Blackmail in United Kingdom

Definition of Blackmail

In accordance with the work A Dictionary of Law, this is a description of Blackmail :

The crime of making an unwarranted demand with menaces for the purpose of financial gain for oneself or someone else or financial loss to the person threatened. The menaces may include a threat of violence or of detrimental action, e.g. exposure of past immorality or misconduct. Blackmail is punishable by up to 14 years’ imprisonment. As long as the demand is made with menaces, it will be presumed to be unwarranted, unless the accused can show both that he thought he was reasonable in making the demand and that he thought it was reasonable to use the menaces as a means of pressure. Under the Administration of Justice Act 1970, there is also a special statutory crime of *harassment of debtors.

See also threat.

Blackmail and related offences

This section offers a description about Blackmail and related offences in the study of crimes in the English law.

Definition of Blackmail

An unwarranted demand with menaces.

History

Blackmail, a term, in English law, used in three special meanings, at different times. The usual derivation of the second half of the word is from Norman Fr. maille (medalia; cf. “medal”), small copper coin; the New English Dictionary derives from “mail” (q.v.), meaning rent or tribute.

• The primary meaning of “blackmail” was rent paid in labour, grain or baser metal (i.e. money other than sterling money), called reditus nigri, in contradistinction to rent paid in silver or white money (mailles blanches).
• In the northern counties of England (Northumberland, Westmorland and the bishopric of Durham) it signified a tribute in money, corn, cattle or other consideration exacted from farmers and small owners by freebooters in return for immunity from robbers or moss-troopers. By a statute of 1601 it was made a felony without benefit of clergy to receive or pay such tribute, but the practice lingered until the union of England and Scotland in 1707.
• The word now signifies extortion of money or property by threats of libel, presecution, exposure, etc. See such headings as Coercion, Conspiracy, Extortion, and authorities quoted under Criminal Law. (1)

Resources

Notes and References

1. Encyclopedia Britannica (11th Edition)

See Also

Further Reading