British Virgin Islands Criminal Code

The British Virgin Islands Criminal Code (No 1 of 1997) is a statute of the British Virgin Islands which consolidates almost all of the indictable offences under the Territory's criminal law.

The Code was passed into law by the Legislative Council on 1 April 1997, received Royal Assent on 1 May 1997, and was brought into force on 1 September 1997.

It is sometimes mistakenly said that the Code contains all of the Territory's criminal laws, but this is not the case. The Act expressly preserves offences under other enactments, as well as offences at common law.

Part I – General rules as to criminal liability.

[1]

Part II – Punishments

Part III – Offences against Government and public order

Part IV – Offences against the administration of lawful authority

Part V – Offences relating to the administration of justice

Part VI – Offences relating to religion

Part VII –

Sexual offences

Part VIII –

Abortion

Part IX – Offences relating to ^[2]

marriage

Part X –

Genocide

Part XI – and other offences against the person

Homicide

Part XII – Neglect endangering life or health

Part XIII – , kidnapping and similar crimes

Abduction

Part XIV – Offences relating to property

[3]

Part XV – , coining and counterfeiting

Forgery

Part XVI –

Personation

Part XVII – and similar offences

Criminal damage

Part XVIII –

Criminal libel

Part XIX – and other offences against the public in general

Nuisance

Part XX – , attempt and assisting offenders

Conspiracy

Part XXI – Miscellaneous

After the preamble and various preliminary matters, the Act is divided into 21 parts as follows: