- Latest available (Revised)
- Point in Time (12/01/2010)
- Original (As enacted)
Point in time view as at 12/01/2010.
There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Criminal Libel Act 1819, Section 1.
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the editorial team. Please see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for details regarding the timescales for which new effects are identified and recorded on this site.
(1)In every case [F1in Northern Ireland] in which any verdict or judgment by default shall be had against any person for composing, printing, or publishing [F2any blasphemous libel ][F3, or any seditious libel tending to bring into hatred or contempt the person of his Majesty or the government and constitution of the United Kingdom as by law established, or either House of Parliament, or to excite his Majesty’s subjects to attempt the alteration of any matter in Church or State as by law established, otherwise than by lawful means], it shall be lawful for the judge or the court before whom or in which such verdict shall have been given, or the court in which such judgment by default shall be had, to make an order for the seizure and carrying away and detaining in safe custody, in such manner as shall be directed in such order, all copies of the libel which shall be in the possession of the person against whom such verdict or judgment shall have been had, or in the possession of any other person named in the order for his use, evidence upon oath having been previously given to the satisfaction of such court or judge, that a copy or copies of the said libel is or are in the possession of such other person for the use of the person against whom such verdict or judgment shall have been had as aforesaid; and in every such case it shall be lawful for any justice of the peace, or for any constable or other peace officer, acting under any such order, or for any person or persons acting with or in aid of any such justice of the peace, constable, or other peace officer, to search for any copies of such libel in any house, building, or other place whatsoever belonging to the person against whom any such verdict or judgment shall have been had, or to any other person so named, in whose possession any copies of any such libel, belonging to the person against whom any such verdict or judgment shall have been had, shall be; and in case admission shall be refused or not obtained within a reasonable time after it shall have been first demanded, to enter by force by day into any such house, building, or place whatsoever, and to carry away all copies of the libel there found, and to detain the same in safe custody, until the same shall be restored under the provisions of this Act, or disposed of according to any further order made in relation thereto.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 1 inserted (E.W.N.I.) (12.1.2010) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(2)(c), Sch. 21 para. 65(1)(a) (with s. 180)
F2Words in s. 1 repealed (E.W.) (8.7.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 79(2), 153(2)(d), Sch. 28 Pt. 5
F3Words in s. 1 repealed (E.W.N.I.) (12.1.2010) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(2)(c)(e)(ii), Sch. 21 para. 65(1)(b), Sch. 23 Pt. 2 (with s. 180)
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.