Landmines Act 1998

27 General interpretation. U.K.

(1) In this Act—

• “acquisition”, “disposal”, “transfer” and “participate”, and cognate expressions, shall be construed in accordance with section 2;

• “anti-personnel mine”, “component”, “landmine” and “prohibited object” shall be construed in accordance with section 1;

• “fact-finding mission” means a fact-finding mission under Article 8 of the Ottawa Convention;

• “the Ottawa Convention” means the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, which was signed by the United Kingdom at Ottawa on 3 December 1997;

• “premises” includes land (including buildings), moveable structures, vehicles and aircraft;

• “section 2 offence” means—

  (a)

  an offence under section 2; or

  (b)

  attempting or conspiring to commit an offence under that section, or incitement to commit such an offence;

  and

• “vehicle” includes a vessel or hovercraft.

(2) For the purposes of this Act—

(a) an anti-personnel mine shall be taken to be destroyed if it is permanently prevented (by dismantling or any other means) from being capable of incapacitating, killing or injuring any person; and

(b) a component of an anti-personnel mine shall be taken to be destroyed if it is permanently prevented from being used as part of an anti-personnel mine.

(3) The powers conferred by sections 7 to 10 are in addition to, and do not affect, any power exercisable in relation to an object otherwise than by virtue of those sections (such as a power to dispose of property in police possession in connection with the investigation of a suspected offence).