Search Legislation

Defamation Act 1996

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally enacted).

  1. Introductory Text

  2. Responsibility for publication

    1. 1.Responsibility for publication

  3. Offer to make amends

    1. 2.Offer to make amends

    2. 3.Accepting an offer to make amends

    3. 4.Failure to accept offer to make amends

  4. Limitation

    1. 5.Limitation of actions: England and Wales

    2. 6.Limitation of actions: Northern Ireland

  5. The meaning of a statement

    1. 7.Ruling on the meaning of a statement

  6. Summary disposal of claim

    1. 8.Summary disposal of claim

    2. 9.Meaning of summary relief

    3. 10.Summary disposal: rules of court

    4. 11.Summary disposal: application to Northern Ireland

  7. Evidence of convictions

    1. 12.Evidence of convictions

  8. Evidence concerning proceedings in Parliament

    1. 13.Evidence concerning proceedings in Parliament

  9. Statutory privilege

    1. 14.Reports of court proceedings absolutely privileged

    2. 15.Reports, &c. protected by qualified privilege

  10. Supplementary provisions

    1. 16.Repeals

    2. 17.Interpretation

  11. General provisions

    1. 18.Extent

    2. 19.Commencement

    3. 20.Short title and saving

  12. SCHEDULES

    1. SCHEDULE 1

      Qualified privilege

      1. Part I Statements having qualified privilege without explanation or contradiction

        1. 1.A fair and accurate report of proceedings in public of...

        2. 2.A fair and accurate report of proceedings in public before...

        3. 3.A fair and accurate report of proceedings in public of...

        4. 4.A fair and accurate report of proceedings in public anywhere...

        5. 5.A fair and accurate copy of or extract from any...

        6. 6.A notice or advertisement published by or on the authority...

        7. 7.A fair and accurate copy of or extract from matter...

        8. 8.A fair and accurate copy of or extract from matter...

      2. Part II Statements privileged subject to explanation or contradiction

        1. 9.(1) A fair and accurate copy of or extract from...

        2. 10.A fair and accurate copy of or extract from a...

        3. 11.(1) A fair and accurate report of proceedings at any...

        4. 12.(1) A fair and accurate report of proceedings at any...

        5. 13.(1) A fair and accurate report of proceedings at a...

        6. 14.A fair and accurate report of any finding or decision...

        7. 15.(1) A fair and accurate report of, or copy of...

      3. Part III Supplementary provisions

        1. 16.(1) In this Schedule— “court” includes any tribunal or body...

        2. 17.(1) Provision may be made by order identifying—

    2. SCHEDULE 2

      Repeals

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources