Subsection (6)
27.Subsection (6)sets out a defence to the offence created by this section. It is a defence for a person accused of the offence, where it has not been proved that he intended the statement to encourage or otherwise induce the commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism or Convention offences, to show that the statement published neither expressed his views, nor had his endorsement and that it was clear in all the circumstances of the statement’s publication that it was not his view and did not have his endorsement. The defence is intended, for example, to cover news broadcasters. However, a person will not be able to take advantage of this defence if he is deemed to endorse a statement because he has failed to comply with a notice issued under section 3 (see paragraphs 39 to 45 of these notes).
