If a statute is ambiguous, the court may look at the long title to discover the purpose of the Act: ‘In many cases the long title may supply the key to the meaning. The principle, as I understand it, is that where something is doubtful or ambiguous the long title may be looked to to resolve the doubt or ambiguity, but, in the absence of doubt or ambiguity, the passage under construction must be taken to mean what it says, so that if its meaning be clear, that meaning is not to be narrowed or restricted by reference to the long title.’
Judges:
Donovan J
Citations:
[1952] 2 All ER 842
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Cited by:
Cited – Cornwall County Council v Baker Admn 18-Feb-2003
The defendant had been convicted of cruelty to his animals. The prosecutor appealed dismissal of an application for an interim order for protection under the 2000 Act in respect of other animals not the subject of the application.
Held: The . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Criminal Practice
Updated: 26 November 2022; Ref: scu.195480