Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27)

Part 2 U.K. Encouraging or assisting crime

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. 2 restricted by 2007 c. 19, s. 18(1A) (as inserted (1.10.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), ss. 62, 94(1) (with Sch. 13 para. 5); S.I. 2008/2504, art. 2(a))

C2 Pt. 2 applied (with modifications) by 2003 c. 42, Sch. 4 para. 6(3) (as inserted (26.4.2013) by Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 (c. 7), ss. 3(5), 15(1))

Limitation on liability E+W+N.I.

51 Protective offences: victims not liable E+W+N.I.

(1) In the case of protective offences, a person does not commit an offence under this Part by reference to such an offence if—

(a) he falls within the protected category; and

(b) he is the person in respect of whom the protective offence was committed or would have been if it had been committed.

(2) “Protective offence” means an offence that exists (wholly or in part) for the protection of a particular category of persons (“the protected category”).

Commencement Information

I1 S. 51 in force at 1.10.2008 by S.I. 2008/2504, art. 2(a)

[F1 51A Exceptions to section 44 for encouraging or assisting suicide [F2 or serious self-harm] E+W+N.I.

[F3 (1)] Section 44 does not apply to an offence under section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961 or section 13(1) of the Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 (offence of encouraging or assisting suicide).

[F4 (2) Section 44 does not apply to an offence under section 184(1) of the Online Safety Act 2023 (offence of encouraging or assisting serious self-harm).]]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 51A inserted (1.2.2010) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(5), Sch. 21 para. 61(2) (with s. 180); S.I. 2010/145, art. 2(2), Sch. para. 25(a)

F2 Words in s. 51A heading inserted (31.1.2024) by Online Safety Act 2023 (c. 50), s. 240(1), Sch. 14 para. 12(2)(c); S.I. 2024/31, reg. 2

F3 S. 51A renumbered as s. 51A(1) (31.1.2024) by Online Safety Act 2023 (c. 50), s. 240(1), Sch. 14 para. 12(2)(a); S.I. 2024/31, reg. 2

F4 S. 51A(2) inserted (31.1.2024) by Online Safety Act 2023 (c. 50), s. 240(1), Sch. 14 para. 12(2)(b); S.I. 2024/31, reg. 2