Part 5

Criminal law

Blasphemy

Abolition of common law offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel
79
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.