Capital punishment in the United Kingdom predates the formation of the UK, having been used within the British Isles from ancient times until the second half of the 20th century. The last executions in the United Kingdom were by hanging, and took place in 1964; capital punishment for murder was suspended in 1965 and finally abolished in 1969 (1973 in Northern Ireland). Although unused, the death penalty remained a legally defined punishment for certain offences such as treason until it was completely abolished in 1998; the last execution for treason took place in 1946. In 2004, Protocol No. 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights became binding on the United Kingdom; it prohibits the restoration of the death penalty as long as the UK is a party to the convention (regardless of the UK's status in relation to the European Union).[1]
During the reign of Henry VIII, as many as 72,000 people are estimated to have been executed.[2] In Elizabethan England, the death penalty applied for treason, murder, manslaughter, infanticide, rape, arson, grand larceny (theft of goods worth more than a shilling), highway robbery, buggery, sodomy and heresy. Hanging was the method used for all but treason, which was punished by drawing, hanging and quartering for men, burning for women, and beheading for the nobility; and heresy, which was punished by burning. About 24% of those facing trial for such offences were actually executed. About 75% of hangings were for theft.[3]
Sir Samuel Romilly, speaking to the House of Commons on capital punishment in 1810, declared that "[there is] no country on the face of the earth in which there [have] been so many different offences according to law to be punished with death as in England".[4] Known as the "Bloody Code", at its height the criminal law included some 220 crimes punishable by death, including "being in the company of Gypsies for one month", "strong evidence of malice in a child aged 7–14 years of age" and "blacking the face or using a disguise whilst committing a crime". Many of these offences had been introduced by the Whig oligarchy to protect the property of the wealthy classes that emerged during the first half of the 18th century, a notable example being the Black Act of 1723, which created 50 capital offences for various acts of theft and poaching.[5] Crimes eligible for the death penalty included shoplifting and stealing sheep, cattle, and horses, and before abolition of the death penalty for theft in 1832, "English law was notorious for prescribing the death penalty for a vast range of offences as slight as the theft of goods valued at twelve pence."[6]
Whilst executions for murder, burglary and robbery were common, the death sentences for minor offenders were often not carried out. A sentence of death could be commuted or respited (permanently postponed) for reasons such as benefit of clergy, official pardons, pregnancy of the offender or performance of military or naval duty.[7] Between 1770 and 1830, an estimated 35,000 death sentences were handed down in England and Wales, of which 7,000 executions were carried out.[8]
in the course or furtherance of theft
by shooting or causing an explosion
while resisting arrest or during an escape
of a police officer
of a prison officer by a prisoner
the second of two murders committed on different occasions (if both done in Great Britain).
Under section 94 of the Extradition Act 2003, it is unlawful for an extradition of an individual to take place if the individual is accused of a capital crime, unless the Home Secretary has received assurances that the death penalty would not be applied in that case.[74][75] Regardless of this, in July 2018, the Government said it will not object to the United States seeking the death penalty for two suspected British members of ISIS captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces.[76][77] Although not strictly an extradition case, in response to an urgent question in Parliament on the matter, the Government stated that they still held the policy "to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle".[78]
17 May 1536: was beheaded on false charges of committing adultery and incest with his sister Anne Boleyn.
George Boleyn, 2nd Viscount Rochford
19 May 1536: , second wife of Henry VIII and queen of England, was beheaded at the Tower of London on false charges of adultery, incest and treason so that Henry could marry Jane Seymour.
13 February 1542: , fifth wife of Henry VIII and queen of England, was beheaded for adultery after having an affair with her cousin Thomas Culpeper. Her lady-in-waiting Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford was beheaded the same day for facilitating her adultery.
Catherine Howard
13 April 1546: became the youngest known girl legally executed in England, at age 11 for an unknown offence.[122][123][124][125][126][127]
Alice Glaston
7 December 1549: was hanged from the walls of Norwich Castle for treason after he was found guilty of leading Kett's Rebellion against Edward VI. His brother William was executed the same day by being hanged from the walls of Wymondham Abbey.
Robert Kett
22 August 1553: , was beheaded for treason.
John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland
12 February 1554: , queen of England, and her husband Lord Guildford Dudley were beheaded for treason by Jane's successor Mary I.
Lady Jane Grey
11 April 1554: was beheaded for treason for leading the Wyatt Rebellion against Mary I.
Mother Catherine Cauchés (centre) and her two daughters Guillemine Gilbert (left) and Perotine Massey (right) with her infant son burning for their Protestant beliefs
Thomas Wyatt the Younger
On or around 18 July 1556 on the island of , the infant son of Perotine Massey, less than one day old, was ordered to be burned by Bailiff Hellier Gosselin, with the advice of Roman Catholic priests nearby who said the boy should burn due to having inherited moral stain from his mother.[128]
Guernsey
21 March 1556: was burned at the stake for heresy, despite recanting his Protestant beliefs multiple times.
Thomas Cranmer
2 June 1572: was beheaded for his involvement in the Ridolfi plot.
31 January 1606: , Sir Everard Digby, Robert Keyes, Ambrose Rookwood and Thomas Wintour were hanged, drawn and quartered for their involvement in the Gunpowder Plot, the day after the execution of their fellow conspirators.
Guy Fawkes
21 May 1613: was beheaded for the murder of the Laird of Johnstone and the killings of several other members of Clan Johnstone during a feud between Clan Johnstone and Clan Maxwell.
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