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Mental Health Act 1983
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Mental Health Act 1983, Section 139 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 02 December 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 74(8) inserted by 2015 c. 2 Sch. 3 para. 3(3)
139 Protection for acts done in pursuance of this Act.E+W
(1)No person shall be liable, whether on the ground of want of jurisdiction or on any other ground, to any civil or criminal proceedings to which he would have been liable apart from this section in respect of any act purporting to be done in pursuance of this Act or any regulations or rules made under this Act, F1. . . , unless the act was done in bad faith or without reasonable care.
(2)No civil proceedings shall be brought against any person in any court in respect of any such act without the leave of the High Court; and no criminal proceedings shall be brought against any person in any court in respect of any such act except by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
(3)This section does not apply to proceedings for an offence under this Act, being proceedings which, under any other provision of this Act, can be instituted only by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
(4)This section does not apply to proceedings against the Secretary of State or against [F2NHS England] [F3, an integrated care board,] a F4... [F5Local Health Board] [F6or Special Health Authority] F7... [F8or against a National Health Service trust established under [F9the National Health Service Act 2006 or the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006]] [F10or NHS foundation trust] [F11or against the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland] [F12or against a person who has functions under this Act by virtue of section 12ZA in so far as the proceedings relate to the exercise of those functions].
(5)In relation to Northern Ireland the reference in this section to the Director of Public Prosecutions shall be construed as a reference to the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.
Extent Information
E1This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland and Northern Ireland only
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 139(1) repealed (1.10.2007) by Mental Capacity Act 2005 (c. 9), ss. 67(1)(2), 68(1)-(3), Sch. 6 para. 29(3), Sch 7 (with ss. 27, 28, 29, 62); S.I. 2007/1897, art. 2(1)(d)
F2Words in s. 139 substituted (1.7.2022) by Health and Care Act 2022 (c. 31), s. 186(6), Sch. 1 para. 1(1)(2); S.I. 2022/734, reg. 2(a), Sch. (with regs. 13, 29, 30)
F3Words in s. 139(4) substituted (1.7.2022) by Health and Care Act 2022 (c. 31), s. 186(6), Sch. 4 para. 18; S.I. 2022/734, reg. 2(a), Sch. (with regs. 13, 29, 30)
F4Words in s. 139(4) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), s. 306(4), Sch. 5 para. 30(b); S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-10, Sch. para. 3)
F5Words in s. 139(4) substituted (1.4.2007) by The References to Health Authorities Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/961), art. 3, Sch. para. 13(11)
F6Words in s. 139(4) substituted (1.4.2013) by Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), s. 306(4), Sch. 5 para. 30(c); S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-10, Sch. para. 3)
F7Words in s. 139(4) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), s. 306(4), Sch. 5 para. 30(d); S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-10, Sch. para. 3)
F8Words in s. 139(4) inserted by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 66(1), Sch. 9 para. 24(7)
F9Words in s. 139(4) substituted (1.3.2007) by National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 43), ss. 2, 8(2), Sch. 1 para. 69 (with Sch. 3 Pt. 1)
F10Words in s. 139(4) inserted (1.4.2004) by Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43), ss. 34, 199, Sch. 4 para. 56; S.I. 2004/759, art.2
F11Words in s. 139(4) inserted (12.4.2010) by The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), art. 1(2), Sch. 14 para. 28(5) (with arts. 28-31)
F12Words in s. 139(4) inserted (1.4.2013) by Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), ss. 38(3), 306(4); S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-9)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 139 applied (E.W) (5.10.2005) by The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (Consequential Provisions) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2078), art. 12(2)
C2S. 139 extended by Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 36, SIF 85), ss. 17(2), 122(2)
C3S. 139 extended (E.W.) (1.1.1992) by Criminal Procedure (Insanity and Unfitness to Plead) Act 1991 (c. 25, SIF 39:1), s. 6(2); S.I. 1991/2488, art. 2
139 Protection for acts done in pursuance of this Act.S+N.I.
(1)No person shall be liable, whether on the ground of want of jurisdiction or on any other ground, to any civil or criminal proceedings to which he would have been liable apart from this section in respect of any act purporting to be done in pursuance of this Act or any regulations or rules made under this Act, F1. . . unless the act was done in bad faith or without reasonable care.
(2)No civil proceedings shall be brought against any person in any court in respect of any such act without the leave of the High Court; and no criminal proceedings shall be brought against any person in any court in respect of any such act except by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
(3)This section does not apply to proceedings for an offence under this Act, being proceedings which, under any other provision of this Act, can be instituted only by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
(4)This section does not apply to proceedings against the Secretary of State or against [F2NHS England] [F3, an integrated care board,] a F4... [F5 Local Health Board] [F6or Special Health Authority] [F13or against a National Health Service trust established under [F14the National Health Service Act 2006 or the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006]] [F15or NHS foundation trust] [F11or against the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland] [F12or against a person who has functions under this Act by virtue of section 12ZA in so far as the proceedings relate to the exercise of those functions].
(5)In relation to Northern Ireland the reference in this section to the Director of Public Prosecutions shall be construed as a reference to the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.
Extent Information
E2For extent of s. 139 to Northern Ireland and of s. 139(1) to Scotland see ss. 146, 147
E3This version of this provision extends to Scotland and Northern Ireland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales only
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 139(1) repealed (1.10.2007) by Mental Capacity Act 2005 (c. 9), ss. 67(1)(2), 68(1)-(3), Sch. 6 para. 29(3), Sch 7 (with ss. 27, 28, 29, 62); S.I. 2007/1897, art. 2(1)(d)
F2Words in s. 139 substituted (1.7.2022) by Health and Care Act 2022 (c. 31), s. 186(6), Sch. 1 para. 1(1)(2); S.I. 2022/734, reg. 2(a), Sch. (with regs. 13, 29, 30)
F3Words in s. 139(4) substituted (1.7.2022) by Health and Care Act 2022 (c. 31), s. 186(6), Sch. 4 para. 18; S.I. 2022/734, reg. 2(a), Sch. (with regs. 13, 29, 30)
F4Words in s. 139(4) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), s. 306(4), Sch. 5 para. 30(b); S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-10, Sch. para. 3)
F5Words in s. 139(4) substituted (1.4.2007) by The References to Health Authorities Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/961), art. 3, Sch. para. 13(11)
F6Words in s. 139(4) substituted (1.4.2013) by Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), s. 306(4), Sch. 5 para. 30(c); S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-10, Sch. para. 3)
F11Words in s. 139(4) inserted (12.4.2010) by The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), art. 1(2), Sch. 14 para. 28(5) (with arts. 28-31)
F12Words in s. 139(4) inserted (1.4.2013) by Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), ss. 38(3), 306(4); S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-9)
F13Words in s. 139(4) inserted by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 66(1), Sch. 9 para. 24(7)
F14Words in s. 139(4) substituted (1.3.2007) by National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 43), ss. 2, 8(2), Sch. 1 para. 69 (with Sch. 3 Pt. 1)
F15Words in s. 139(4) inserted (1.4.2004) by Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43), ss. 34, 199, Sch. 4 para. 56; S.I. 2004/759, art.2
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C4S. 139 applied (N.I.) (5.10.2005) by The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (Consequential Provisions) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2078), art. 12(2)
C5S. 139 extended by Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 36, SIF 85), ss. 17(2), 122(2)
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