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Polygamous marriages may not be performed in the United Kingdom, and if a polygamous marriage is performed, the already-married person may be guilty of the crime of bigamy. Polygamous marriages legally performed in another country where the law allows it are not recognized for pension, immigration or citizenship purposes.〔(1,000 men living legally with multiple wives despite fears over exploitation ) ''Times online''〕 However, they may be recognized for the purposes of welfare benefits. This decision was not made without controversy, and there have been protests against it.〔(UK legally recognises multiple Islamic wives )〕 Nonetheless, it is unofficially believed that there are up to 20,000 polygamous marriages in the Muslim community of the U.K.〔(The men with many wives by Channel 4 )〕 ==England and Wales== Bigamy is a statutory offence in England and Wales. It is committed by a person who, being married to another person, goes through a ceremony capable of producing a valid marriage with a third person. The offence is created by (section 57 ) of the Offences against the Person Act 1861: This section replaces section 22 of the Offences against the Person Act 1828 for England and Wales,〔James Edward Davis. The Criminal Law Consolidation Statutes of the 24 & 25 of Victoria, Chapters 94 to 100: Edited with Notes, Critical and Explanatory. Butterworths. 1861. Pages 276 and (277 ).〕 which replaced section 1 of 1 Jac 1 c 11 (1603).〔R v. Taylor () 2 All ER 170, CCA〕 This section replaces section 26 of the Act 10 Geo. 4 c. 34 for Northern Ireland.〔 Subsequent case law has allowed exceptions for cases where the defendant believes on reasonable grounds that their first spouse is dead〔''R v. Tolson'' () 23 QBD 164〕 or that the marriage has been dissolved.〔''R v. Gould'' (1968)〕 Bigamy is triable either way.〔The Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c.43), section 17(1) and (Schedule 1 ), paragraph 5(i)〕 A person guilty of bigamy is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years,〔The Offences against the Person Act 1861 (24 & 25 Vict. c.100), section 57; the Criminal Justice Act 1948 (11 & 12 Geo.6 c.58), section 1(1)〕 or on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to a fine not exceeding the prescribed sum, or to both.〔The Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c.43), (section 32(1) )〕〔For case law on sentencing, see: 〕 Relevant cases are: *R v Crowhurst () Crim. L.R. 399 *R v Smith 1994 15 Cr App R (S) 407 *R v Cairns () 1 Cr App R (S) *R v Bajlu Islam Khan, Karen Mary Kennedy () EWCA Crim. 3316 *R v Trigger Alan, Mike Seed and Philip Stark () EWCA 254, () 2 Cr. App. R. (s) 69 *R v Arthur William Ballard () 2 Cr. App. R. (S) 94 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Polygamy in the United Kingdom」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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