Explanatory Notes

Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015

2015 CHAPTER 2

12 February 2015

Commentary on Sections

Part 1 – Criminal Justice

Dangerous offenders

Section 1: Maximum sentence for certain offences to be life imprisonment

113.Section 1 increases the maximum penalty on indictment for three terrorism-related offences to life imprisonment in subsections (1), (2) and (3). These are the offences of making or possession of explosive under suspicious circumstances (section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act 1883); weapons training for terrorism (section 54 of the Terrorism Act 2000); and training for terrorism (section 6 of the Terrorism Act 2006).  Those provisions extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

114.Subsection (4) of section 1 provides that a life sentence may only be imposed for one of these offences where the offence is committed on or after the date of the commencement of these provisions.