HL Deb 19 June 1989 vol 509 c116WA
Lord Jenkins of Putney

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What powers exist to stop any person from publicly advocating or threatening the murder of another person.

Earl Ferrers

Solicitation or incitement to murder is an offence at common law. Section 4 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 also makes it an offence with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, to solicit, encourage, persuade or endeavour to persuade, or to propose to any person, to murder any other person.

Section 16 of the 1861 Act makes it an offence with a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment for a person, without lawful excuse, to make to another a threat, intending that the other would fear it would be carried out, to kill that other or a third person.