Part 4

Police powers
CHAPTER 7

Maritime enforcement: Northern Irish offences

Application of maritime enforcement powers: general

Restriction on exercise of maritime enforcement powers
108
1
The authority of the Secretary of State is required before a law enforcement officer exercises any of the maritime enforcement powers, in reliance on section 107(1), in relation to a foreign ship, or a ship registered under the law of a relevant territory, within the territorial sea adjacent to Northern Ireland.
2
The Secretary of State may give authority under subsection (1) in relation to a foreign ship only if—
a
the home state has requested the assistance of the United Kingdom for the purpose of preventing, detecting or investigating an offence under the law of Northern Ireland,
b
the home state has authorised the United Kingdom to act for that purpose, or
c
the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (Cmnd 8941) otherwise permits the exercise of the powers in relation to the ship.