Contempt of Court Act 1981

The Contempt of Court Act 1981 (c. 49) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.^[1] It codifies some aspects of the common law offence of contempt of court.^[2]

Long titleAn Act to amend the law relating to contempt of court and related matters.

Citation1981 c. 49

Territorial extent

• England and Wales
• Scotland
• Northern Ireland (in part)

^[b]

Royal assent27 July 1981

Quick facts Long title, Citation ...

Contempt of Court Act 1981^[a]

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to amend the law relating to contempt of court and related matters.
Citation	1981 c. 49
Territorial extent	England and Wales Scotland Northern Ireland (in part) [b]
Dates
Royal assent	27 July 1981
Commencement	various[c]
Other legislation
Amends	Attachment of Earnings Act 1971 Employment Act 1980
Amended by	Senior Courts Act 1981 County Courts Act 1984Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 Legal Aid Act 1988 Criminal Justice Act 1993 Defamation Act 1996 Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 Sentencing Act 2020
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended
Text of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

Close

Section 8 of the act provides that it is an offence for a person to ask for or make public any opinions or arguments put forward by a jury member in the course of making a decision.^[3] In Northern Ireland, the consent of the Attorney General is required to prosecute this offence. This section now extends only to Scotland and Northern Ireland; it was replaced in England and Wales by section 20D of the Juries Act 1974,^[4] as amended by the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015.^[5]