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Bomb Hoax (Section 51 Criminal Law Act 1977)

Criminal Law Act 1977, s.51

  • Either way
  • 7 years' custody

Definition

A person who (a) places any article in any place whatever; or (b) dispatches any article by post, rail or any other means whatever of sending things from one place to another, with the intention (in either case) of inducing in some other person a belief that it is likely to explode or ignite and thereby cause personal injury or damage to property is guilty of an offence. In this subsection "article" includes substance. (Criminal Law Act 1977, s.51(1)) A person who communicates any information which he knows or believes to be false to another person with the intention of inducing in him or any other person a false belief that a bomb or other thing liable to explode or ignite is present in any place or location whatever is guilty of an offence. (Criminal Law Act 1977, s.51(2))

Points to prove

  1. A person
  2. places any article in any place whatever, or dispatches any article by post, rail or any other means whatever of sending things from one place to another
  3. with the intention of inducing in some other person a belief that it is likely to explode or ignite and thereby cause personal injury or damage to property (s.51(1))
  4. or, a person
  5. communicates any information which he knows or believes to be false to another person
  6. with the intention of inducing in him or any other person a false belief that a bomb or other thing liable to explode or ignite is present in any place or location whatever (s.51(2))
  7. it is not necessary for him to have any particular person in mind as the person in whom he intends to induce the belief (s.51(3))

Bomb Hoax is an offence under s.51 Criminal Law Act 1977. A person commits the offence if he places any article in any place whatever, or dispatches any article by post, rail or any other means whatever of sending things from one place to another, with the intention of inducing in some other person a belief that it is likely to explode or ignite and thereby cause personal injury or damage to property; "article" includes substance (s.51(1)). A person also commits the offence if he communicates any information which he knows or believes to be false to another person with the intention of inducing in him or any other person a false belief that a bomb or other thing liable to explode or ignite is present in any place or location whatever (s.51(2)). It is not necessary for him to have any particular person in mind as the person in whom he intends to induce the belief (s.51(3)). Maximum sentence: on conviction on indictment, imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years; on summary conviction, imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding £1,000, or both (s.51(4), as the text reads).

In practice

This is an either-way offence: it may be tried at the magistrates' court or the Crown Court. Mode of trial depends on the seriousness and the defendant's election. The suspect must be cautioned in accordance with Code C PACE 1984 before any questions about the offence are put to them. Interviews must be audio-recorded (Code E) or, for indictable offences, may be visually recorded (Code F).

Last updated 20 October 2026. Reviewed 20 October 2026