ABSTRACT

Sub-section (5) defines the phrase ‘serious offence’ as meaning: attempted murder; conspiracy to murder; incitement to murder; soliciting murder (s 4 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861); manslaughter; wounding or causing grievous bodily harm with intent (s 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861); rape; attempted rape; intercourse with a girl under 13 (s 5 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956); possession of a firearm with intent to injure, use of a firearm to resist arrest, carrying a firearm with criminal intent (ss 16, 17 and 18 of the Firearms Act 1968); and robbery where, at some time during the commission of the offence, the offender had in his possession a firearm or imitation firearm. Sub-sections (6) and (7) specify the offences under the law of Scotland and Northern Ireland which are to be regarded as ‘serious’ for the purpose of s 2.