Source: http://smartleges.com/en/law-library/contempt-of-court-act-1981-1981-c-49/2020281
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 17:35:02+00:00

Document:
An Act to amend the law relating to contempt of court and related matters.
C1 By Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, SIF 39:1), s. 101(1), Sch. 12 para. 23; S.I. 1991/2208, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 it is provided (14.10.1991) that in relation to any time before the commencement of s. 70 of that 1991 Act (which came into force on 1.10.1992 by S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2) references in any enactment amended by that 1991 Act, to youth courts shall be construed as references to juvenile courts.
I1 Act not in force at Royal Assent. Act partly in force at 27.8.1981 see s.21(2)(3).
1 The strict liability rule.
(1) The strict liability rule applies only in relation to publications, and for this purpose “publication” includes any speech, writing, [F1 programme included in a cable programme service] or other communication in whatever form, which is addressed to the public at large or any section of the public.
3 Defence of innocent publication or distribution.
(1) A person is not guilty of contempt of court under the strict liability rule as the publisher of any matter to which that rule applies if at the time of publication (having taken all reasonable care) he does not know and has no reason to suspect that relevant proceedings are active.
(2) A person is not guilty of contempt of court under the strict liability rule as the distributor of a publication containing any such matter if at the time of distribution (having taken all reasonable care) he does not know that it contains such matter and has no reason to suspect that it is likely to do so.
(3) The burden of proof of any fact tending to establish a defence afforded by this section to any person lies upon that person.
(4) F3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 Contemporary reports of proceedings.
(1) Subject to this section a person is not guilty of contempt of court under the strict liability rule in respect of a fair and accurate report of legal proceedings held in public, published contemporaneously and in good faith.
(2) In any such proceedings the court may, where it appears to be necessary for avoiding a substantial risk of prejudice to the administration of justice in those proceedings, or in any other proceedings pending or imminent, order that the publication of any report of the proceedings, or any part of the proceedings, be postponed for such period as the court thinks necessary for that purpose.
(4) F7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5 Discussion of public affairs.
A publication made as or as part of a discussion in good faith of public affairs or other matters of general public interest is not to be treated as a contempt of court under the strict liability rule if the risk of impediment or prejudice to particular legal proceedings is merely incidental to the discussion.
(c) restricts liability for contempt of court in respect of conduct intended to impede or prejudice the administration of justice.
Proceedings for a contempt of court under the strict liability rule (other than Scottish proceedings) shall not be instituted except by or with the consent of the Attorney General or on the motion of a court having jurisdiction to deal with it.
8 Confidentiality of jury’s deliberations[F8 : Scotland and Northern Ireland] .
[F9 (1) [F10 In Scotland and Northern Ireland,] Subject to subsection (2) below, it is a contempt of court to obtain, disclose or solicit any particulars of statements made, opinions expressed, arguments advanced or votes cast by members of a jury in the course of their deliberations in any legal proceedings.
or to the publication of any particulars so disclosed.
9 Use of tape recorders.
where leave has been granted the court may at the like discretion withdraw or amend it either generally or in relation to any particular part of the proceedings.
(3) Without prejudice to any other power to deal with an act of contempt under paragraph (a) of subsection (1) , the court may order the instrument, or any recording made with it, or both, to be forfeited; and any object so forfeited shall (unless the court otherwise determines on application by a person appearing to be the owner) be sold or otherwise disposed of in such manner as the court may direct.
11 Publication of matters exempted from disclosure in court.
In any case where a court (having power to do so) allows a name or other matter to be withheld from the public in proceedings before the court, the court may give such directions prohibiting the publication of that name or matter in connection with the proceedings as appear to the court to be necessary for the purpose for which it was so withheld.
(b) wilfully interrupts the proceedings of the court or otherwise misbehaves in court.
(2) In any such case the court may order any officer of the court, or any constable, to take the offender into custody and detain him until the rising of the court; and the court may, if it thinks fit, commit the offender to custody for a specified period not exceeding one month or impose on him a fine not exceeding [F17 £2,500] , or both.
(4) A magistrates’ court may at any time revoke an order of committal made under subsection (2) and, if the offender is in custody, order his discharge.
(5) [F20 Section 135 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (limit on fines in respect of young persons) and] The following provisions of the M2 Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 apply in relation to an order under this section as they apply in relation to a sentence on conviction or finding of guilty of an offence [F21 ; and those provisions of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 are] sections 75 to 91 (enforcement) ; section 108 (appeal to Crown Court) ; section 136 (overnight detention in default of payment) ; and section 142(1) (power to rectify mistakes).
F17 Words in s. 12(2) substituted (E.W.) (1.10.1992) by Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, SIF 39:1), ss. 17(3), 102(2), Sch. 4 Pt. I (with s. 28); S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2.
F18 S. 12(2A) inserted (E.W.) (1.10.1992) by Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, SIF 39:1), s. 17(3), Sch. 4 Pt. V (with s. 28); S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 and substituted (E.W.)(20.9.1993) by 1993 c. 36, s. 65(3), Sch. 3 para. 6(4); S.I. 1993/1968, art. 2(2), Sch. 2.
C5 S. 12(2): power to amend conferred (E.W.) by Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43, SIF 82), s. 143(2)(f), Sch. 6A as inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), Sch. 5 and substituted (1.10.1992) by Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, SIF 39:1), s. 17(3), Sch. 4 Pt. IV (with s. 28); S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2.
C6 S. 12(2) amended (E.W.) (1.10.1992) by Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, SIF 39:1), s. 100, Sch. 11 para. 29(1)(2); S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2.

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