Offences at Sea Act 1799
| Act of Parliament | |
| Long title | An Act for remedying certain Defects in the Law respecting Offences committed upon the High Seas. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 39 Geo. 3. c. 37 |
| Territorial extent | Great Britain |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 10 May 1799 |
| Commencement | 10 May 1799 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | Offences at Sea Act 1536 |
| Amended by | Criminal Law Act 1967 |
| Relates to | |
Status: Amended | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
| Text of the Offences at Sea Act 1799 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Offences at Sea Act 1799 (39 Geo. 3. c. 37) is an act of the Parliament of Great Britain. It is still in force. It extended the jurisdiction of British courts to crimes committed by British subjects on the high seas. It does not apply to foreign citizens. (However crimes committed by foreigners in British territorial waters, or on board British ships on the high seas, can be prosecuted in British courts.) Jurisdiction over piracy on the high seas already existed before 1799, whether committed by British subjects or not.
The act appears to determine the sentence for piracy iure gentium in cases where section 2 of the Piracy Act 1837 (7 Will. 4 & 1 Vict. c. 88) does not apply.