The death penalty was finally abolished by an amendment to the Crimes and Disorder Act 1998. Until then it was technically possible to execute somebody for treason, piracy with violence, mutiny and certain other military crimes.
The death penalty cannot be reinstated in the UK since it is a signatory to the European Council of Human Rights.
The Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965 suspended the death penalty for murder for five years, except in Northern Ireland, and replaced it with mandatory life imprisonment. In 1969, the Act was made permanent.
In Northern Ireland it was abolished by the passing of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1973.
The last death penalty in the UK was handed down in 1973 to William Holden for the murder of a British soldier.
The last execution in the UK was on 13th August 1964. Peter Anthony Allen was hanged at Walton Prison in Liverpool and Gwynne Owen Evans was hanged at Strangeways prison in Manchester. They were both executed on the same day for the murder of John West.
The last Public execution was carried out in 1868. From then on it was carried out in prisons.
Copyright © 2026 eLLeNow.com All Rights Reserved.
