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WITNESSES (PUBLIC INQUIRIES) PROTECTION ACT 1892

WITNESSES (PUBLIC INQUIRIES) PROTECTION ACT 1892 - LONG TITLE

An Act for the better Protection of Witnesses giving Evidence before
any Royal Commission or any Committee of either House of Parliament,
or on other Public Inquiries.
[28th June 1892]
Definition.

WITNESSES (PUBLIC INQUIRIES) PROTECTION ACT 1892 - SECT 1

1. In this Act the word "inquiry" shall mean any inquiry held
under the authority of any Royal Commission or by any committee of
either House of Parliament, or pursuant to any statutory authority,
whether the evidence at such inquiry is or is not given on oath,
but shall not include any inquiry by any court of justice.

WITNESSES (PUBLIC INQUIRIES) PROTECTION ACT 1892 - SECT 2
Persons obstructing or intimidating witnesses guilty of misdemeanour.

2. Every person who commits any of the following acts, that is to
say, who threatens, or in any way punishes, damnifies, or injures,
or attempts to punish, damnify, or injure, any person for having
given evidence upon any inquiry, or on account of the evidence
which he has given upon any such inquiry shall, unless such
evidence was given in bad faith, be guilty of a misdemeanor, and
be liable on conviction thereof to a maximum penalty of one hundred
pounds, or to a maximum imprisonment of three months.

WITNESSES (PUBLIC INQUIRIES) PROTECTION ACT 1892 - SECT 3
Prosecution of offences.

3. A prosecution for any offence under this Act may be heard and
determined by a court of summary jurisdiction under the Summary
Jurisdiction Acts, provided that should either the complainant or the
party charged object to the case being dealt with summarily, the
court shall send such case for trial to the [Crown Court], ...

WITNESSES (PUBLIC INQUIRIES) PROTECTION ACT 1892 - SECT 4
Court to have power to award costs and compensation to party
aggrieved.

4. It shall be lawful for any court before which any person may
be convicted of any offence under this Act, if it thinks fit, in
addition to sentence or punishment by way of fine or imprisonment,
to condemn such person to pay the whole or any part of the costs
and expenses incurred in and about the prosecution and conviction
for the offence of which he shall be convicted, and, upon the
application of the complainant, and immediately after such conviction,
to award to complainant any sum of money which it may think
reasonable, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, by
way of satisfaction or compensation for any loss of situation,
wages, status, or other damnification or injury suffered by the
complainant through or by means of the offence of which such person
shall be so convicted; provided that where the case is tried before
a jury, such jury shall determine what amount, if any, is to be
paid by way of satisfaction or compensation.

WITNESSES (PUBLIC INQUIRIES) PROTECTION ACT 1892 - SECT 5
Costs and compensation to be a judgment debt.

5. The amount awarded for such satisfaction or compensation, together
with such costs, to be taxed by the proper officer of the court,
shall be deemed a judgment debt due to the person entitled to
receive the same from the person so convicted, and be recoverable
accordingly.

WITNESSES (PUBLIC INQUIRIES) PROTECTION ACT 1892 - SECT 7
Saving.

7. Nothing in this Act contained shall in any way lessen or affect
any power or privilege possessed by either House of Parliament, or
any power given by statute in the premises.

WITNESSES (PUBLIC INQUIRIES) PROTECTION ACT 1892 - SECT 8
Short title.

8. This Act may be cited as the Witnesses (Public Inquiries)
Protection Act, 1892.