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Part 5 E+W+N.I.Criminal law

BlasphemyE+W

79Abolition of common law offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libelE+W

(1)The offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel under the common law of England and Wales are abolished.

(2)In section 1 of the Criminal Libel Act 1819 (60 Geo. 3 & 1 Geo. 4 c. 8) (orders for seizure of copies of blasphemous or seditious libel) the words “any blasphemous libel, or” are omitted.

(3)In sections 3 and 4 of the Law of Libel Amendment Act 1888 (c. 64) (privileged matters) the words “blasphemous or” are omitted.

(4)Subsections (2) and (3) (and the related repeals in Schedule 28) extend to England and Wales only.