Part 5 Offences under domestic law

England and Wales

55 Meaning of “ancillary offence”

(1) References in this Part to an ancillary offence under the law of England and Wales are to—
(a) aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of an offence,
(b) inciting a person to commit an offence,
(c) attempting or conspiring to commit an offence, or
(d) assisting an offender or concealing the commission of an offence.
(2) In subsection (1)(a) the reference to aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring is to conduct that in relation to an indictable offence would be punishable under section 8 of the Accessories and Abettors Act 1861 (c. 94).
(3) In subsection (1)(b) the reference to incitement is to conduct amounting to an offence of incitement at common law.
(4) In subsection (1)(c)—
(a) the reference to an attempt is to conduct amounting to an offence under section 1 of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981 (c. 47); and
(b) the reference to conspiracy is to conduct amounting to an offence of conspiracy under section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45).
(5) In subsection (1)(d)—
(a)the reference to assisting an offender is to conduct that in relation to a relevant offence would amount to an offence under section 4(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1967 (c. 58); and
(b)the reference to concealing an offence is to conduct that in relation to a relevant offence would amount to an offence under section 5(1) of that Act.

Part 5 Offences under domestic law

Northern Ireland

62 Meaning of “ancillary offence”

(1) References in this Part to an ancillary offence under the law of Northern Ireland are to—
(a) aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of an offence,
(b) inciting a person to commit an offence,
(c) attempting or conspiring to commit an offence, or
(d) assisting an offender or concealing the commission of an offence.
(2) In subsection (1)(a) the reference to aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring is to conduct that in relation to an indictable offence would be punishable under section 8 of the Accessories and Abettors Act 1861 (c. 94).
(3) In subsection (1)(b) the reference to incitement is to conduct amounting to an offence of incitement at common law.
(4) In subsection (1)(c)—
(a) the reference to an attempt is to conduct amounting to an offence under Article 3 of the Criminal Attempts and Conspiracy (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 (S.I. 1983/1120 (N.I. 13)) ; and
(b) the reference to conspiracy is to conduct amounting to an offence of conspiracy under Article 9 of that Order.
(5) In subsection (1)(d)—
(a) the reference to assisting an offender is to conduct that in relation to an arrestable offence would amount to an offence under section 4(1) of the Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967 (c. 18 (N.I.)); and
(b) the reference to concealing an offence is to conduct that in relation to an arrestable offence would amount to an offence under section 5(1) of that Act.

Article 25
Individual criminal responsibility
1. The Court shall have jurisdiction over natural persons pursuant to this Statute.
2. A person who commits a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court shall be individually responsible and liable for punishment in accordance with this Statute.
3. In accordance with this Statute, a person shall be criminally responsible and liable for punishment for a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court if that person:
(a) Commits such a crime, whether as an individual, jointly with another or through another person, regardless of whether that other person is criminally responsible;
(b) Orders, solicits or induces the commission of such a crime which in fact occurs or is attempted;
(c) For the purpose of facilitating the commission of such a crime, aids, abets or otherwise assists in its commission or its attempted commission, including providing the means for its commission;
(d) In any other way contributes to the commission or attempted commission of such a crime by a group of persons acting with a common purpose. Such contribution shall be intentional and shall either:
(i) Be made with the aim of furthering the criminal activity or criminal purpose of the group, where such activity or purpose involves the commission of a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court; or
(ii) Be made in the knowledge of the intention of the group to commit the crime;
(e) In respect of the crime of genocide, directly and publicly incites others to commit genocide;
(f) Attempts to commit such a crime by taking action that commences its execution by means of a substantial step, but the crime does not occur because of circumstances independent of the person's intentions. However, a person who abandons the effort to commit the crime or otherwise prevents the completion of the crime shall not be liable for punishment under this Statute for the attempt to commit that crime if that person completely and voluntarily gave up the criminal purpose.
4. No provision in this Statute relating to individual criminal responsibility shall affect the responsibility of States under international law.

This provision follows the ICC Statute.

Commission of both the primary offence and any ancilliary offence can lead to individual criminal responsibility under the Statute.