Post Office Act 1953 (repealed)
1, 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3, 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
General provisions as to transmission of postal packets
5—7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8 Conditions of transit of postal packets.
9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10 Cash on delivery service.
11 Prohibition on sending by post of certain articles.
12—15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16 Application of customs Acts to postal packets.
17 Power to detain postal packets containing contraband.
18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19 Post Office mark evidence of amount of postage, etc.
Money orders
20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21 Special provisions as to postal orders.
22 Issuing money orders with fraudulent intent.
23 Forgery and stealing of money orders.
24 Arrangements with other countries as to money orders.
Conveyance of mail bags by ships and aircraft
25 Outward bound ships.
26 Inward bound ships and aircraft.
27 Owners’ letters.
28 Retention of postal packets after delivery of part thereof to Post Office.
29 Carriage of parcels by coasting ships.
30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
32 Penalty for opening of mail bag by master or commander of ship or aircraft.
Conveyance of mail bags by railway undertakers
33 Power to require provision of regular mail trains.
34 Additional provisions as to regular mail train services.
35 Remuneration for regular mail train services.
36 Alteration of regular mail train services.
37 Review of agreements and awards as to regular mail train services.
38 Conveyance of mail bags by railway otherwise than as part of regular mail train services.
39 Bye-laws, etc. of railway undertakers.
40 Service of notices on railway undertakers.
41 Offences relating to conveyance of mails by railway.
42 Conveyance of mail bags on ships used by railway undertakers.
43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Conveyance of mail bags by tramways and public service vehicles
44†Power to require services by tramways and certain public service vehicles.
45 Additional provisions as to conveyance of mail bags by tramways and public service vehicles.
46—49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Extension of postal facilities and accommodation
50 Indemnity on account of extending Post Office accommodation.
51 Power of local authority to contribute towards new post office or extra postal facilities.
General Offences
52 Stealing mail bag or postal packet.
53 Unlawfully taking away or opening mail bag.
54 Receiver of stolen mail bag or postal packet.
55 Fraudulent retention of mail bag or postal packet.
56 Criminal diversion of letters from addressee.
57 Stealing, embezzlement, destruction etc. by officer of Post Office of postal packet.
58 Opening or delaying of postal packets by officers of the Post Office.
59 Carelessness, negligence or misconduct of persons employed in carrying or delivering mail bags, postal packets, etc.
60 Prohibition of placing injurious substances in or against post office letter boxes or telephone kiosks.
61 Prohibition of affixing placards, notices, etc. on post office letter boxes, etc.
62 Prohibition of imitation of post office stamps, envelopes, forms and marks.
63 Prohibition of fictitious stamps.
64 Prohibition of false notice as to reception of letters, etc.
65 Obstruction and molestation of officers of the Post Office.
65A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
66 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
67 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
68 Endeavouring to procure the commission of any felony or misdemeanour.
Legal Proceedings
69 Summary proceedings.
70 Prosecution of certain offences in any jurisdiction of British postal area.
71 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
72 Evidence of thing being postal packet, and of consent of Postmaster-General to prosecution.
73 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
74 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
75 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
76 Recovery of sums from officers of Post Office.
Miscellaneous and General
77 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
78 Provision as to post office letter boxes.
79 Surrender of clothing by officer of Post Office on ceasing to be officer.
80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
81 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
82, 83 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
84 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
86 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
87 Interpretation.
88 Application to Northern Ireland—general.
89 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
90 Application to Isle of Man—general.
91 Repeals and savings.
92 Short title.
SCHEDULES
FIRST SCHEDULE
SECOND SCHEDULE Section sixty-five of the Post Office Act 1908, as originally enacted.
65 Prohibition of fictitious stamps.
THIRD SCHEDULE

Post Office Act 1953 (repealed)

1953 c.36

An Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to the Post Office with corrections and improvements made under the Consolidation of Enactments (Procedure) Act 1949.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I1

Act wholly in force at 31.8.1953 see s. 92(2).

Extent Information
E1

This Act except ss. 33-45 also extends to Isle of Man see s. 90(1).

Amendments (Textual)
F1

Act repealed (1.1.2001 for ss. 29, 44, 45, and 26.3.2001 otherwise) by 2000 c. 26, ss. 127(6), 130(1), Sch. 9 Note; S.I. 2000/2957, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 Table; S.I. 2001/878, art. 2, Sch. Table (subject to transitional and saving provisions in arts. 3-17); S.I. 2001/1148, art. 2(2), Sch. Table (subject to arts. 3-42)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)