Capital Punishment in the United Kingdom
Not what you're looking for?
When were public executions and non public executions stopped in the UK, what led to this decision and how was it made?
Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary
This solution summarizes the history of Capital Punishment (in the form of both public and private executions) in Britain and the events leading up to its ultimate abolishment.
Solution Preview
With the passage of the Human Rights Act in November 1998, the United Kingdom joined the ranks of "fully abolitionist" countries . The UK Government had introduced a late amendment to the Human Rights Bill in October 1998 that removed the death penalty as a possible punishment for military offences under the Armed Forces Acts.
The death penalty had been available for five military wartime offences: Serious Misconduct in Action; Communicating with the Enemy; Aiding the Enemy or Furnishing Supplies; Obstructing Operations or Giving False Air Signals; Mutiny, Incitement to Mutiny or Failure to Suppress a Mutiny. The last execution under military law was in 1942. In July 1998, Armed Forces Minister Dr John Reid MP had announced that the Government would repeal the death penalty for military offences - and that this had the support of the military top brass.
The UK Government made an international commitment to the permanent abolition of the death penalty on 20 May 1999, when it ratified Protocol 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights. Protocol 6 is an international human rights treaty which commits a government to the permanent abolition of the death penalty. It has been ratified by all other European Union member states.
On 10th December 1999, International Human Rights Day, the UK Government ratified the other international treaty which bans the death penalty, the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and completed the journey to total abolition.
This historic transformation marks the end of a long campaign to get ...
Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
America Fighting for Good - World War II : 1940 - 1945
The quiz will test your knowledge of America and its role in World War II - how it avoided the war, got involved and emerged as a world power and forever losing its isolationist policy.
Social Studies European Review
A knowledge base of history is important to understanding our world today. Take a few moments on this quick review of Europe.
The New Government Begins
The quiz is designed to test your knowledge of American history after a new government and Constitution are put in place.
Imperialism in China
The quiz is about the competition of the imperial powers in the Far East to control the territories of China and Korea. It also reflects the factors which led to World War I
German Wars of Unification
A short quiz to determine the student's knowledge of events and figures associated with the mid 19th Century German Wars of Unification