Commentary Definitions Subsection (2)
22.Subsection (2) sets out the conduct and mental element of the offence. Article 5 of the Convention requires parties to have an offence of public provocation to commit a terrorist offence. Terrorist offence is defined in Article 1 of the Convention as any offence within the scope of, or defined in, one of the treaties listed in the Appendix to the Convention. The Appendix lists a number of treaties the offences from which have been translated into UK law through legislation, as a consequence the concept of terrorist offence in Article 5 (and Article 1) of the Convention becomes the concept of Convention offence in the Act. Convention offences are set out in Schedule 1 to the Act which consists of a list of the UK provisions implementing the treaties listed in the Appendix to the Convention.
23.The new offence is committed if a person publishes a statement (as defined in subsection (1)) or causes another to publish such a statement and he has the necessary mens rea. The mens rea is that, at the time of publishing or causing to publish, he either intends members of the public to be directly or indirectly encouraged or otherwise induced, by the statement to commit, prepare or instigate acts of terrorism or Convention offences, or he is reckless as to whether members of the public will be so directly or indirectly encouraged by the statement. A number of definitions relating to this offence, including the definition of act of terrorism, publish, statement and public, are set out in section 20 of the Act. The effect of those definitions is set out in paragraphs 16-19 and 94 and 95 of these notes.