6) In this section and section 4 below “custodial sentence” means—

(a) in relation to a person who is 21 or over, a sentence of imprisonment;

(b) in relation to a person who is under 21, a sentence of detention in a young offender institution.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 3(2) substituted (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 106, Sch. 7 para. 48(1)(a); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)(w).

F2 Words in s. 3(2)(b) substituted (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 106, Sch. 7 para. 48(1)(b); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)(w).

F3 Words in s. 3(3) substituted (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 106, Sch. 7 para. 48(2); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)(w).

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 3(2) excluded (1.10.1997 for specified purposes and 1.12.1999 otherwise) by 1983 c. 20, s. 37(1A) (as inserted by 1997 c. 43, s. 55, Sch. 4 para. 12(2)); S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(2)(f); S.I. 1999/3096, art. 2(e)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 3 wholly in force at 1.12.1999; S. 3 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 57(2); S. 3(1)-(5) (and (6) so far as relating to this section) in force at 1.10.1997 by S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1)(c); s. 3 in force at 1.12.1999 to the extent not already in force by S.I. 1999/3096, art. 2(a)

Marginal Citations

M1 1971 c.38.

M2 1994 c.37.

M3 1995 c.43.

M4 S.I. 1996/1299 (N.I.9).