- Latest available (Revised)
- Point in Time (02/10/2000)
- Original (As enacted)
Version Superseded: 26/03/2001
Point in time view as at 02/10/2000.
There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Post Office Act 1953 (repealed), Cross Heading: General Offences.
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the editorial team. Please see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for details regarding the timescales for which new effects are identified and recorded on this site.
Textual Amendments applied to the whole legislation
F49Act repealed (1.1.2001 for ss. 29, 44, 45, and 26.3.2001 otherwise) by 2000 c. 26, ss. 127(6), 130(1), Sch. 9 Note; S.I. 2000/2957, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 Table; S.I. 2001/878,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)
If any person—
(a)steals a mail bag;
(b)steals any postal packet in course of transmission by post;
(c)steals any chattel, money or valuable security out of a postal packet in course of transmission by post; or
(d)stops a mail with intent to rob or search the mail,
he shall [F1be guilty of a misdemeanour and be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years].
Editorial Information
X1S. 52 repealed (E.W.) by Theft Act 1968 (c. 60), Sch. 3 Pt. I and (N.I.) Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 (c. 16), Sch. 3 Pt. I
Textual Amendments
F1Words substituted by Theft Act 1968 (c. 60), Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 3
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 52 applied (7.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/878, art. 4 (with art. 17)
If any person unlawfully takes away or opens a mail bag sent by any ship, vehicle or aircraft employed by or under the [F2Post Office] for the transmission of postal packets under contract, or unlawfully takes a postal packet in course of transmission by post out of a mail bag so sent, he shall [F3be guilty of a misdemeanour and be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years].
Textual Amendments
F2Words substituted by virtue of Post Office Act 1969 (c. 48), Sch. 4 para. 2(1)
F3Words substituted by Theft Act 1968 (c. 60), Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 4
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C2S. 53 amended as to mode of trial (E.W.) by Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43, SIF 82), s. 17, Sch. 1 para. 22
C3S. 53 amended by S.I. 1981/1675, (N.I. 26), Sch. 2 para. 8
C4S. 53 amended as to mode of trial by S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I. 26), arts. 45(1), 46(3) (as substituted by S.I. 1986/1883 (N.I. 15), art. 3(2), Sch. 2
If any person receives any mail bag, or any postal packet or any chattel or money or valuable security, the stealing . . . F4 or secreting of which amounts to [F5an offence] under this Act, knowing it to have been so . . . F6 stolen . . . F4 or secreted, and to have been sent, or to have been intended to be sent, by post, he shall [F7be guilty of a misdemeanour and be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years] and may be proceeded against and convicted whether the principal offender has or has not been previously convicted or is or is not amenable to justice.
Editorial Information
X2S. 54 repealed by (E.W.) Theft Act 1968 (c. 60), Sch. 3 Pt. I and (N.I.) Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 (c. 16), Sch. 3 Pt. I
Textual Amendments
F4Words repealed by Theft Act 1968 (c. 60), Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 5(a)
F5Words substituted by Theft Act 1968 (c. 60), Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 5(b)
F6Word repealed by Theft Act 1968 (c. 60), Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 5(b)
F7Words substituted by Theft Act 1968 (c. 60), Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 5(c)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C5S. 54 applied (7.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/878, art. 4 (with art. 17)
Any person who fraudulently retains, or wilfully secretes or keeps, or detains, or who, when required by [F8a person engaged in the business of the Post Office], neglects or refuses to deliver up—
(a)any postal packet which is in course of transmission by post and which ought to have been delivered to any other person; or
(b)any postal packet in course of transmission by post or any mail bag which has been found by him or by any other person,
shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and be liable to a fine and to imprisonment [F9for a term not exceeding two years].
Textual Amendments
F8Words substituted by virtue of Post Office Act 1969 (c. 48), Sch. 4 para. 2(1)
F9Words inserted by Theft Act 1968 (c. 60), Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 6
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C6S. 53 amended as to mode of trial (E.W.) by Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43, SIF 82), s. 17, Sch. 1 para. 22
C7S. 53 amended as to mode of trial by S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I. 26), arts. 45(1), 46(3) (as substituted by S.I. 1986/1883 (N.I. 15), art. 3(2), Sch. 2
C8S. 55 amended by S.I. 1981/1675, (N.I. 26), Sch. 2 para. 8
(1)If any [F10person not engaged in the business of the Post Office] wilfully and maliciously, with intent to injure any other person, either opens or causes to be opened any postal packet which ought to have been delivered to that other person, or does any act or thing whereby the due delivery of the packet to that other person is prevented or impeded, he shall be [F11liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both]
(2)Nothing in this section shall apply to a person who does any act to which this section applies where he is parent, or in the position of parent or guardian, of the person to whom the postal packet is addressed.
F12(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4)In this section the expression “postal packet” means a postal packet which is in course of transmission by post or which has been delivered by post.
Textual Amendments
F10Words substituted by virtue of Post Office Act 1969 (c. 48), Sch. 4 para. 2(12).
F11Words in s. 56(1) substituted (E.W.) by virtue of Criminal Law Act 1977 c. 45, Sch. 1 para. 10 and by Criminal Justice Act 1982 c. 48, s. 46; and (S.) by virtue of Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 c. 21, ss. 283A, 289A, Sch. 7A (the said amendment being continued in force (S.)(1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, s. 3, Sch. 1 para. 1, Sch. 2 Pt. I); and (N.I.) by 1986/1883 (N.I. 15), art. 4, Sch. 3.
F12S. 56(3) repealed by Post Office Act 1969 (c. 48), Sch. 8 Pt. II.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C9S. 56: Mode of trial specified (S.)(1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 46, ss. 292(1), 309(2), Sch. 10 para. 3 (with s. 24(2)).
C10S. 56 amended (N.I.) by S.I. 1981/1675, (N.I. 26), Sch. 2 para. 8.
C11S. 56 excluded (E.W.) by Mental Health Act 1983 (c. 20, SIF 85), s. 134(9) and (S.) by Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 36, SIF 85), s. 115(9).
C12S. 56 excluded by S.I. 1986/595 (N.I. 4), art. 16(8).
If any [F13person engaged in the business of the Post Office][F14steals, or for any purpose whatever embezzles], secretes . . . F15 a postal packet in course of transmission by post, he shall be guilty of [F16a misdemeanour] and be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years . . . F17
Textual Amendments
F13Words substituted by virtue of Post Office Act 1969 (c. 48), Sch. 4 para. 2(1)
F14Words repealed (E.W.) by Theft Act 1968 (c. 60), Sch. 3 Pt. I
F15Words repealed by (E.W.) (S.) Criminal Damage Act 1971 (c. 48), Sch. Pt. II and (N.I.) S.I. 1977/426 (N.I.4), Sch. 2
F16Words substituted by Theft Act 1968 (c. 60), Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 7(b)
F17Words repealed by Theft Act 1968 (c. 60), Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 7(a)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C13S. 53 amended as to mode of trial by S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I. 26), arts. 45(1), 46(3) (as substituted by S.I. 1986/1883 (N.I. 15), art. 3(2), Sch. 2
C14S. 57 amended as to mode of trial (E.W.) by Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43, SIF 82), s. 17, Sch. 1 para. 22
C15S. 57 amended by S.I. 1981/1675, (N.I. 26), Sch. 2 para. 8
(1)If any [F18person engaged in the business of the Post Office], contrary to his duty, opens, or procures or suffers to be opened, any postal packet in course of transmission by post, or wilfully detains or delays, or procures or suffers to be detained or delayed, any such postal packet, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and be liable to imprisonment [F19for a term not exceeding two years] or to a fine, or to both:
Provided that nothing in this section shall extend to the opening, detaining or delaying of a postal packet returned for want of a true direction, or returned by reason that the person to whom it is directed has refused it, or has refused or neglected to pay the postage thereof, or that the packet cannot for any other reason be delivered, or to the opening, detaining or delaying of a postal packet under the authority of this Act or in obedience to [F20a warrant issued by the Secretary of State [F21or the Scottish Ministers] under section 2 of the Interception of Communications Act 1985][F22or under the authority of an interception warrant under section 5 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000].
(2)In the application of the foregoing subsection to . . . F23 the Isle of Man, for the reference to [F20a warrant issued by the Secretary of State under section 2 of the Interception of Communications Act 1985]there shall be substituted a reference to a warrant in writing under the hand of the Lieutenant-Governor issued with the sanction of a Secretary of State.
Textual Amendments
F18Words substituted by virtue of Post Office Act 1969 (c. 48), Sch. 4 para. 2(1)
F19Words inserted by Theft Act 1968 (c. 60), Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 6
F20Words substituted by Interception of Communications Act 1985 (c. 56, SIF 96), s. 11(2)(a)
F21Words in s. 58 inserted (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1750, arts. 1(1), 6(1), Sch. 5 para. 1; S.I. 1998/3178
F22Words in s. 58(1) inserted (2.10.2000) by 2000 c. 23, s. 82(1), Sch. 4 para. 1; S.I. 2000/2543, art. 3
F23Words repealed by S.I. 1973/2163, Sch. 6
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C16S. 53 amended as to mode of trial by S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I. 26), arts. 45(1), 46(3) (as substituted by S.I. 1986/1883 (N.I. 15), art. 3(2), Sch. 2
C17S. 58 amended as to mode of trial (E.W.) by Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43, SIF 82), s. 17, Sch. 1 para. 22
C18S. 58 amended by S.I. 1981/1675, (N.I. 26), Sch. 2 para. 8
If any person employed to convey or deliver a mail bag, or a postal packet in course of transmission by post, or to perform any other duty in respect of a mail bag or such a postal packet—
(a)without authority whilst so employed, or whilst the mail bag or postal packet is in his custody or possession, leaves it, or suffers any person, not being the person in charge thereof, to ride in the place appointed for the person in charge thereof in or upon any vehicle used for the conveyance thereof, or to ride in or upon a vehicle so used and not licensed to carry passengers, or upon a horse used for the conveyance on horseback thereof;
(b)is guilty of any act of drunkenness whilst so employed;
(c)is guilty of carelessness, negligence or other misconduct whereby the safety of the mail bag or postal packet is endangered;
(d)without authority collects, receives, conveys or delivers a postal packet otherwise than in the ordinary course of post;
(e)gives any false information of an assault or attempt at robbery upon him; or
(f)loiters on the road or passage, or wilfully misspends his time so as to retard the progress or delay the arrival of a mail bag or postal packet in the course of transmission by post, or does not use due care and diligence safely to convey a mail bag or postal packet at the due rate of speed,
he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F24level 2 on the standard scale].
Textual Amendments
F24Words substituted (N.I.) by virtue of S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), arts. 5, 6, (E.W.S.) by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 46 and (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), s. 289G
(1)A person shall not place or attempt to place in or against any post office letter box . . . F25any fire, match, light, explosive substance, dangerous substance, filth, noxious or deleterious substance, or fluid, and shall not commit a nuisance in or against any post office letter box . . . F25, and shall not do or attempt to do anything likely to injure the box, . . . F25or its appurtenances or contents.
(2)If any person acts in contravention of this section, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F26£100] or on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months.
Textual Amendments
F25Words repealed by British Telecommunications Act 1981 (c. 38, SIF 96), Sch. 6 Pt. II
F26Words substituted by Criminal Justice Act 1967 (c. 80), s. 92, Sch. 3 Pt. I
(1)A person shall not without due authority affix or attempt to affix any placard, advertisement, notice, list, document, board or thing in or on, or paint or tar, any post office, post office letter box, . . . F27or other property belonging to or used by or on behalf of the [F28Post Office], and shall not in any way disfigure any such office, box, . . . F27or property.
(2)If any person acts in contravention of this section, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F29level 1 on the standard scale].
Textual Amendments
F27Words repealed by British Telecommunications Act 1981 (c. 38, SIF 96), Sch. 6 Pt. II
F28Words substituted by virtue of Post Office Act 1969 (c. 48), Sch. 4 para. 2(13)
F29Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38, 46 and (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), ss. 289F, 289G (as inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 54) and (N.I.) by S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), arts. 5, 6
(1)A person shall not without due authority—
(a)make, issue, or send by post or otherwise any envelope, wrapper, card, form or paper in imitation of one issued by or under the authority of the [F30Post Office] or of any other postal administration, or having thereon any words, letters or marks which signify or imply or may reasonably lead the recipient thereof to believe that a postal packet bearing them is sent on Her Majesty’s service;
(b)make on any envelope, wrapper, card, form or paper for the purpose of being issued or sent by post or otherwise, or otherwise used, any mark in imitation of or similar to or purporting to be any stamp or mark of any post office under the [F30Post Office] or under any other postal administration, or any words, letters or marks which signify or imply or may reasonably lead the recipient thereof to believe that a postal packet bearing them is sent on Her Majesty’s service; or
(c)issue or send by post or otherwise any envelope, wrapper, card, form or paper so marked.
(2)If any person acts in contravention of this section, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F31level 1 on the standard scale].
Textual Amendments
F30Words substituted by virtue of Post Office Act 1969 (c. 48), Sch. 4 para. 2(14)
F31Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38, 46 and (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), ss. 289F, 289G and (N.I.) by S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), arts. 5, 6
(1)[F32Except for such purposes as may be approved by the Post Office in writing and in accordance with such (if any) conditions as may be attached to the approval, a person shall not] . . . F33
(a)make, knowingly utter, deal in or sell any fictitious stamp;
(b)have in his possession, unless he shows a lawful excuse, any fictitious stamp; or
(c)make or, unless he shows a lawful excuse, have in his possession any die, plate, instrument or materials for making any fictitious stamp.
(2)A person shall not knowingly use for the purposes of the Post Office any fictitious stamp.
(3)If any person acts in contravention of the foregoing provisions of this section, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine [F34not exceeding [F35level 3 on the standard scale]]
(4)Any stamp, die, plate, instrument or materials found in the possession of any person in contravention of subsection (1) of this section may be seized and shall be forfeited.
(5)The importation into the United Kingdom [F36from a place outside the member States] . . . F37 —
(a)of any facsimile, imitation or representation, whether on paper or otherwise, of any stamp for denoting any rate of postage, whether of the British postal area or of any country outside that area; or
(b)of any die, plate, instrument or materials for making such a facsimile, imitation or representation,
is hereby prohibited.
(6)In this section the expression “fictitious stamp” means any facsimile, imitation or representation, whether on paper or otherwise, of any stamp for the time being authorised or required to be used for the purposes of the Post Office or of [F38any current stamp for denoting a rate of postage of any country outside the British postal area].
(7)Notwithstanding anything in [F39sections 16(1) and 17(2)(a) of the M1Interpretation Act 1978] (which relates to the effect of repeal and re-enactment), any reference to section sixty-five of the M2Post Office Act 1908, in, or in any regulations made under, any other enactment applying or adapting that section for the purposes of that enactment or of any such regulations shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be construed as a reference to the provisions of that section as originally enacted, being the provisions set out in the Second Schedule to this Act.
Textual Amendments
F32Words substituted by Post Office Act 1969 (c. 48), Sch. 4 para. 2(15)
F33Words repealed by Post Office Act 1961 (c. 15), Sch.
F34Words substituted by Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 (c.45, SIF 39:7), s. 29
F35Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c.48, SIF 39:1), s. 46; (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c.21, SIF 39:1), s. 289G and (N.I.) by S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), arts. 5, 6
F36Words in s. 63(5) inserted (22.6.1993) by S.I. 1993/1324, reg.2
F37Words repealed by S.I. 1973/960, art. 14
F38Words substituted by Post Office Act 1969 (c. 48), Sch. 5 para. 3
F39Words substituted by virtue of Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30), s. 25(2)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C19S. 63 amended by S.I. 1969/1368, art. 12 and S.I. 1973/960, art. 14
C20Power to apply s.63 conferred by National Debt Act 1972 (c. 65), s. 10(1), Social Security Act 1975 (c. 14), Sch. 1 para. 6(3) and Social Security (Northern Ireland) Act 1975 (c. 15), Sch. 1 para. 6(3)
C21Power to apply s. 63 conferred (E.W.S.) (1.7.1992) by Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c. 4), ss. 1(4), 177(4), Sch. 1 para. 8(3)(b) (with s. 108(5)).
Power to apply s. 63 conferred (N.I.) (1.7.1992) by Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 7), ss. 1(4), 173(4), Sch. 1 para. 8(3)(b) (with s. 108(5)).
S. 63 continued (7.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/878, art. 11 (with art. 17)
Marginal Citations
(1)A person shall not without the authority of the [F40Post Office] place or maintain in or on any house, wall, door, window, box, post, pillar or other place belonging to him or under his control, any of the following words, letters or marks, that is to say—
(a)the words “post office” . . . F41;
(b)the words “letter box” accompanied with words, letters or marks which signify or imply or may reasonably lead the public to believe that it is a post office letter box; or
(c)any words, letters or marks which signify or imply or may reasonably lead the public to believe that any house or place is a post office, . . . F41, or that any box is a post office letter box;
and every person, when required by a notice given by the [F40Post Office] to remove or efface any such words, letters or marks as aforesaid, or to remove or effectually close up any letter box belonging to him or under his control which has been a post office letter box, shall comply with the requirement.
(2)A person shall not without the authority of the [F40Post Office]—
(a)place or maintain in or on any ship, vehicle, aircraft or premises belonging to him or under his control; or
(b)use in any document in relation to himself or any other person or in relation to any ship, vehicle, aircraft or premises, the words “Royal Mail” or “Royal Air Mail” or any words, letters or marks which signify or imply or may reasonably lead the public to believe that the ship, vehicle, aircraft or premises is or are used by the [F40Post Office] or with his authority for the purpose of collecting or conveying postal packets or that he or that other person is authorised by the [F40Post Office] to collect or convey such packets; and every person when required by a notice given by the [F40Post Office] to remove or efface or cease to use any such words, letters or marks as aforesaid shall comply with the requirement.
(3)If any person acts in contravention of this section, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F42level 1 on the standard scale], and, if the offence is continued after a previous conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F4325p.] for every day during which the offence so continues.
Textual Amendments
F40Words substituted by virtue of Post Office Act 1969 (c. 48), Sch. 4 para. 2(14)
F41Words repealed by British Telecommunications Act 1981 (c. 38, SIF 96), Sch. 6 Pt. II
F42Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38, 46 and (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), ss. 289F, 289G and (N.I.) by S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), arts. 5, 6
F43Words substituted by virtue of Decimal Currency Act 1969 (c. 19), s. 10(1)
(1)If any person wilfully obstructs or molests, or incites anyone to obstruct or molest [F44a person engaged in the business of the Post Office] in the execution of his duty, or whilst in any post office or within any premises belonging to any post office or used therewith obstructs the course of business of the [F44Post Office], he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F45level 1 on the standard scale]or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month, or to both.
(2)Any [F44person engaged in the business of the Post Office] may require any person guilty of any offence under this section to leave a post office or any such premises as aforesaid and, if the person so required refuses or fails to comply with the requirement, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a further fine not exceeding [F45level 1 on the standard scale]and may be removed by any officer of the Post Office, and any constable shall on demand remove or assist in removing any such person.
Textual Amendments
F44Words substituted by virtue of Post Office Act 1969 (c. 48), Sch. 4 para. 2(1)
F45Words substituted (N.I.) by virtue of S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), arts. 5, 6, and substituted (E.W.S.) by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 46 and (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), s. 289G
Textual Amendments
Textual Amendments
F47S. 66 repealed by Post Office Act 1969 (c. 48), Sch. 11 Pt. I
Textual Amendments
F48S. 67 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1960 (c. 56)
If any person solicits or endeavours to procure any other person to commit an offence punishable on indictment under this Act, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C22S. 68 applied (7.3.2001) by 2001/878, art. 12 (with art. 17)
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