Part 6Weapons of Mass Destruction

Assisting or inducing weapons-related acts overseas

50C1 Assisting or inducing certain weapons-related acts overseas

1

A person who aids, abets, counsels or procures, or incites, a person who is not a United Kingdom person to do a relevant act outside the United Kingdom is guilty of an offence.

2

For this purpose a relevant act is an act that, if done by a United Kingdom person, would contravene any of the following provisions—

a

section 1 of the Biological Weapons Act 1974 (offences relating to biological agents and toxins);

b

section 2 of the Chemical Weapons Act 1996 (offences relating to chemical weapons); or

c

section 47 above (offences relating to nuclear weapons).

3

Nothing in this section applies to an act mentioned in subsection (1) which—

a

relates to a relevant act which would contravene section 47; and

b

is authorised by the Secretary of State;

and section 48(2) applies for the purpose of authorising acts that would otherwise constitute an offence under this section.

4

A person accused of an offence under this section in relation to a relevant act which would contravene a provision mentioned in subsection (2) may raise any defence which would be open to a person accused of the corresponding offence ancillary to an offence under that provision.

5

A person convicted of an offence under this section is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life.

6

This section applies to acts done outside the United Kingdom, but only if they are done by a United Kingdom person.

7

Nothing in this section prejudices any criminal liability existing apart from this section.