Interpretation Act 1978

Miscellaneous U.K.

18 Duplicated offences. U.K.

Where an act or omission constitutes an offence under two or more Acts, or both under an Act and at common law, the offender shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be liable to be prosecuted and punished under either or any of those Acts or at common law, but shall not be liable to be punished more than once for the same offence.

19 Citation of other Acts. U.K.

(1) Where an Act cites another Act by year, statute, session or chapter, or a section or other portion of another Act by number or letter, the reference shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be read as referring—

(a) in the case of Acts included in any revised edition of the statutes printed by authority, to that edition;

(b) in the case of Acts not so included but included in the edition prepared under the direction of the Record Commission, to that edition;

(c) in any other case, to the Acts printed by the Queen’s Printer, or under the superintendence or authority of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.

(2) An Act may continue to be cited by the short title authorised by any enactment notwithstanding the repeal of that enactment.

20 References to other enactments. U.K.

(1) Where an Act describes or cites a portion of an enactment by referring to words, sections or other parts from or to which (or from and to which) the portion extends, the portion described or cited includes the words, sections or other parts referred to unless the contrary intention appears.

(2) Where an Act refers to an enactment, the reference, unless the contrary intention appears, is a reference to that enactment as amended, and includes a reference thereto as extended or applied, by or under any other enactment, including any other provision of that Act.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 20(2) applied (5.6.2003) by The Immigration (Jersey) Order 1993 (S.I. 1993/1797), art. 4(1) (as amended by The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (Jersey) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1252), art. 3(a))

C2 S. 20(2) excluded (8.7.2003) by National Minimum Wage (Enforcement Notices) Act 2003 (c. 8), s. 2(2)(4)

[F1 20A References to [F2 EU instruments] U.K.

Where an Act passed after the commencement of this section refers to a [F3 EU instrument] that has been amended, extended or applied by another such instrument, the reference, unless the contrary intention appears, is a reference to that instrument as so amended, extended or applied.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 20A inserted (8.1.2007) by Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (c. 51), ss. 25(1), 33

F2 Words in s. 20A heading substituted (1.12.2009) by European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 (c. 7), ss. 3, 8, Sch. Pt. 2; S.I. 2009/3143, art. 2

F3 Words in s. 20A substituted (1.12.2009) by European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 (c. 7), ss. 3, 8, Sch. Pt. 2; S.I. 2009/3143, art. 2