Seizure of Slave Ships
3 Visitation and seizure by cruisers, &c. of suspected slave ships.
Where a vessel is, on reasonable grounds, suspected of being engaged in or fitted out for the slave trade, it shall F1. . . be lawful—
a
If the vessel is a British vessel, or is engaged in the slave trade within British jurisdiction, or is not a vessel of a foreign state, for any commander or officer of any of Her Majesty’s ships, for any officer bearing Her Majesty’s commission in the army or navy, for any officer of Her Majesty’s customs in the United Kingdom, F2or Channel Islands, for any member of the Isle of Man Constabulary,, for the governor of a F3colony, or any person authorised by any such governor, F4. . .
b
If the vessel is the vessel of a foreign state, for any commander or officer of any of Her Majesty’s ships, when duly authorised in that behalf, in pursuance of any treaty with that state, F4. . .
to visit and seize and detain such vessel, and to seize and detain any person found detained or reasonably suspected of having been detained as a slave, for the purpose of the slave trade, on board any such vessel, and to carry away such vessel and person, together with the master and all persons, goods, and effects on board any such vessel, for the purpose of bringing in such vessel, person, goods, and effects F1. . ..