Witnesses (Public Inquiries) Protection Act 1892

JurisdictionUK Non-devolved


Witnesses (Public Inquiries) Protection Act, 1892.

(55 & 56 Vict.) CHAPTER 64.

An Act for the better Protection of Witnesses giving Evidence before any Royal Commission or any Committee of either House of Parliament, or on other Public Inquiries.

[28th June 1892]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

S-1 Definition.

1 Definition.

1. In this Act the word ‘inquiry’ shall mean any inquiry held under the authority of any Royal Commission or by any committee of either House of Parliament, or pursuant to any statutory authority, whether the evidence at such inquiry is or is not given on oath, but shall not include any inquiry by any court of justice.

S-2 Persons obstructing or intimidating witnesses guilty of misdemeanor.

2 Persons obstructing or intimidating witnesses guilty of misdemeanor.

2. Every person who commits any of the following acts, that is to say, who threatens, or in any way punishes, damnifies, or injures, or attempts to punish, damnify, or injure, any person for having given evidence upon any inquiry, or on account of the evidence which he has given upon any such inquiry, shall, unless such evidence was given in bad faith, be guilty of a misdemeanor, and be liable upon conviction thereof to a maximum penalty of one hundred pounds, or to a maximum imprisonment of three months.

S-3 Prosecution of offences.

3 Prosecution of offences.

3. A prosecution for any offence under this Act may be heard and determined by a court of summary jurisdiction under the Summary Jurisdiction Acts, provided that should either the complainant or the party charged object to the case being dealt with summarily, the court shall send such case for trial to the quarter sessions or assizes, or in cases arising within the metropolitan area to the central criminal court.

S-4 Court to have power to award costs and compensation to party aggrieved.

4 Court to have power to award costs and compensation to party aggrieved.

4. It shall be lawful for any court before which any person may be convicted of any offence under this Act, if it...

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