Communicating a Bomb Hoax
Date Produced: 24 August 2007
Title: Explosives
Offence: Communicating a bomb hoax
Legislation: Criminal Law Act 1977 s 51
Mode of Trial: Either way
Statutory Limitations & Maximum Penalty: On indictment - 7 years imprisonment. On summary conviction - 6 months imprisonment or a fine not exceeding the prescribed sum
Sentencing Range: Range from 12 months to 2 years on indictment have generally been approved by the Court of Appeal, but see CSP for details of specific cases.
Aggravating & Mitigating Factors
Public interest deterrence/public protection comes before D's personal situation.
- Terrorist or political campaign
- Whether actual terror and inconvenience was caused
- Danger to public through panic
- Diversion of emergency services
- Extent of planning and pre-mediatation
- Number of incidents
- Previous history
- Production of visible device to induce fear.
Relevant Sentencing Guidelines
None
Relevant Sentencing Case Law
No guideline case:
Sentences have ranged from 12 months to 4 years (see CSP B7 - 3.3A), dependent on the facts of each case.
Ancillary Orders
- ASBO
- Forfeiture
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