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Mental Health Act 1983
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Changes over time for: Section 139
Version Superseded: 01/04/2013
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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 a [F2Strategic Health Authority,][F3Local Health Board][F4, Special Health Authority or Primary Care Trust][F5or against a National Health Service trust established under [F6the National Health Service Act 2006 or the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006]][F7or NHS foundation trust] [F8or against the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland].
(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F1Words in s. 139(1) repealed (1.10.2007) by Mental Capacity Act 2005 (c. 9), ss. 67(1)(2), 68(1)-(3), Sch. 6 para. 29(3), Sch 7 (with ss. 27, 28, 29, 62); S.I. 2007/1897, art. 2(1)(d)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(4) inserted (1.10.2002) by S.I. 2002/2469, reg. 4, Sch. 1 Pt. 1
F3Words 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)
F4Words in s. 139(4) substituted (E.W.) (8.2.2000) by virtue of S.I. 2000/90, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 16(8) (with art. 2(5))
F5Words 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)
F6Words 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)
F7Words 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
F8Words 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)
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 a [F9[F10Strategic Health Authority,][F3 Local Health Board] or Special Health Authority][F11or against a National Health Service trust established under [F12the National Health Service Act 2006 or the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006]][F13or NHS foundation trust] [F8or against the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland].
(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)
F3Words 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)
F8Words 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)
F9Words in s. 139(4) substituted (28.6.1995 for certain purposes, otherwise 1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 17, ss. 2(1)(3), 8, Sch. 1 Pt. III para. 107(11)
F10Words in s. 139(4) inserted (1.10.2002) by S.I. 2002/2469, reg. 4, Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 10(3)
F11Words 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)
F12Words 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)
F13Words 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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