Territorial Waters Jurisdiction Act 1878

The Territorial Waters Jurisdiction Act 1878 (41 & 42 Vict. c.73) is an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain. The long title of the Act is "An Act to regulate the law relating to the Trial of Offences committed on the Sea within a certain distance of the Coasts of Her Majesty’s Dominions." It is still in force. It codifies the law relating to offences committed in the territorial waters of the United Kingdom, including crimes committed on foreign ships. Under section 7 of the Act, the applicable law is the law of England and Wales, even if the offence is committed off the coast of Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Section 3 of the Act requires the consent of the Secretary of State to prosecute someone under the Act if they are not a British subject.