Arson in royal dockyards
Encyclopedia
Arson
in royal dockyards was among the last offences that were punishable by execution in the United Kingdom
. It remained a capital offence
even after the death penalty was abolished for murder in 1965, although John the Painter
seems to be the only one ever actually executed for it, in 1777. The criminal law consolidation Acts 1861
removed various capital offences from the British statute-books, leaving only five: murder, high treason
, espionage, "piracy with violence" (piracy with intent to kill or cause serious harm), and offences under the Dockyards etc. Protection Act 1772. This Act set out a comprehensive list of crimes punishable by death, such as causing a fire or explosion in a naval dockyard, magazine, warehouse, or ship, until the Act was repealed by the Criminal Damage Act 1971.
In a speech in the House of Lords
in 1998, Lord Goodhart stated that this offence disappeared from the list of capital crimes in 1971 "without, so far as I am aware, either comment or concern."
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
in royal dockyards was among the last offences that were punishable by execution in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It remained a capital offence
Capital punishment in the United Kingdom
Capital punishment in the United Kingdom was used from the creation of the state in 1707 until the practice was abolished in the 20th century. The last executions in the United Kingdom, by hanging, took place in 1964, prior to capital punishment being abolished for murder...
even after the death penalty was abolished for murder in 1965, although John the Painter
John the Painter
John the Painter , also known as James Aitken or John Aitkin, was a Scot who committed acts of terror in British naval dockyards in 1776–77.-Early life:...
seems to be the only one ever actually executed for it, in 1777. The criminal law consolidation Acts 1861
Criminal law consolidation Acts 1861
The criminal law consolidation Acts 1861 were Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. They consolidated provisions from a large number of earlier statutes which were then repealed. Their purpose was to simplify the criminal law...
removed various capital offences from the British statute-books, leaving only five: murder, high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
, espionage, "piracy with violence" (piracy with intent to kill or cause serious harm), and offences under the Dockyards etc. Protection Act 1772. This Act set out a comprehensive list of crimes punishable by death, such as causing a fire or explosion in a naval dockyard, magazine, warehouse, or ship, until the Act was repealed by the Criminal Damage Act 1971.
In a speech in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
in 1998, Lord Goodhart stated that this offence disappeared from the list of capital crimes in 1971 "without, so far as I am aware, either comment or concern."