Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates' Courts Act 1978

78 Penalties for disobeying orders other than for the payment of money

(1) In section 54(3) of the [1952 c. 55.] Magistrates' Courts Act 1952 (which provides penalties for disobeying orders other than for the payment of money) for the words from " the court may " to the end of the subsection there shall be substituted the words " the court may—

(a) order him to pay a sum not exceeding £50 for every day during which he is in default or a sum not exceeding £1,000; or

(b) commit him to custody until he has remedied his default or for a period not exceeding two months;

but a person who is ordered to pay a sum for every day during which he is in default or who is committed to custody until he has remedied his default shall not by virtue of this section be ordered to pay more than £1,000 or be committed for more than two months in all for doing or abstaining from doing the same thing contrary to the order (without prejudice to the operation of this section in relation to any subsequent default).".

(2) For subsection (4) of the said section 54 there shall be substituted the following subsection—

“(4) Any sum ordered to be paid under the last preceding subsection shall for the purposes of this Act be treated as adjudged to be paid by a conviction of a magistrates' court.”.