The K-Zone: compounding and misprision
These are archaic terms for common law offences
that are now defined
by s.5 of the CriminalLawAct1967.
`Compounding' is accepting reward for withholding
prosection. `Misprision' is failing to report an offence
to the police, again for reward. s.5 only applies in
respect
of arrestable offences, and specifically excluded all other
common law offences of compounding and misprision (except of
Treason). It is therefore not an offence to
accept reward to fail to disclose a non-arrestable offence.
A further, specific exemption from s.5
exists where the compounding or misprision is by the
victim of the offence, and the reward offered is by way of
compensation for the offence itself.
Both offences are indictable, and liable to two years'
imprisonment.
CriminalLaw
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