Post Office Act 1969

64 Inviolability of mails

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a packet in the post, anything contained in a packet in the post and a mail-bag containing a packet in the post shall (if it is not the property of the Crown) have the like immunity from examination under a power conferred by or under any enactment (whether passed before or after this Act), from seizure or detention under such a power, from seizure under distress or in execution and from retention by virtue of a lien, as it would have if it were the property of the Crown.

(2) The Post Office and a person who is engaged in its business shall be entitled to the like immunity from prosecution for possession of anything contained in a packet in the post, being a thing whose possession is prohibited by or under any enactment (whether passed before or after this Act), and for failure to comply, as respects anything contained in a packet in the post, with any condition or restriction imposed by or under any enactment (whether passed before or after this Act) with respect to its possession, carriage or delivery, as the Post Office and that person would be entitled to if the Post Office were a government department.

(3) Subsection (1) above does not apply to a power conferred by an enactment for the time being in force relating to customs in its application, by virtue of section 16 of the [1953 c. 36.] Post Office Act 1953 or any regulations made under that section, to goods contained in postal packets, or to the powers conferred by sections 17 (detention of postal packets containing contraband) and 26(6) (search and seizure of postal packets by officers of customs and excise) of that Act.