Compounding treason is an offence under the

common law Common law (also known as judicial precedent, judge-made law, or case law) is the body of law primarily developed through judicial decisions rather than statutes. Although common law may incorporate certain statutes, it is largely based on prece ...

of England. It is committed by anyone who agrees for

consideration Consideration is a concept of English law, English common law and is a necessity for simple contracts but not for special contracts (contracts by deed). The concept has been adopted by other common law jurisdictions. It is commonly referred to a ...

to abstain from prosecuting the offender who has committed

treason Treason is the crime of attacking a state (polity), state authority to which one owes allegiance. This typically includes acts such as participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to Coup d'état, overthrow its government, spy ...

. It is still an offence in England and Wales, and in Northern Ireland. It has been abolished in the Republic of Ireland. In 1977, the Law Commission recommended that the offence should be abolished for England and Wales and for Northern Ireland.The Law Commission (10 May 1977)
"Treason, Sedition and Allied Offences"
(working paper No. 72), paragraphs 6, 43, 67 and 96(5) – via BAILII.

References

{{reflist Common law offences in England and Wales English law Inchoate offenses Treason in the United Kingdom

See also

References