383:. As Canada has a record suspension process, the royal prerogative is only exercised cases where there is substantial injustice or undue hardship. It is rarely granted: between fiscal years 2013-2014 and 2017-2018 there were only 2 requests for clemency under the prerogative granted, compared to over 9,000 record suspensions or pardons granted under legislative powers in fiscal year 2017-2018 alone.
343:, and may only exercise the prerogative of mercy in relation to a federal offender convicted of a Commonwealth offence. The pardon may be a full pardon (said to be a free, absolute and unconditional pardon), a conditional pardon, a remission or partial remission of a penalty, or the ordering of an inquiry. Each state and territory (apart from the
671:
234:
Remission pardons reduce the effect of a sentence, by releasing a prisoner from having to serve some or all of the remainder of their sentence in custody, but the sentence itself remains unaltered. Remission pardons are normally granted on compassionate grounds (although there are now
598:
See R Blackburn, 'Monarchy and the personal prerogatives' Public Law 546, explaining that the "personal prerogative" of the monarch is a set of powers that must be exercised according to law, and must follow the advice of the Prime
Minister, or in accordance with Parliament and the
429:
set up the
Criminal Review Commission to review potential miscarriages of justice, as the threshold for the royal prerogative of mercy was deemed to be too high and other avenues to avoid miscarriages of justice were needed. Also in 2020,
206:, which remains after the pardon. They were traditionally used where new evidence demonstrated conclusively that no crime was committed or that the individual did not commit the offence, but the expansion of rights of
672:"Law Report: Court recommends Bentley pardon: Regina v Secretary of State for the Home Department, ex parte Bentley - Queen's Bench Divisional Court (Lord Justice Watkins, Lord Justice Neill and Mr Justice Tuckey)"
422:. Kristy McDonald QC was appointed by the government in 2009 to review the evidence, and recommended to the government that there was a lack of new evidence to warrant an exercise of the prerogative of mercy.
400:
895:
967:
239:
available), after an offender provides information to help bring other offenders to justice after they have been convicted (however this is now partly covered by section 74 of the
944:
280:, received early release under the prerogative of mercy as a reward for saving the life of the manager of the prison farm when he was attacked and gored by a captive
1044:
498:
243:), to recognize remarkably good conduct in custody, such as the prevention of escape, injury, or death, or to remedy an incorrectly calculated release date.
844:
298:
In 2020, the royal prerogative of mercy was used to reduce the minimum tariff that must be served before Steven
Gallant could be considered for release on
210:
have reduced the need for free pardons, particularly since appeals have the power to quash the original conviction and provide a presumption of innocence.
112:
302:. Gallant, who was serving life imprisonment for murder, was granted this reduction in sentence "in recognition of his exceptionally brave actions at
891:
993:
84:
80:
to "partes abroade" was used since at least 1617. It is now used to change any sentence or penalty. A royal pardon does not overturn a conviction.
1018:
431:
368:
166:
on behalf of the
Sovereign, but still on the advice of government ministers. Specifically, it has been delegated to the federal and state
72:) to convicted persons. The royal prerogative of mercy was originally used to permit the monarch to withdraw, or provide alternatives to,
240:
640:
869:
223:
219:
218:
Conditional pardons substitutes one type of sentence for another, and was often used to substitute a life sentence in place of the
143:
347:, which only provides for an inquiry) has also enacted legislation providing for the reconsideration of convictions or sentences.
147:
139:
135:
619:
426:
407:, and has the power to grant a pardon, refer a case back to the courts for reconsideration, and to reduce a person's sentence.
117:
946:
ADVICE TO THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE CONCERNING APPLICATION BY SCOTT WATSON FOR THE EXERCISE OF THE ROYAL PREROGATIVE OF MERCY
411:
379:(i.e. cabinet) the power to exercise the prerogative, which is the preferred approach. The process is administered by the
579:
88:
953:
404:
816:
340:
918:
791:
463:
396:
541:
336:
108:
95:
332:
167:
31:
236:
226:
and the increase in the rights of appeal, have meant this pardon is rarely used, the last time being 1993.
344:
17:
181:, a court found that this royal prerogative power is "probably" entirely a matter of policy, and thus not
455:
255:
482:
1081:
364:
306:, which helped save people's lives despite the tremendous risk to his own" while confronting terrorist
434:
was granted the prerogative of mercy and his case was referred to the Court of
Appeals to be reheard.
311:
252:
720:
266:
459:
450:
has executive power to grant royal pardons. A high-profile example is the pardon of politician
380:
372:
307:
447:
258:
was issued, promising a general pardon to those pirates who surrendered to the authorities.
303:
77:
543:
The
Governance of Britain - Review of the Executive Royal Prerogative Powers: Final Report
8:
648:
376:
291:
under the prerogative of mercy. Wartime codebreaker Turing had been convicted in 1952 of
155:
699:
704:
614:
609:
371:
may grant pardons on the advice of a cabinet minister. In practice, Section 748 of the
178:
126:
45:
99:
57:
1076:
418:
under the prerogative of mercy, following advice from the then-Minister of
Justice
163:
792:"Murderer on day release who foiled London Bridge terrorist is pardoned by Queen"
676:
415:
292:
198:
Free pardons release a person from the effect of a penalty or a consequence of a
103:
61:
968:"Miscarriage of Justice: Nearly 300 applications for review but none completed"
764:
738:
419:
360:
262:
199:
182:
159:
73:
49:
1070:
451:
273:
30:"Prerogative of mercy" redirects here. For the prerogative in Rwanda, see
392:
288:
121:
37:"Royal pardon" redirects here. For pardons worldwide and in general, see
1019:"Malaysia: Mahathir Mohamad says Anwar Ibrahim to be given royal pardon"
269:
to imprisonment for six months due to the circumstances of their crime.
994:"David Tamihere murder appeal delayed for two years by new DNA testing"
203:
399:, as the King's representative, with the power being delegated by the
328:
281:
443:
130:
265:
exercised the royal prerogative to commute the death sentences of
584:
845:"What is the exercise of clemency (Royal Prerogative of Mercy)?"
356:
299:
207:
171:
65:
38:
277:
91:
advice. Those responsible for recommending its exercise are:
1045:"Malaysia's reformist icon Anwar freed, given royal pardon"
535:
533:
531:
529:
527:
525:
523:
521:
519:
516:
295:
for a consensual homosexual relationship with an adult.
170:
in
Australia and the federal and provincial cabinets in
633:
499:"The Governor-General - The Royal Prerogative of Mercy"
574:
572:
570:
568:
566:
564:
403:. The Governor-General will act on the advice of the
790:
Warburton, Dan; Macaskill, Grace (17 October 2020).
561:
87:, the prerogative is exercised by the Sovereign on
789:
588:. United Kingdom: House of Lords. 4 November 2014.
485:, Colonial Series, Vol. I, 1613–1680, p.12. (1908)
359:the royal prerogative of mercy is established in
174:, in respect of federal and provincial offences.
27:Royal prerogative of the monarch to grant pardons
1068:
395:, the prerogative of mercy is exercised by the
317:
539:
894:. Parole Board of Canada. 18 September 2015.
602:
872:. Parole Board of Canada. 18 September 2015
847:. Parole Board of Canada. 18 September 2015
287:In 2013 a posthumous pardon was awarded to
241:Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005
136:the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
892:"Statistics: Parole, Pardons and Clemency"
864:
862:
718:
493:
491:
118:the Lieutenant governor of the Isle of Man
870:"How are requests for clemency reviewed?"
809:
641:"Royal Prerogative of Mercy - Fact Sheet"
144:the Justice Minister for Northern Ireland
942:
202:, but they do not quash or overturn the
859:
698:
669:
488:
256:Proclamation for Suppressing of Pirates
14:
1069:
839:
837:
817:"Appeals - Royal Prerogative of Mercy"
246:
213:
991:
916:
765:"Royal pardon for codebreaker Turing"
719:Falk Moore, Sally (12 August 1984).
483:Acts of the Privy Council of England
229:
162:the prerogative is exercised by the
834:
610:"Scotland Act 1998: Section 53"
24:
919:"No royal pardon for Scott Watson"
898:from the original on 6 August 2020
739:"Heroic prisoners freed as reward"
109:the Secretary of State for Defence
96:the Secretary of State for Justice
25:
1093:
954:Ministry of Justice (New Zealand)
647:. 4 November 2008. Archived from
188:
267:Thomas Dudley and Edwin Stephens
1037:
1011:
985:
960:
936:
910:
884:
783:
757:
731:
712:
708:. 14 September 1717. p. 1.
585:Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)
549:. UK Parliament. pp. 15–18
464:2018 Malaysian general election
193:
692:
663:
592:
476:
386:
224:abolition of the death penalty
13:
1:
917:Vance, Andrea (9 July 2013).
821:Attorney General's Department
670:Magrath, Paul (8 July 1993).
469:
164:governor-general of the realm
32:Prerogative of mercy (Rwanda)
992:White, Mike (21 June 2022).
503:Te Kawana Tianara o Aotearoa
345:Australian Capital Territory
322:
318:Other Commonwealth countries
138:within Northern Ireland for
7:
437:
113:offences under military law
10:
1098:
335:acts on the advice of the
64:, by which they can grant
54:royal prerogative of mercy
36:
29:
943:McDonald, Kristy (2011).
622:, 1998 c. 46 (s. 53)
369:constitutional convention
350:
312:2019 London Bridge attack
85:constitutional convention
414:was refused a pardon by
272:In 2001 two inmates at
68:(informally known as a
56:is one of the historic
645:Parole Board of Canada
580:"Prerogative of Mercy"
460:Muhammad V of Kelantan
381:Parole Board of Canada
367:, who consistent with
721:"SACRIFICING THE BOY"
620:The National Archives
540:Ministry of Justice.
448:Yang di-Pertuan Agong
179:case of Derek Bentley
76:; the alternative of
341:Minister for Justice
83:In modern times, by
78:penal transportation
416:Sir Jerry Mateparae
405:Minister of Justice
401:Letters Patent 1983
377:Governor in Council
247:Examples in Britain
214:Conditional pardons
156:Commonwealth realms
104:the Channel Islands
771:. 24 December 2013
725:The New York Times
705:The London Gazette
615:legislation.gov.uk
127:Scottish Ministers
58:royal prerogatives
1082:Royal prerogative
651:on 3 October 2016
456:jailed for sodomy
304:Fishmongers' Hall
230:Remission pardons
177:In the important
168:Attorneys-General
16:(Redirected from
1089:
1061:
1060:
1058:
1056:
1041:
1035:
1034:
1032:
1030:
1015:
1009:
1008:
1006:
1004:
989:
983:
982:
980:
978:
964:
958:
957:
951:
940:
934:
933:
931:
929:
914:
908:
907:
905:
903:
888:
882:
881:
879:
877:
866:
857:
856:
854:
852:
841:
832:
831:
829:
827:
813:
807:
806:
804:
802:
787:
781:
780:
778:
776:
761:
755:
754:
752:
750:
735:
729:
728:
716:
710:
709:
696:
690:
689:
687:
685:
667:
661:
660:
658:
656:
637:
631:
630:
629:
627:
606:
600:
596:
590:
589:
576:
559:
558:
556:
554:
548:
537:
514:
513:
511:
509:
495:
486:
480:
397:Governor-General
365:Governor General
337:Attorney-General
333:Governor-General
237:statutory powers
148:devolved matters
140:reserved matters
21:
1097:
1096:
1092:
1091:
1090:
1088:
1087:
1086:
1067:
1066:
1065:
1064:
1054:
1052:
1051:. 20 April 2021
1043:
1042:
1038:
1028:
1026:
1017:
1016:
1012:
1002:
1000:
990:
986:
976:
974:
966:
965:
961:
949:
941:
937:
927:
925:
915:
911:
901:
899:
890:
889:
885:
875:
873:
868:
867:
860:
850:
848:
843:
842:
835:
825:
823:
815:
814:
810:
800:
798:
788:
784:
774:
772:
763:
762:
758:
748:
746:
737:
736:
732:
717:
713:
697:
693:
683:
681:
677:The Independent
668:
664:
654:
652:
639:
638:
634:
625:
623:
608:
607:
603:
597:
593:
578:
577:
562:
552:
550:
546:
538:
517:
507:
505:
497:
496:
489:
481:
477:
472:
454:, who had been
440:
389:
353:
325:
320:
293:gross indecency
253:King George I's
249:
232:
216:
196:
191:
158:other than the
122:the Isle of Man
74:death sentences
62:British monarch
52:tradition, the
42:
35:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1095:
1085:
1084:
1079:
1063:
1062:
1036:
1010:
984:
959:
935:
909:
883:
858:
833:
808:
782:
756:
745:. 19 June 2001
730:
711:
691:
662:
632:
601:
591:
560:
515:
487:
474:
473:
471:
468:
439:
436:
432:David Tamihere
420:Judith Collins
388:
385:
361:Letters Patent
352:
349:
324:
321:
319:
316:
263:Queen Victoria
248:
245:
231:
228:
215:
212:
195:
192:
190:
189:Forms of mercy
187:
160:United Kingdom
152:
151:
133:
124:
115:
106:
100:England, Wales
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1094:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1075:
1074:
1072:
1050:
1046:
1040:
1025:. 11 May 2018
1024:
1020:
1014:
999:
995:
988:
973:
969:
963:
955:
948:
947:
939:
924:
920:
913:
897:
893:
887:
871:
865:
863:
846:
840:
838:
822:
818:
812:
797:
793:
786:
770:
766:
760:
744:
740:
734:
726:
722:
715:
707:
706:
701:
695:
679:
678:
673:
666:
650:
646:
642:
636:
621:
617:
616:
611:
605:
595:
587:
586:
581:
575:
573:
571:
569:
567:
565:
545:
544:
536:
534:
532:
530:
528:
526:
524:
522:
520:
504:
500:
494:
492:
484:
479:
475:
467:
465:
461:
457:
453:
452:Anwar Ibrahim
449:
445:
435:
433:
428:
427:Andrew Little
423:
421:
417:
413:
408:
406:
402:
398:
394:
384:
382:
378:
374:
373:Criminal Code
370:
366:
362:
358:
348:
346:
342:
338:
334:
330:
315:
313:
309:
305:
301:
296:
294:
290:
285:
283:
279:
275:
270:
268:
264:
259:
257:
254:
244:
242:
238:
227:
225:
221:
220:death penalty
211:
209:
205:
201:
186:
184:
180:
175:
173:
169:
165:
161:
157:
149:
145:
141:
137:
134:
132:
128:
125:
123:
119:
116:
114:
110:
107:
105:
101:
97:
94:
93:
92:
90:
86:
81:
79:
75:
71:
67:
63:
59:
55:
51:
47:
40:
33:
19:
1053:. Retrieved
1048:
1039:
1027:. Retrieved
1023:the Guardian
1022:
1013:
1001:. Retrieved
997:
987:
975:. Retrieved
971:
962:
945:
938:
926:. Retrieved
922:
912:
900:. Retrieved
886:
874:. Retrieved
849:. Retrieved
824:. Retrieved
820:
811:
799:. Retrieved
796:Daily Mirror
795:
785:
773:. Retrieved
768:
759:
747:. Retrieved
742:
733:
724:
714:
703:
694:
682:. Retrieved
675:
665:
653:. Retrieved
649:the original
644:
635:
624:, retrieved
613:
604:
594:
583:
551:. Retrieved
542:
506:. Retrieved
502:
478:
441:
424:
412:Scott Watson
409:
390:
354:
326:
297:
286:
274:HMP Prescoed
271:
260:
250:
233:
217:
197:
194:Free pardons
176:
153:
82:
70:royal pardon
69:
53:
43:
18:Royal pardon
684:24 December
655:26 December
393:New Zealand
387:New Zealand
310:during the
289:Alan Turing
183:justiciable
89:ministerial
1071:Categories
902:18 October
876:18 October
851:18 October
826:20 January
801:18 October
775:16 October
749:16 October
700:"No. 5573"
626:16 October
553:16 October
470:References
462:after the
375:gives the
308:Usman Khan
204:conviction
972:NZ Herald
410:In 2013,
329:Australia
323:Australia
282:wild boar
251:In 1717,
896:Archived
769:BBC News
743:BBC News
680:. London
444:Malaysia
438:Malaysia
425:In 2020
276:, South
261:In 1884
200:sentence
131:Scotland
1077:Pardons
1055:18 June
1049:AP NEWS
1029:18 June
1003:27 July
977:27 July
928:27 July
599:courts.
508:17 June
363:of the
129:within
120:within
98:within
66:pardons
60:of the
50:British
46:English
44:In the
446:, the
357:Canada
351:Canada
331:, the
300:parole
222:. The
208:appeal
172:Canada
142:, and
102:, and
39:Pardon
998:Stuff
950:(PDF)
923:Stuff
547:(PDF)
458:, by
278:Wales
1057:2021
1031:2021
1005:2022
979:2022
930:2022
904:2020
878:2020
853:2020
828:2021
803:2020
777:2019
751:2019
686:2013
657:2012
628:2023
555:2023
510:2013
146:for
111:for
48:and
442:In
391:In
355:In
339:or
327:In
154:In
1073::
1047:.
1021:.
996:.
970:.
952:.
921:.
861:^
836:^
819:.
794:.
767:.
741:.
723:.
702:.
674:.
643:.
618:,
612:,
582:.
563:^
518:^
501:.
490:^
466:.
314:.
284:.
185:.
1059:.
1033:.
1007:.
981:.
956:.
932:.
906:.
880:.
855:.
830:.
805:.
779:.
753:.
727:.
688:.
659:.
557:.
512:.
150:.
41:.
34:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.