Allied Powers (Maritime Courts) Act 1941
Encyclopedia
The Allied Powers Act 1941 (C.21) was an Act
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
that allowed certain British Allies
during the Second World War to set up maritime courts
with criminal jurisdiction within the United Kingdom.
ships, they had no effective machinery of justice. The Allied Forces Act 1940
provided some martial courts, but nothing for maritime law.
Section 1 of the Act allows for new maritime courts to exercise jurisdiction over offences committed by any non-British person on a merchant vessel owned by the nation or power which constitutes the court. Section 2 allows for the courts to hear cases against their own citizens involving mercantile conscription laws. However, individuals can only be ordered before the court with a writ from a British Justice of the Peace
, and punishment takes place in British prisons. Both the Netherlands and Norway constituted courts under this Act, which was eventually repealed after the close of the war with the Statute Law Revision Act 1950.
Acts of Parliament in the United Kingdom
An Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom is a type of legislation called primary legislation. These Acts are passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom at Westminster, or by the Scottish Parliament at Edinburgh....
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
that allowed certain British Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
during the Second World War to set up maritime courts
Admiralty court
Admiralty courts, also known as maritime courts, are courts exercising jurisdiction over all maritime contracts, torts, injuries and offences.- Admiralty Courts in England and Wales :...
with criminal jurisdiction within the United Kingdom.
Act
The Act came into need because of the early events of the Second World War, in which the remnants of the European anti-Nazi forces fled to Britain after their defeat. Finding their armed forces in Britain, sometimes with a large number of merchant navyMerchant Navy
The Merchant Navy is the maritime register of the United Kingdom, and describes the seagoing commercial interests of UK-registered ships and their crews. Merchant Navy vessels fly the Red Ensign and are regulated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency...
ships, they had no effective machinery of justice. The Allied Forces Act 1940
Allied Forces Act 1940
The Allied Forces Act 1940 was an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed in late 1940, after the fall of France....
provided some martial courts, but nothing for maritime law.
Section 1 of the Act allows for new maritime courts to exercise jurisdiction over offences committed by any non-British person on a merchant vessel owned by the nation or power which constitutes the court. Section 2 allows for the courts to hear cases against their own citizens involving mercantile conscription laws. However, individuals can only be ordered before the court with a writ from a British Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, and punishment takes place in British prisons. Both the Netherlands and Norway constituted courts under this Act, which was eventually repealed after the close of the war with the Statute Law Revision Act 1950.