United Kingdom

In its initial transparency report submitted on 26 August 1999, the United Kingdom reported stockpiled anti-personnel mines under its ownership or possession or under its jurisdiction or control.

Notwithstanding the obligation to destroy all stockpiled anti-personnel mines, the Convention permits the retention of the minimum number of anti-personnel mines absolutely necessary for the development of and training in mine detection, mine clearance, or mine destruction techniques.

As of 2017, the United Kingdom had reported having retained 724 anti-personnel mines for these permitted purposes.

Mines are retained with the objective of identifying the anti-personnel mine threat to the United Kingdom Armed Forces, together with maintaining and improving detection, protection, clearance and destruction techniques including for explosive improvised device. 

United Kingdom has confirmed that the anti-personnel mines they retain under Article 3 are inert and therefore do not fall under the definition of the Convention.

In its initial transparency report submitted on 26 August 1999, the United Kingdom reported stockpiled anti-personnel mines under its ownership or possession or under its jurisdiction or control.

In 2003, the United Kingdom reported that it had completed the destruction of all stockpiled anti-personnel mines. 

In total, the United Kingdom reported having destroyed 2,401,324 mines.

In its initial transparency report, the United Kingdom reported areas under its jurisdiction or control in which anti-personnel mines are known or suspected to be implaced.

In accordance with Article 5 of the Convention, the United Kingdom undertakes to destroy or ensure the destruction of all anti-personnel mines in these areas as soon as possible but not later than 1 March 2009.

On 31 May 2008, the United Kingdom submitted a request to extend its mine clearance deadline. The request was granted at the Ninth Meeting of the States Parties and a new deadline set for 1 March 2019.

On 29 March 2018, the United Kingdom submitted a second request to extend its mine clearance deadline and on 6 August 2018 the United Kingdom submitted additional information to the request. The request was granted at the Seventeenth Meeting of the States Parties and a new deadline set for 1 March 2024.

On 14 November 2020, the United Kingdom announced that it had met its Article 5 obligation after clearing 23 million square metres of contaminated land.

Article 5 Extension Request Process

*The UN notes that a dispute exists between the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).

Article 6 of the Convention on indicates that “Each State Party in a position to do so shall provide assistance for mine clearance and related activities […], the care and rehabilitation, and social and economic reintegration, of mine victims and for mine awareness programs […], the destruction of stockpiled anti-personnel mines, […] with a view to ensuring the full and prompt implementation of agreed assistance programs.”

In this regard the United Kingdom routinely engages in such cooperation and assistance. The latest information for this State Party can be found under Latest Views and Updates.

Annually and no later than 30 April, each State Party is to update information covering the previous calendar year. The latest Article 7 reports for this State Party can be found on this page. 

Article 9 of the Convention states that “each State Party shall take all appropriate legal, administrative and other measures, including the imposition of penal sanctions, to prevent and suppress any activity prohibited to a State Party under this Convention undertaken by persons or on territory under its jurisdiction or control.”

The United Kingdom has reported having established national implementation measures or that it considers existing legislation to be sufficient.