Introduction

• extrinsic aids are outside of the actual statute

Dictionaries

• dictionaries can be used to give words their ordinary meaning

  R v Fulling [1987]

  • word oppression in S76(2) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
  • adopted the third definition provided in Oxford English Dictionary

Previous statutes

• it can be necessary to look at past statutes

  R v Wheatley [1979]

  • Court Appeal had to interpret provisions in the Explosive Substances Act 1883
  • long title: An Act to amend the law relating to explosive substances, amending the Explosives Act 1875.

Hansard

• argument has surrounded the use of Hansard (the record of Parliamentary debates)

  Davis v Johnson [1979]

  • Lord Denning argued: [not to use Hansard] .. would be to grope around in the dark for the meaning of an Act without switching the light on....
  • however it was held he was wrong to have consulted Hansard

  Pickstone v Freemans (1988)

  • Hansard used to establish why the Equal Pay Act 1979 had been passed

  Pepper (Inspector of Taxes) v Hart (1993)

  • held Hansard can only be used where the legislation is ambiguous or leads to an absurdity
  • and the material relied on comprises one or more statements by a Minister or other promoter of the Bill

White Papers

• consultation documents have been considered

  W v Metropolitan Police Commissioner [2006]

  • white paper used to clarify the whether the word remove meant a police officer could use force to take an under 16 year-old home from a dispersal area
  • held it allowed force to be used

Committee reports

• can be used in a limited way

  R v Allen [1985]

  • Criminal Law Revision Committee Report considered
  • stressed only been used to determine the mischief not to interpret the meaning of Theft Act 1978

Academic studies

• academic reports and commentaries may be considered

  R v Shivpuri (1987)

  • a case on criminal attempts
  • court acknowledged academic argument