The Defamation Act 1952 (15 & 16 Geo 6 & 1 Eliz 2 c 66) is an Act

Acts of Parliament in the United Kingdom

An Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom is a type of legislation called primary legislation. These Acts are passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom at Westminster, or by the Scottish Parliament at Edinburgh....

 of the Parliament of the United Kingdom

Parliament of the United Kingdom

The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...

.

This Act implemented recommendations contained in the Report of the Porter Committee. The recommendation made by the Committee in relation to the rule in Smith v Streatfield was not implemented.

Section 3 - Slander of title, etc

See Malicious falsehood#England and Wales and Verbal injury

Verbal injury

Verbal injury is a delict in Scotland.Proof of special damageIn any action for verbal injury it is not necessary for the pursuer to aver or prove special damage if the words on which the action is founded are calculated to cause pecuniary damage to the pursuer....

.

Section 15 - Legislative powers of Parliament of Northern Ireland

This section was repealed by Part I of Schedule 6 to the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973

Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973

The Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which received the Royal Assent on 18 July 1973...

.

This section extended to Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...

 in addition to the other places to which this Act extended.

This section provided that no limitation on the powers of the Parliament of Northern Ireland

Parliament of Northern Ireland

The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature of Northern Ireland, created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which sat from 7 June 1921 to 30 March 1972, when it was suspended...

 imposed by the Government of Ireland Act 1920

Government of Ireland Act 1920

The Government of Ireland Act 1920 was the Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which partitioned Ireland. The Act's long title was "An Act to provide for the better government of Ireland"; it is also known as the Fourth Home Rule Bill or as the Fourth Home Rule Act.The Act was intended...

 precluded that Parliament from making laws for purposes similar to the purposes of this Act.

The Defamation Act (Northern Ireland) 1955

Defamation Act (Northern Ireland) 1955

The Defamation Act 1955 is an Act of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.This Act makes similar provision to the Defamation Act 1952 for Northern Ireland....

 was made for purposes similar to the purposes of this Act.

Section 18

Section 18(1) provides that the Act came into force at the end of the period of one month that began on the date on which it was passed. The word "months" means calendar months. The day (that is to say, 30 October 1952) on which the Act was passed (that is to say, received royal assent) is included in the period of one month. This means that the Act came into force on 30 November 1952.

The words "(except section fifteen)" in section 18(2) were repealed by Part I of Schedule 6 to the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973

Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973

The Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which received the Royal Assent on 18 July 1973...

. This was consequential on the repeal of section 15 by that Part.

Section 18(3) repealed sections 4 and 6 of the Law of Libel Amendment Act 1888. It was repealed by Part XI of the Schedule to the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1974.

External links

• The Defamation Act 1952, as amended from the National Archives.
• The Defamation Act 1952, as originally enacted from the National Archives.