Participants in Sporting Events (Assaults, Etc.) Bill

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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Other Bills before Parliament

Participants in Sporting Events (Assaults, Etc.) Bill

This is the text of the Participants in Sporting Events (Assaults, Etc.) Bill, as presented to the House of Commons on 15 July 1998

Participants in Sporting Events (Assaults, Etc.) Bill

ARRANGEMENT OF CLAUSES

Clause

1. Proceedings arising from intentional striking of a blow to the head in the course of a sporting event.

2. Interpretation.

3. Short title.

A
B I L L

TO
Make new provision with respect to offences involving the intentional striking of blows to the head by participants in sporting events.
BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

Proceedings arising from intentional striking of a blow to the head in the course of a sporting event.     1. - (1) This section applies to any proceedings for-

(a) assault occasioning actual or grievous bodily harm;

(b) wounding;

(c) manslaughter; or

(d) murder,

where the alleged offence-

(i) occurred in the course of a sporting event, and

(ii) involved the intentional striking of a blow by one participant in the said event to the head of another participant in that event.

    (2) In proceedings to which this section applies it shall not be a defence to show-

(a) that the person struck on the head consented to such an action; or

(b) that the striking of a blow to the head was permitted by the professional rules governing any sport.

Interpretation.     2. In this Act the expressions "sport" and "sporting event" shall have the meanings given in the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.

Short title.     3. This Act may be cited as the Participants in Sporting Events (Assaults, Etc.) Act 1998.

© Parliamentary copyright 1998
Prepared 16 July 1998