Terrorism Act 2006

Terrorism Act 2006

2006 CHAPTER 11

Commentary

Definitions

Section 10 – Misuse of devices or material and misuse and damage of facilities

Subsections (1) and (2)

66. Subsection (1) creates an offence of using radioactive material or a radioactive device in the course of or in connection with the commission of an act of terrorism or for the purposes of terrorism. Subsection (2)creates a similar offence of using or damaging a nuclear facility in a manner that releases radioactive material or creates or increases the risk that such material will be released, in the course of or in connection with the commission of an act of terrorism or for the purposes of terrorism.

Subsections (4) and (5)

“67

Subsections (4) and (5) are definitions provisions. Nuclear facility means a nuclear reactor, including a reactor installed in or on a transportation device, or a plant or conveyance being used for the production, storage, processing or transport of radioactive material. Nuclear reactor and transportation device are both defined in subsection (5). Nuclear reactor is defined by reference to the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (c.57). Section 26 of that Act provides that the term means any plant designed or adapted for the production of atomic energy by a fission process in which a controlled chain reaction can be maintained without an additional source of neutrons. Transportation device means any vehicle or any space object. Vehicle is defined in section 121 of the TACT as including aircraft, hovercraft, train or vessel. Space object is defined by reference to the Outer Space Act 1986 (c.38). The definition of space object appears in section 13(1) of that Act and is defined to include not only the object itself, but also its component parts, its launch vehicle and the component parts of that vehicle.”