Osservatorio delle libertà ed istituzioni religiose

Olir

Osservatorio delle Libertà ed Istituzioni Religiose

Documenti • 4 Giugno 2008

Legge 08 maggio 2008

Regno Unito. Legge 8 maggio 2008: “Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008”.

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Hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation

74. Hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation

Schedule 16—
(a) amends Part 3A of the Public Order Act 1986 (c. 64) (hatred against persons on religious grounds) to make provision about hatred against a group of persons defined by reference to sexual orientation, and
(b) makes minor amendments of that Part.

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Blasphemy

79. Abolition of common law offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel

(1) The offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel under the common law of England and Wales are abolished.
(2) In section 1 of the Criminal Libel Act 1819 (60 Geo. 3 & 1 Geo. 4 c. 8) (orders for seizure of copies of blasphemous or seditious libel) the words “any blasphemous libel, or” are omitted.
(3) In sections 3 and 4 of the Law of Libel Amendment Act 1888 (c. 64) (privileged matters) the words “blasphemous or” are omitted.
(4) Subsections (2) and (3) (and the related repeals in Schedule 28) extend to England and Wales only.

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PART 10
SPECIAL IMMIGRATION STATUS

130. Designation

(1) The Secretary of State may designate a person who satisfies Condition 1 or 2 (subject to subsections (4) and (5)).
(2) Condition 1 is that the person—
(a) is a foreign criminal within the meaning of section 131, and
(b) is liable to deportation, but cannot be removed from the United Kingdom because of section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42) (public authority not to act contrary to Convention).
(3) Condition 2 is that the person is a member of the family of a person who satisfies Condition 1.
(4) A person who has the right of abode in the United Kingdom may not be designated.
(5) The Secretary of State may not designate a person if the Secretary of State thinks that an effect of designation would breach—
(a) the United Kingdom’s obligations under the Refugee Convention, or
(b) the person’s rights under the Community treaties.

131. “Foreign criminal”
(1) For the purposes of section 130 “foreign criminal” means a person who—
(a) is not a British citizen, and
(b) satisfies any of the following Conditions.
(2) Condition 1 is that section 72(2)(a) and (b) or (3)(a) to (c) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41) applies to the person (Article 33(2) of the Refugee Convention: imprisonment for at least two years).
(3) Condition 2 is that—
(a) section 72(4)(a) or (b) of that Act applies to the person (person convicted of specified offence), and
(b) the person has been sentenced to a period of imprisonment.
(4) Condition 3 is that Article 1F of the Refugee Convention applies to the person (exclusions for criminals etc.).
(5) Section 72(6) of that Act (rebuttal of presumption under section 72(2) to (4)) has no effect in relation to Condition 1 or 2.
(6) Section 72(7) of that Act (non-application pending appeal) has no effect in relation to Condition 1 or 2.

132. Effect of designation

(1) A designated person does not have leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom.
(2) For the purposes of a provision of the Immigration Acts and any other enactment which concerns or refers to immigration or nationality (including any provision which applies or refers to a provision of the Immigration Acts or any other enactment about immigration or nationality) a designated person—
(a) is a person subject to immigration control,
(b) is not to be treated as an asylum-seeker or a former asylum-seeker, and
(c) is not in the United Kingdom in breach of the immigration laws.
(3) Despite subsection (2)(c), time spent in the United Kingdom as a designated person may not be relied on by a person for the purpose of an enactment about nationality.
(4) A designated person—
(a) shall not be deemed to have been given leave in accordance with paragraph 6 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 (c. 77) (notice of leave or refusal), and
(b) may not be granted temporary admission to the United Kingdom under paragraph 21 of that Schedule.
(5) Sections 134 and 135 make provision about support for designated persons and their dependants.

133. Conditions

(1) The Secretary of State or an immigration officer may by notice in writing impose a condition on a designated person.
(2) A condition may relate to—
(a) residence,
(b) employment or occupation, or
(c) reporting to the police, the Secretary of State or an immigration officer.
(3) Section 36 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 (c. 19) (electronic monitoring) shall apply in relation to conditions imposed under this section as it applies to restrictions imposed under paragraph 21 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 (with a reference to the Immigration Acts being treated as including a reference to this section).
(4) Section 69 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41) (reporting restrictions: travel expenses) shall apply in relation to conditions imposed under subsection (2)(c) above as it applies to restrictions imposed under paragraph 21 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971.
(5) A person who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with a condition imposed under this section commits an offence.
(6) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (5) shall be liable on summary conviction to—
(a) a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale,
(b) imprisonment for a period not exceeding 51 weeks, or
(c) both.
(7) A provision of the Immigration Act 1971 (c. 77) which applies in relation to an offence under any provision of section 24(1) of that Act (illegal entry etc.) shall also apply in relation to the offence under subsection (5) above.
(8) In the application of this section to Scotland or Northern Ireland the reference in subsection (6)(b) to 51 weeks shall be treated as a reference to six months.

134. Support

(1) Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (c. 33) (support for asylumseekers) shall apply in relation to designated persons and their dependants as it applies in relation to asylum-seekers and their dependants.
(2) But the following provisions of that Part shall not apply—
(a) section 96 (kinds of support),
(b) section 97(1)(b) (desirability of providing accommodation in wellsupplied area),
(c) section 100 (duty to co-operate in providing accommodation),
(d) section 101 (reception zones),
(e) section 108 (failure of sponsor to maintain),
(f) section 111 (grants to voluntary organisations), and
(g) section 113 (recovery of expenditure from sponsor).
(3) Support may be provided under section 95 of the 1999 Act as applied by this section—
(a) by providing accommodation appearing to the Secretary of State to be adequate for a person’s needs;
(b) by providing what appear to the Secretary of State to be essential living needs;
(c) in other ways which the Secretary of State thinks necessary to reflect exceptional circumstances of a particular case.
(4) Support by virtue of subsection (3) may not be provided wholly or mainly by way of cash unless the Secretary of State thinks it appropriate because of exceptional circumstances.
(5) Section 4 of the 1999 Act (accommodation) shall not apply in relation to designated persons.
(6) A designated person shall not be treated—
(a) as a person subject to immigration control, for the purposes of section 119(1)(b) of the 1999 Act (homelessness: Scotland and Northern Ireland), or
(b) as a person from abroad who is not eligible for housing assistance, for the purposes of section 185(4) of the Housing Act 1996 (c. 52) (housing assistance).

135. Support: supplemental

(1) A reference in an enactment to Part VI of the 1999 Act or to a provision of that Part includes a reference to that Part or provision as applied by section 134 above; and for that purpose—
(a) a reference to section 96 shall be treated as including a reference to section 134(3) above,
(b) a reference to a provision of section 96 shall be treated as including a reference to the corresponding provision of section 134(3), and
(c) a reference to asylum-seekers shall be treated as including a reference to designated persons.
(2) A provision of Part VI of the 1999 Act which requires or permits the Secretary of State to have regard to the temporary nature of support shall be treated, in the application of Part VI by virtue of section 134 above, as requiring the Secretary of State to have regard to the nature and circumstances of support by virtue of that section.
(3) Rules under section 104 of the 1999 Act (appeals) shall have effect for the purposes of Part VI of that Act as it applies by virtue of section 134 above.
(4) Any other instrument under Part VI of the 1999 Act—
(a) may make provision in respect of that Part as it applies by virtue of section 134 above, as it applies otherwise than by virtue of that section, or both, and
(b) may make different provision for that Part as it applies by virtue of section 134 above and as it applies otherwise than by virtue of that section.
(5) In the application of paragraph 9 of Schedule 8 to the 1999 Act (regulations: notice to quit accommodation) the reference in paragraph (2)(b) to the determination of a claim for asylum shall be treated as a reference to ceasing to be a designated person.
(6) The Secretary of State may by order repeal, modify or disapply (to any extent) section 134(4).
(7) An order under section 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42) (power to remedy incompatibility) which amends a provision mentioned in subsection
(6) of section 134 above may amend or repeal that subsection.

136. End of designation

(1) Designation lapses if the designated person—
(a) is granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom,
(b) is notified by the Secretary of State or an immigration officer of a right of residence in the United Kingdom by virtue of the Community treaties,
(c) leaves the United Kingdom, or
(d) is made the subject of a deportation order under section 5 of the Immigration Act 1971 (c. 77).
(2) After designation lapses support may not be provided by virtue of section 134, subject to the following exceptions.
(3) Exception 1 is that, if designation lapses under subsection (1)(a) or (b), support may be provided in respect of a period which—
(a) begins when the designation lapses, and
(b) ends on a date determined in accordance with an order of the Secretary of State.
(4) Exception 2 is that, if designation lapses under subsection (1)(d), support may be provided in respect of—
(a) any period during which an appeal against the deportation order may be brought (ignoring any possibility of an appeal out of time with permission),
(b) any period during which an appeal against the deportation order is pending, and
(c) after an appeal ceases to be pending, such period as the Secretary of State may specify by order.

137. Interpretation: general

(1) This section applies to sections 130 to 136.
(2) A reference to a designated person is a reference to a person designated under section 130.
(3) “Family” shall be construed in accordance with section 5(4) of the Immigration Act 1971 (c. 77) (deportation: definition of “family”).
(4) “Right of abode in the United Kingdom” has the meaning given by section 2 of that Act.
(5) “The Refugee Convention” means the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees done at Geneva on 28th July 1951 and its Protocol.
(6) “Period of imprisonment” shall be construed in accordance with section 72(11)(b)(i) and (ii) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41).
(7) A voucher is not cash.
(8) A reference to a pending appeal has the meaning given by section 104(1) of that Act.
(9) A reference in an enactment to the Immigration Acts includes a reference to sections 130 to 136.

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Schedule 1 — Further provisions about youth rehabilitation orders

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Compatibility of requirements, requirement to avoid conflict with religious beliefs, etc.

29 (1) Before making—
(a) a youth rehabilitation order imposing two or more requirements, or
(b) two or more youth rehabilitation orders in respect of associated offences, the court must consider whether, in the circumstances of the case, the requirements to be imposed by the order or orders are compatible with each other.
(2) Sub-paragraph (1) is subject to paragraphs 2, 3(4) and 4(4).
(3) The court must ensure, as far as practicable, that any requirement imposed by a youth rehabilitation order is such as to avoid—
(a) any conflict with the offender’s religious beliefs,
(b) any interference with the times, if any, at which the offender normally works or attends school or any other educational establishment, and
(c) any conflict with the requirements of any other youth rehabilitation order to which the offender may be subject.
(4) The Secretary of State may by order provide that sub-paragraph (3) is to have effect with such additional restrictions as may be specified in the order.

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SCHEDULE 16 (Section 74)
HATRED ON THE GROUNDS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION

1 Part 3A of the Public Order Act 1986 (c. 64) (hatred against persons on religious grounds) has effect subject to the following amendments.

2 In the heading for Part 3A at the end insert “OR GROUNDS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION”.

3 In the italic cross-heading before section 29A at the end insert “and “hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation””.

4 After that section insert—
“29AB Meaning of “hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation”
In this Part “hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation” means hatred against a group of persons defined by reference to sexual orientation (whether towards persons of the same sex, the opposite sex or both).”

5 In the italic cross-heading before section 29B at the end insert “or hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation”.

6 (1) Section 29B (use of words or behaviour or display of written material) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), after “religious hatred” insert “or hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation”.
(3) Omit subsection (3).

7 In section 29C(1) (publishing or distributing written material), after “religious hatred” insert “or hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation”.

8 In section 29D(1) (public performance of play), after “religious hatred” insert “or hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation”.

9 In section 29E(1) (distributing, showing or playing a recording), after “religious hatred” insert “or hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation”.

10 In section 29F(1) (broadcasting or including programme in programme service), after “religious hatred” insert “or hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation”.

11 In section 29G(1) (possession of inflammatory material), for “religious hatred to be stirred up thereby” substitute “thereby to stir up religious hatred or hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation”.

12 (1) Section 29H (powers of entry and search) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), omit “in England and Wales”.
(3) Omit subsection (2).

13 (1) Section 29I (power to order forfeiture) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (2)—
(a) in paragraph (a), omit “in the case of an order made in proceedings in England and Wales,”; and
(b) omit paragraph (b).
(3) Omit subsection (4).

14 After section 29J insert—
“29JA Protection of freedom of expression (sexual orientation)
In this Part, for the avoidance of doubt, the discussion or criticism of sexual conduct or practices or the urging of persons to refrain from or modify such conduct or practices shall not be taken of itself to be threatening or intended to stir up hatred.”

15 In section 29K(1) (savings for reports of parliamentary or judicial proceedings), for “or in the Scottish Parliament” substitute “, in the Scottish Parliament or in the National Assembly for Wales”.

16 (1) Section 29L (procedure and punishment) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsections (1) and (2), omit “in England and Wales”.
(3) In subsection (3), in paragraph (b), for “six months” substitute “12 months”.
(4) After that subsection insert—
“(4) In subsection (3)(b) the reference to 12 months shall be read as a reference to 6 months in relation to an offence committed before the commencement of section 154(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.”

17 In section 29N (interpretation), after the definition of “dwelling” insert—
““hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation” has the meaning given by section 29AB;”.

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Schedule 26 — Minor and consequential amendments

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Football Spectators Act 1989 (c. 37)

26 In paragraph 1(c), (k) and (q) of Schedule 1 to the Football Spectators Act 1989 (offences)—
(a) for “Part III” substitute “Part 3 or 3A”; and
(b) for “(racial hatred)” substitute “(hatred by reference to race etc)”.

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Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52)

82 (1) The Armed Forces Act 2006 has effect subject to the following amendments.
(2) In paragraph 12(ah) of Schedule 2 (offences)—
(a) for “and 18 to 23” substitute “, 18 to 23 and 29B to 29G”, and
(b) for “racial or religious hatred” substitute “hatred by reference to race etc”.