Home / United Kingdom (England & Wales) / Administering poison or a noxious substance
Administering poison or a noxious substancePossibly — unconfirmed
Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
s. 22 — administering chloroform/laudanum/stupefying drug to enable or assist an indictable offencePossibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- Up to life
- Fine
- No fine stated in s. 22
Enacted text: penal servitude for life.
s. 23 — maliciously administering poison/noxious thing so as to endanger life or inflict GBHPossibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0 (no mandatory prison) – 10 years
- Fine
- No fine stated in s. 23
0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.
Enacted text: penal servitude up to 10 years.
s. 24 — maliciously administering poison/noxious thing with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoyPossibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0 (no mandatory prison) – 5 years
- Fine
- No fine stated in s. 24
0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.
Modern maximum per standard texts; enacted text states 3 years' penal servitude — needs re-check against the current consolidated text.
PARTIAL: the 1861 enacted wording was retrieved (penal servitude terms). Modern maxima are: s. 22 life, s. 23 10 years, s. 24 5 years. The s. 24 figure in particular needs re-check against the current consolidated text, because the enacted text states 3 years' penal servitude. 'Penal servitude' is construed as imprisonment.