{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/post-office-act-1953-repealed/section-11",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/post-office-act-1953-repealed/section-11.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/Eliz2/1-2/36",
  "legislation_title": "Post Office Act 1953 (repealed)",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/post-office-act-1953-repealed",
  "path": "section/11",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "11",
  "heading": "Prohibition on sending by post of certain articles.",
  "text": "(1) A person shall not send or attempt to send or procure to be sent a postal packet which—\n(a) save as the Post Office may either generally or in any particular case allow, encloses any explosive, dangerous, noxious or deleterious substance, any filth, any sharp instrument not properly protected, any noxious living creature, or any creature, article or thing whatsoever which is likely to injure either other postal packets in course of conveyance or a person engaged in the business of the Post Office; or\n(b) encloses any indecent or obscene print, painting, photograph, lithograph, engraving, cinematograph film, book, card or written communication, or any indecent or obscene article whether similar to the above or not; or\n(c) has on the packet, or on the cover thereof, any words, marks or designs which are grossly offensive or of an indecent or obscene character.\n(2) If any person acts in contravention of the foregoing subsection, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100 or on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months.\n(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(4) The detention by the Post Office of any postal packet on the grounds of a contravention of this section or of any regulations having effect by virtue thereof shall not exempt the sender thereof from any proceedings which might have been taken if the packet had been delivered in due course of post.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words substituted by virtue of Post Office Act 1969 (c. 48), Sch. 4 para. 2(3)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words substituted by Criminal Justice Act 1967 (c. 80), s. 92, Sch. 3 Pt. I"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Ss. 5–7, 8(1)(2)(4), 9,10,(1)(2)(4)(5), 11(3), 12–15, 16(3) repealed by Post Office Act 1969 (c. 48), Sch. 11 Pt.II"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words substituted by virtue of Post Office Act 1969 (c. 48), Sch. 4 para. 2(3)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words substituted by Post Office Act 1961 (c. 15), Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 11 applied (7.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/878, arts. 4, 5 (with art. 17)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "S. 11(4) amended by Post Office Act 1969 (c. 48), Sch. 4 para. 2(3)(b)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/1-2/36/section/11",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T11:16:39.685380+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "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."
}