United Kingdom
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Abolitionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · The provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 abolished...
- News items in the archive
- 423
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
United Kingdom is classified as Abolitionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 423 news items on United Kingdom, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
- MARCH 8, 2006United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
THE BAHAMAS. MANDATORY DEATH PENALTY BANNED
the mandatory death penalty in the Bahamas was abolished by five British law lords when they held it to be a breach of international human rights.
- MARCH 4, 2006IranDEATH PENALTY
UNITED KINGDOM. 60 PARLIAMENTARIANS CONDEMN EXECUTION OF POLITICAL PRISONERS IN IRAN
following the execution of political prisoner Hojjat Zamani in Gohardasht prison and the threat of a widespread mass execution of political prisoners in Iran, Lord Corbett of Castle Vale initiated a joint statement condemning gross violations of human rig
- JANUARY 18, 2006United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
UNITED KINGDOM. BRITAIN THANKS THAI POLICE BUT OPPOSES DEATH FOR TOURIST'S KILLERS
Britain's Foreign Office thanked the Thai authorities for finding the two fishermen who raped and murdered a British student, but insisted it opposed their death sentence
- JANUARY 16, 2006United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
UNITED KINGDOM. DON’T EXECUTE MY DAUGHTERS KILLERS, MOTHER OF BRITISH BACKPACKER
Wichai Somkhaoyai, and Bualoi Posit, the two Thai fisherman who raped and murdered British backpacker Katherine Horton should be spared the death penalty but locked up for life, the victim's mother said.
- JANUARY 11, 2006United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
UNITED KINGDOM. BATTLE CONTINUES TO SAVE DEATH PENALTY BRITON
Karen Torley, the fiancée of British national Kenny Richey who faced the death penalty in the US state of Ohio, said campaigners would have to wait at least 18 months before there was any chance of his release.
- JANUARY 1, 2006United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
The United Kingdom abolished the death penalty for murder on December 18...
The United Kingdom abolished the death penalty for murder on December 18...
- DECEMBER 14, 2005United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
UNITED KINGDOM. BLAIR CONDEMNS DEATH PENALTY
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he "strongly" opposed the death penalty but warned it was wrong to equate the human rights situtation in the US with that in countries such as China simply on the grounds of the number of executions carried out.
- NOVEMBER 29, 2005United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
the Supreme Court threw out a decision that erased...
the Supreme Court threw out a decision that erased the conviction and death sentence of a U.S.-British citizen in a fatal fire.
- OCTOBER 24, 2005United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
UNITED KINGDOM. BRITISH GOVERNMENT RECONSIDERS 1916 EXECUTION
the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) is to consider new submissions in a case brought by the family of Private Harry Farr, a First World War British soldier who was shot at dawn for cowardice, a judge ruled.
- OCTOBER 18, 2005LibyaDEATH PENALTY
UNITED KINGDOM. UK STRIKES DEAL TO EXPEL LIBYAN TERRORISM SUSPECTS
Britain signed a preliminary agreement with Libya that would allow it to deport Libyan nationals who were suspected of links to terrorism. The move was one of a number of measures to crack down on individuals who encouraged or condoned acts of violence or
- OCTOBER 11, 2005United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
UNITED KINGDOM. HUMAN RIGHTS PLEDGE FOR EXTRADITION PRISONERS
Home Office Minister Andy Burnham said suspects being extradited from Britain under new fast-track proceedings would remain absolutely protected from the death penalty or torture. He told the BBC that the UK government would not permit anyone it had surre
- OCTOBER 10, 2005United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
EUROPEAN UNION. STATEMENT BY THE BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ON BEHALF OF THE EU ON THE OCCASION OF THE WORLD DAY AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
the UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, speaking as Presidency on behalf of the EU, issued the following statement to mark the World Day against the Death Penalty.
- OCTOBER 10, 2005MalawiDEATH PENALTY
EUROPEAN UNION. EU URGES MALAWI TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
the European Union (EU) urged Malawi to continue its effort to abolish the death sentence saying the fact that the country had not undertaken any execution since 1992 was an important step deserving support.
- SEPTEMBER 13, 2005AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA. BRITON TO BE SENT BACK TO SINGAPORE FOR MURDER TRIAL
Australia was to extradite British businessman Michael McCrea to Singapore to face trial for a double murder after Australia's highest court rejected his bid to avoid being handed over. McCrea, 46, was accused of murdering his driver and his driver's girl
- SEPTEMBER 7, 2005United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
EUROPEN UNION. HUMAN RIGHTS CONVENTION SHOULD NOT BLOCK EXPULSIONS, UK HOME MINISTER
British Interior Minister Charles Clarke told EU lawmakers that it was necessary to rethink the European Convention of Human Rights on the ban on extraditing people to countries where they risked torture and execution.
- AUGUST 30, 2005AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA. BRITON WANTED FOR MURDER IN SINGAPORE CLOSER TO EXTRADITION
Michael McCrea, a British businessman accused of a double murder in Singapore, lost another round in a three-year fight to avoid extradition from Australia on the grounds that he could be executed.
- AUGUST 11, 2005AlgeriaDEATH PENALTY
UNITED KINGDOM. DEPORTATION RISK FOR TEN PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR TERRORISM
ten foreign nationals considered to pose a terrorist threat were detained in the last 24 hours by British police, with the intention of deporting them to their home countries.
- AUGUST 10, 2005JordanDEATH PENALTY
UK. BRITAIN SIGNS DEPORTATION DEAL WITH JORDAN
Britain signed an agreement with Jordan, which allowed British courts to depart Jordanians considered to pose a threat to its national security and public order, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) confirmed.
- JULY 5, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
UK. FOREIGN OFFICE UNABLE TO HAND OVER SADDAM EVIDENCE
it was reported that British Ministers were refusing to hand over evidence of Saddam Hussein's war crimes to Iraqi prosecutors - for fear of breaching his human rights.
- MAY 17, 2005United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
a UK judge ruled that British national Babar Ahmad could be extradited to the US
a UK judge ruled that British national Babar Ahmad could be extradited to the US to face charges of soliciting support for terrorism and trying to set up a terrorist training camp in Arizona.
- MAY 13, 2005United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
OHIO. RICHEY’S HOPES RISE WITH NEW COURT RULING
Kenny Richey, a Scot on death row in the US state of Ohio was told that an appeal court decision to quash his conviction could not be set aside, a ruling that could finally end his imprisonment. Richey, who had been facing execution for 18 years, would ha
- APRIL 22, 2005United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
OHIO, USA. APPEAL SETBACK FOR RICHEY
the decision to overturn the conviction of death row Scot Kenny Richey was to be appealed to the US Supreme Court, prosecutors announced.
- APRIL 20, 2005United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
(untitled)
United Kingdom was a cosponUnited Kingdom was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.sor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Huma
- APRIL 18, 2005United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
US. NO DEATH PENALTY FOR UK TERROR SUSPECT
the United States Government provided a written assurance that a British terror suspect Babar Ahmad would not face the death penalty if he was extradited to face trial there.
- APRIL 4, 2005North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
UK. BBC AIRS FILM OF NORTH KOREAN PUBLIC EXECUTION
the BBC broadcast footage purportedly showing the public execution of North Koreans caught trying to flee the country. The videotape obtained exclusively by the BBC was reportedly filmed clandestinely in a village near the North's border with China a mont
- MARCH 21, 2005United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
UK. NO PARDON FOR RUTH ELLIS
documents revealed that 50 years after her death, convicted killer Ruth Ellis had been secretly denied a pardon by the British Government.
- MARCH 11, 2005NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
UNITED KINGDOM. SCOT ON DEATH ROW IN NIGERIA HAS MURDER CONVICTION QUASHED
the family of Scottish businessman Ian Millar, sentenced to death in Nigeria, spoke of their relief after his murder conviction was overturned. Millar, 56, spent a year and a half on death row after being found guilty of killing Anne Marie Gale, his girlf
- MARCH 4, 2005United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
UNITED KINGDOM. BRITON 'MAY FACE EXECUTION' IF EXTRADITED TO US
Babar Ahmad, a British terrorist suspect, could face the death penalty or imprisonment in Guantánamo Bay if extradited to the US, his lawyers said.
- FEBRUARY 13, 2005United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
Sister Helen Prejean, the nun who inspired the Hollywood film Dead Man Walking...
Sister Helen Prejean, the nun who inspired the Hollywood film Dead Man Walking...
- FEBRUARY 10, 2005United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
UK. 'LORILEI – A MEDITATION ON LOSS'
after a sell out run in Australia, Reprieve (in association with Theatre Tarquin) will be hosting 'Lorilei – A meditation on loss', a powerful and moving piece of theatre that looks at the subject of the death penalty from the perspective of the victim’s