{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/libel-act-1843",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/libel-act-1843.json",
  "id": "ukpga/Vict/6-7/96",
  "title": "Libel Act 1843",
  "long_title": "An Act to amend the Law respecting defamatory Words and Libel.",
  "citation": "Vict/6-7 c. 96",
  "type": "ukpga",
  "year": "Vict/6-7",
  "number": "96",
  "version": "current",
  "date": "1843-08-24",
  "revised": true,
  "valid_from": "2010-01-12",
  "extent": "E+W+N.I.",
  "unapplied_effects": 0,
  "provisions": [
    {
      "path": "introduction",
      "kind": "introduction",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Introductory text",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/libel-act-1843/introduction",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/1.",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "1",
      "heading": "Offer of an apology admissible in evidence in mitigation of damages.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/libel-act-1843/section-1.",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/2",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "2",
      "heading": "In an action against a newspaper for libel, the defendant may plead that it was inserted without malice and without neglect, and may pay money into court as amends.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/libel-act-1843/section-2",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/3",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "3",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/libel-act-1843/section-3",
      "extent": null,
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/4",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "4",
      "heading": "False defamatory libel punishable by imprisonment and fine;",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/libel-act-1843/section-4",
      "extent": null,
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/5",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "5",
      "heading": "Malicious defamatory libel, by imprisonment or fine.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/libel-act-1843/section-5",
      "extent": null,
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/6",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "6",
      "heading": "Proceedings upon the trial of an indictment or information for a defamatory libel. Double plea. Proviso as to plea of not guilty in civil and criminal proceedings.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/libel-act-1843/section-6",
      "extent": null,
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/7",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "7",
      "heading": "Evidence to rebut primâ facie case of publication by an agent.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/libel-act-1843/section-7",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/8",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "8",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/libel-act-1843/section-8",
      "extent": null,
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/9",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "9",
      "heading": "Interpretation of Act.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/libel-act-1843/section-9",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/10",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "10",
      "heading": "†Commencement and extent of Act.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/libel-act-1843/section-10",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/6-7/96",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T13:36:00.616314+00:00",
    "licence": "OGL-UK-3.0",
    "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
    "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
  }
}