United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Practice Relating to Rule 108. Mercenaries
Section B. Status of mercenaries
The United Kingdom's LOAC Pamphlet (1981) states:
Mercenaries are neither combatants nor entitled to PW [prisoner-of-war] status. A mercenary is a person who takes part in the conflict for private gain, who is not a member of any organized armed forces and has no connection with the countries involved in the conflict.
The UK LOAC Manual (2004) states: “Mercenaries are not entitled to be prisoners of war unless their captors so decide. Even if not treated as prisoners of war, captured mercenaries remain entitled to the basic humanitarian guarantees provided by Additional Protocol I.”