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Section 49 Offences under Chapter IV.I1I2I3C1C2C3I4C4C5C6C7C8

United Kingdom

Changes not yet applied. Later legislation changes this provision in ways not yet written into the text below:

I5(1)

This section applies if a publication—

(a)

includes any matter in contravention of section 44(2) or of a direction under section 45(3) or 46(2); or

(b)

includes a report in contravention of section 47.

F1(1A)

This section also applies—

(a)

in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, if a publication includes any matter in contravention of a direction under section 45A(2) made by a service court;

(b)

in England and Wales, if a publication includes any matter in contravention of a direction under section 45A(2) made by a court other than a service court.

(2)

Where the publication is a newspaper or periodical, any proprietor, any editor and any publisher of the newspaper or periodical is guilty of an offence.

(3)

Where the publication is a relevant programme—

(a)

any body corporate or Scottish partnership engaged in providing the programme service in which the programme is included, and

(b)

any person having functions in relation to the programme corresponding to those of an editor of a newspaper,

is guilty of an offence.

(4)

In the case of any other publication, any person publishing it is guilty of an offence.

(5)

A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(6)

Proceedings for an offence under this section in respect of a publication falling within subsection (1)(b) may not be instituted—

(a)

in England and Wales otherwise than by or with the consent of the Attorney General, or

(b)

in Northern Ireland otherwise than by or with the consent of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.

F2(7)

Schedule 2A makes special provision in connection with the operation of this section, so far as it relates to a publication that includes matter in contravention of a direction under section 45A(2), in relation to persons providing information society services.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1

S. 49(1A) inserted (13.4.2015) by Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (c. 2), ss. 78(3)(a), 95(1); S.I. 2015/778, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 63

F2

S. 49(7) inserted (13.4.2015) by Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (c. 2), ss. 78(3)(b), 95(1); S.I. 2015/778, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 63

Modifications

C1

S. 49 applied by S.I. 2004/1988 (N.I. 12), art. 6C(5) (as inserted (N.I.) (18.9.2006) by The Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1965), arts. 1(2)(a), 6; S.R. 2006/368, art. 2(a))

C2

S. 49 applied (E.W.) (20.10.2014) by Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (c. 12), ss. 31(4), 185(1) (with ss. 21, 33, 42, 58, 75, 93); S.I. 2014/2590, art. 3(a)

C3

S. 49 applied (E.W.) (23.3.2015) by Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (c. 12), ss. 16(4), 185(1) (with ss. 21, 33, 42, 58, 75, 93); S.I. 2015/373, art. 4(a)

C4

S. 49 applied (26.5.2016) by Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 (c. 2), ss. 33(4), 63(2); S.I. 2016/553, reg. 2

C5

S. 49 applied (26.5.2016) by Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 (c. 2), ss. 34(4), 63(2); S.I. 2016/553, reg. 2

C6

S. 49 applied (E.W.) (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), ss. 340(4), 416(1) (with ss. 2, 398(1), 406, Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

C7

S. 49 applied (27.11.2024 until the end of the specified period on 24.11.2026 for E.W. in relation to specified areas, 5.3.2025 until the end of the specified period on 26.11.2025 in relation to the specified area, 11.3.2025 until the end of the specified period on 24.11.2026 in relation to the specified areas, 28.4.2025 until the end of the specified period on 24.11.2026 in relation to the specified areas) by Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (c. 17), ss. 49(4), 90(6); S.I. 2024/1191, regs. 1(2)(g), 2, 3(1) (with reg. 4); S.I. 2025/261, regs. 1(2)(f), 2, 3 (with reg. 4); S.I. 2025/319, regs. 1(2)(f), 2, 3 (with reg. 4); S.I. 2025/515, regs. 1(3)(e)(f), 2 (with reg. 3) (as amended (21.11.2025) by S.I. 2025/1222, regs. 1(2), 2, 3, 4 and (25.3.2026) by S.I. 2026/342, regs. 1(2), 2, 3, 4)

C8

S. 49 applied (26.10.2026) by 2014 c. 2, s. L1(3) (with s. L1(4) (as inserted by Crime and Policing Act 2026 (c. 20), ss. 1(2), 255(1); S.I. 2026/960, reg. 4(a))

Commencement

I1

Pt. II Chs. 1-4 (ss. 16-52) in force for certain purposes at Royal Assent, see s. 68(4)

I2

S. 49 in force at 7.10.2004 for specified purposes for E.W. by S.I. 2004/2428, art. 2(c)

I3

S. 49 in force at 8.11.2004 for specified purposes for N.I. by S.R. 2004/467, art. 2(d)

I4

S. 49 in force at 13.4.2015 for specified purposes for E.W. by S.I. 2015/818, art. 2(c)

I5

S. 49(1)-(5) in force at 7.10.2004 for specified purposes for S. by S.S.I. 2004/408, art. 3(b)

Notes on Chapter IV

Modifications

C1

Pt. II Ch. IV modified (31.10.2009) by The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 (Application to Service Courts) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2083), arts. 1, 13