Landmines Act 1998

1 Mines and components to which Act applies. U.K.

(1) This section has effect for the purpose of construing this Act.

(2) An anti-personnel mine is a landmine which—

(a) is designed to be detonated by the presence, proximity or contact of an individual; and

(b) is capable of incapacitating, injuring or killing an individual.

(3) A component of an anti-personnel mine is anything designed or adapted to form part of an anti-personnel mine.

(4) A prohibited object is an anti-personnel mine or any component of an anti-personnel mine.

(5) A landmine is a munition designed to be placed under, on or near the ground, or some other surface, and to be detonated by the presence, proximity or contact of an individual or vehicle.

(6) A landmine is not to be taken as designed to be detonated by the presence, proximity or contact of an individual by reason only of being designed to be detonated by the presence, proximity or contact of a vehicle in or on which there would be, or might be, an individual.

(7) A landmine which—

(a) is designed to be detonated by the presence, proximity or contact of a vehicle, but

(b) is equipped with an anti-handling device,

is not to be taken, by reason only of being so equipped, as designed to be detonated by the presence, proximity or contact of an individual.

(8) An anti-handling device is a device which—

(a) is part of, linked to, attached to or placed under a landmine;

(b) is intended to protect the landmine from being neutralised or made less effective or from being moved; and

(c) is activated when an attempt is made to tamper with the landmine or otherwise intentionally to disturb it.