Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939: Difference between revisions

Emergency Powers (Defence) (No. 2) Act 1940
Emergency Powers (Defence) (No. 2) Act 1940
Act of Parliament
	Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to remove doubts as to the extent of the powers which may be exercised by His Majesty under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act, 1939.
Citation	3 & 4 Geo. 6. c. 45
Other legislation
Relates to	Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939

Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1940
Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1940
Act of Parliament
	Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to extend the powers which may be exercised by His Majesty under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act, 1939.
Citation	3 & 4 Geo. 6. c. 20
Dates
Royal assent	22 May 1940
Other legislation
Relates to	Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939

Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939
Act of Parliament
	Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to confer on His Majesty certain powers which it is expedient that His Majesty should be enabled to exercise in the present emergency; and to make further provision for purposes connected with the defence of the realm.
Citation	2 & 3 Geo. 6. c. 62
Territorial extent	United Kingdom
Dates
Royal assent	24 August 1939
Other legislation
Repealed by	Emergency Laws (Repeal) Act 1959
Status: Repealed

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The Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939 (2 & 3 Geo. 6. c. 62) was emergency legislation passed just prior to the outbreak of World War II by the Parliament of the United Kingdom to enable the British government to take up emergency powers to prosecute the war effectively. It contained clauses giving the government wide powers to create Defence Regulations by Order in Council. These regulations governed almost every aspect of everyday life in the country during the War. Two offences under the regulations (forcing safeguards and looting) were punishable with death.^[1]

Passage and effect

On 24 August 1939, following the announcement of the Nazi–Soviet Pact the previous day, the House of Commons was recalled from its summer recess to pass the Emergency Powers (Defence) Bill, which gave authority to implement the Defence Regulations. The Act was originally intended to be in force for only one year, and made general provision for prosecuting the war effort. In particular, it provided for the following:

1. (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, His Majesty may by Order in Council make such Regulations (in this Act referred to as "Defence Regulations") as appear to him to be necessary or expedient for securing the public safety, the defence of the realm, the maintenance of public order and the efficient prosecution of any war [in which] His Majesty may be engaged, and for maintaining supplies and services essential to the life of the community.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the powers conferred by the preceding subsection, Defence Regulations may, so far as appears to His Majesty in Council to be necessary or expedient for any of the purposes mentioned in that subsection:-
(a) Make provision for the apprehension, trial, and punishment of persons offending against the Regulations and for the detention of persons whose detention appears to the Secretary of State to be expedient in the interests of the public safety or the defence of the realm;
(b) authorise -

(i) the taking of possession or control, on behalf of His Majesty, of any property or undertaking;

(ii) the acquisition, on behalf of His Majesty, of any property other than land;

(c) authorise the entering and searching of any premises; and
(d) provide for amending any enactment, for suspending the operation of any enactment, and for applying any enactment with or without modification.
[...]
(5) Nothing in this section shall authorise the imposition of any form of compulsory naval, military or air force service or any form of industrial conscription, or the making of provision for the trial by courts martial of persons not being persons subject to the Naval Discipline Act, to military law or to the Air Force Act.

The Bill completed all its Parliamentary stages, including Royal Assent, on that day.^[2] The question of compensation was not directly addressed by the Bill, but the subsequent Compensation (Defence) Act 1939 (2 & 3 Geo. 6. c. 75) established a statutory compensation scheme in respect of land, vessels, vehicles, aircraft and other property a week later.^[3]

Defence Regulations

The Defence Regulations were Orders in Council and could amend any primary or secondary legislation within the limits of the enabling Acts to allow the effective prosecution of the war.

The Regulations existed in draft form, constantly revised, throughout the years between the world wars.^[4] In early 1939 it was decided that since a war might break out without warning or without time to pass an Act of Parliament to bring in emergency regulations, the Regulations should be split into two codes. Code A would be needed immediately if war broke out and could be passed in peacetime, while Code B, containing more severe restrictions on civil liberties, would be brought in later. In order not to alert the public to the existence of Code B, Code A was simply numbered consecutively.^[5]

The main Defence Regulations were the Defence (General) Regulations 1939 (S.R.& O. 1939/927), which implemented Code A and were brought into effect immediately.^[6] Code B followed on 1 September (the same day Nazi Germany invaded Poland) and included Defence Regulation 18B, which provided a framework for internment.^[6]

The 1939 Regulations were amended at various points throughout the war, including by the Defence (General) Regulations (Amendment) Regulations 1940 (S.R. & O. 1940/1134)^{[citation needed]}, in 1941 (adding Regulation 78^[7]) and in 1945 (adding Regulation 69D^[8]). By May 1945, some 377 Defence (General) Regulations had been created.^[9] Other Defence Regulations covered narrower fields of life such as the Defence (Finance) Regulations 1939 and the Defence (Armed Forces) Regulations 1939 (S.R.& O. 1939/1304).

Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1940

The Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1940 (3 & 4 Geo. 6. c. 20) extended the 1939 Act for another year, and provided for annual extensions by parliamentary resolution.^[10] It also extended the government's powers under the Defence Regulations to require persons "to place themselves, their services and their property at the disposal of His Majesty" though the practical significance of this extension is unclear given the Government had already passed the National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939 and the Control of Employment Act 1939 (2 & 3 Geo. 6. c. 104).^[10]

Enforcement

Originally the regulations did not create any capital offences, since the law of treason was thought to be sufficient. Defence Regulation 2A provided that "If, with intent to assist the enemy, any person does any act which is likely to assist the enemy or to prejudice the public safety, the defence of the realm or the efficient prosecution of the war, he shall be liable to penal servitude for life."^[11]

However, in 1940 amendments to the regulations created two capital offences: "forcing safeguards" (breaking through roadblocks etc.) under regulation 1B, and looting under regulation 38A.^[1] A third new capital offence, called treachery, was created soon afterwards by the Treachery Act 1940.

The Emergency Powers (Defence) (No. 2) Act 1940 (3 & 4 Geo. 6. c. 45) enabled the creation of special courts to administer criminal justice in war zones, as well as authorizing them to punish offenders for violating the Defence Regulations.^[12]

Continuance and repeal

After the end of the war, the Defence Regulations were continued in force by the Supplies and Services (Transitional Powers) Act 1945 (9 & 10 Geo. 6. c. 10) and later by the Emergency Laws (Transitional Provisions) Act 1946 (9 & 10 Geo. 6. c. 26). They continued to be amended periodically, including by the Defence Regulations (No. 2) Order 1949 and the Defence Regulations (No. 3) Order 1949.^[13]

The last significant regulations to be in force before the passage of the Emergency Laws (Repeal) Act 1959 (7 & 8 Eliz. 2. c. 19) were:^[14]

No. 55 (giving general power to control industry for wide purposes);
No. 55AA (empowering the Government to secure the necessary information for these purposes); and
No. 55AB (giving power to impose price control of goods and services).

Under the terms of the 1959 Act, the last of the Defence Regulations expired on 31 December 1964.^[15]

Notes

^ Also applies to British subjects, ships and aircraft if not in the British Empire. Capable of being extended to other parts of the British Empire by order in council.

References

^ ^a ^b Butler, T. R. F.; Garsia, M., eds. (1943). Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice (31st ed.). pp. 1524–1525.
^ Simpson 1994, p. 49.
^ Balogh 1943, p. 196.
^ Simpson 1994, pp. 43–47.
^ Simpson 1994, pp. 48–49.
^ ^a ^b Simpson 1994, p. 50.
^ "Defence (General) Regulations, 1939". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 373. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 6 August 1941.
^ "Emergency Powers (Defence) (General Regulations)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 407. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 25 January 1945.
^ Cotter 1953, p. 406.
^ ^a ^b Jennings 1940, p. 132.
^ "Offences (Penalties)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 365. United Kingdom: House of Commons. 20 November 1940.
^ Jennings 1940, p. 133.
^ Statutory Instruments Other Than Those of a Local, Personal, Or Temporary Character for the Year 1949. Vol. 2. H.M. Stationery Office. 1949.
^ F.J. Erroll, Economic Secretary to the Treasury (12 November 1958). "Emergency Laws (Repeal) Bill". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). United Kingdom: House of Commons. col. 413–414.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ 1959 Act, s. 10

Bibliography

Balogh, T. (28 August 1943). "Control over Property". Bulletin of the Oxford University Institute of Economics & Statistics. 5 (12): 196–199. doi:10.1111/j.1468-0084.1943.mp5012003.x. ISSN 0140-5543.
Cotter, Cornelius P. (1953). "Constitutionalizing Emergency Powers: The British Experience". Stanford Law Review. 5 (3): 382–417. doi:10.2307/1226448. JSTOR 1226448.
Jennings, W. Ivor (1940). "The Emergency Powers (Defence) (No. 2) Act, 1940". Modern Law Review. 4 (2): 132–136. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2230.1940.tb02739.x. JSTOR 1090251.
Leeson, David (2012). "Emergency Powers Acts (1920, 1926, 1939–1940, 1964)". In Martel, Gordon (ed.). The Encyclopedia of War. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-1-40519037-4.
Simpson, Alfred William Brian (1994). In the Highest Degree Odious: Detention Without Trial in Wartime Britain. Oxford University Press. pp. 43–50. ISBN 978-0-19-825949-7.

External links

Full text of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939, as included in Le May, G. (1955). British Government, 1914–1953: Select Documents. London: Meuthen And Co London.
Full text of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1940, as included in Le May, G. (1955). British Government, 1914–1953: Select Documents. London: Meuthen And Co London.
Full text of the Compensation (Defence) Act 1939 from legislation.gov.uk.
Full text of the Emergency Laws (Repeal) Act 1959 from legislation.gov.uk.

[1] Also applies to British subjects, ships and aircraft if not in the British Empire. Capable of being extended to other parts of the British Empire by order in council.

[:0-2] Butler, T. R. F.; Garsia, M., eds. (1943). Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice (31st ed.). pp. 1524–1525.

[FOOTNOTESimpson199449-3] Simpson 1994, p. 49.

[FOOTNOTEBalogh1943196-4] Balogh 1943, p. 196.

[FOOTNOTESimpson199443–47-5] Simpson 1994, pp. 43–47.

[FOOTNOTESimpson199448–49-6] Simpson 1994, pp. 48–49.

[FOOTNOTESimpson199450-7] Simpson 1994, p. 50.

[8] "Defence (General) Regulations, 1939". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 373. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 6 August 1941.

[9] "Emergency Powers (Defence) (General Regulations)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 407. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 25 January 1945.

[FOOTNOTECotter1953406-10] Cotter 1953, p. 406.

[FOOTNOTEJennings1940132-11] Jennings 1940, p. 132.

[12] "Offences (Penalties)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 365. United Kingdom: House of Commons. 20 November 1940.

[FOOTNOTEJennings1940133-13] Jennings 1940, p. 133.

[14] Statutory Instruments Other Than Those of a Local, Personal, Or Temporary Character for the Year 1949. Vol. 2. H.M. Stationery Office. 1949.

[15] F.J. Erroll, Economic Secretary to the Treasury (12 November 1958). "Emergency Laws (Repeal) Bill". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). United Kingdom: House of Commons. col. 413–414.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[16] 1959 Act, s. 10

[a]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 (5) Nothing in this section shall authorise the imposition of any form of compulsory naval, military or air force service or any form of industrial conscription, or the making of provision for the trial by courts martial of persons not being persons subject to the Naval Discipline Act, to military law or to the Air Force Act.
 }}
-The Bill completed all its Parliamentary stages, including Royal Assent, on that day.{{Sfn|Simpson|1994|p=49}}
+The Bill completed all its Parliamentary stages, including Royal Assent, on that day.{{Sfn|Simpson|1994|p=49}} The question of compensation was not directly addressed by the Bill, but the subsequent [[Compensation (Defence) Act 1939]] ([[List of acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1939|2 & 3 Geo. 6]]. c. 75) established a statutory compensation scheme in respect of land, vessels, vehicles, aircraft and other property a week later.{{sfn|Balogh|1943|p=196}}
 == Defence Regulations ==
 The Defence Regulations were [[Order in Council|Orders in Council]] and could amend any primary or secondary legislation within the limits of the enabling Acts to allow the effective prosecution of the war.
@@ Line 62: / Line 63: @@
 The main Defence Regulations were the Defence (General) Regulations 1939 (S.R.& O. 1939/927), which implemented Code A and were brought into effect immediately.{{Sfn|Simpson|1994|p=50}} Code B followed on 1 September (the same day Nazi Germany invaded Poland) and included [[Defence Regulation 18B]], which provided a framework for [[internment]].{{Sfn|Simpson|1994|p=50}}
-The 1939 Regulations were amended at various points throughout the war, including by the Defence (General) Regulations (Amendment) Regulations 1940 (S.R. & O. 1940/1134){{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}, in 1941 (adding Regulation 78<ref>{{Cite Hansard|title=Defence (General) Regulations, 1939|jurisdiction=Parliament of the United Kingdom|house=House of Commons|date=6 August 1941|volume=373|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1945-01-25/debates/b316f27c-3bed-4a94-b756-c5b65a2d7043/EmergencyPowers(Defence)(GeneralRegulations)}}</ref>) and in 1945 (adding Regulation 69D<ref>{{Cite Hansard|title=Emergency Powers (Defence) (General Regulations)|jurisdiction=Parliament of the United Kingdom|house=House of Commons|date=25 January 1945|volume=407|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1945-01-25/debates/b316f27c-3bed-4a94-b756-c5b65a2d7043/EmergencyPowers(Defence)(GeneralRegulations)}}</ref>).  Other Defence Regulations covered narrower fields of life such as the Defence (Finance) Regulations 1939 and the Defence (Armed Forces) Regulations 1939 (S.R.& O. 1939/1304).
+The 1939 Regulations were amended at various points throughout the war, including by the Defence (General) Regulations (Amendment) Regulations 1940 (S.R. & O. 1940/1134){{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}, in 1941 (adding Regulation 78<ref>{{Cite Hansard|title=Defence (General) Regulations, 1939|jurisdiction=Parliament of the United Kingdom|house=House of Commons|date=6 August 1941|volume=373|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1945-01-25/debates/b316f27c-3bed-4a94-b756-c5b65a2d7043/EmergencyPowers(Defence)(GeneralRegulations)}}</ref>) and in 1945 (adding Regulation 69D<ref>{{Cite Hansard|title=Emergency Powers (Defence) (General Regulations)|jurisdiction=Parliament of the United Kingdom|house=House of Commons|date=25 January 1945|volume=407|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1945-01-25/debates/b316f27c-3bed-4a94-b756-c5b65a2d7043/EmergencyPowers(Defence)(GeneralRegulations)}}</ref>). By May 1945, some 377 Defence (General) Regulations had been created.{{sfn|Cotter|1953|p=406}} Other Defence Regulations covered narrower fields of life such as the Defence (Finance) Regulations 1939 and the Defence (Armed Forces) Regulations 1939 (S.R.& O. 1939/1304).
-== Enforcement ==
-Originally the regulations did not create any capital offences, since the law of [[High treason in the United Kingdom|treason]] was thought to be sufficient. Defence Regulation 2A provided that "If, with intent to assist the enemy, any person does any act which is likely to assist the enemy or to prejudice the public safety, the defence of the realm or the efficient prosecution of the war, he shall be liable to penal servitude for life."<ref>{{cite hansard|title=Offences (Penalties)|jurisdiction=United Kingdom|house=House of Commons|date=20 November 1940|volume=365|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1940/nov/20/offences-penalties#S5CV0365P0-08238}}</ref>
-However, in 1940 amendments to the regulations created two capital offences: "forcing safeguards" (breaking through roadblocks etc.) under regulation 1B, and looting under regulation 38A.<ref name=":0" /> A third new capital offence, called treachery, was created soon afterwards by the [[Treachery Act 1940]].
-The Emergency Powers (Defence) (No. 2) Act 1940 ([[3 & 4 Geo. 6]]. c. 45) enabled the creation of special courts to administer criminal justice in war zones, as well as authorizing them to punish offenders for violating the Defence Regulations.{{sfn|Jennings|1940|p=133}}
 == Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1940{{anchor|Emergency Powers (Defence) (No. 2) Act 1940}} ==
@@ Line 101: / Line 95: @@
 | collapsed             = yes
 }}
+The Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1940 ([[3 & 4 Geo. 6]]. c. 20) extended the 1939 Act for another year, and provided for annual extensions by parliamentary resolution.{{sfn|Jennings|1940|p=132}} It also extended the government's powers under the Defence Regulations to require persons "to place themselves, their services and their property at the disposal of His Majesty" though the practical significance of this extension is unclear given the Government had already passed the [[National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939]] and the [[Control of Employment Act 1939]] ([[List of acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1939|2 & 3 Geo. 6]]. c. 104).{{sfn|Jennings|1940|p=132}}
+== Enforcement ==
 {{Infobox UK legislation
 | short_title           = Emergency Powers (Defence) (No. 2) Act 1940
@@ Line 130: / Line 127: @@
 | collapsed             = yes
 }}
+Originally the regulations did not create any capital offences, since the law of [[High treason in the United Kingdom|treason]] was thought to be sufficient. Defence Regulation 2A provided that "If, with intent to assist the enemy, any person does any act which is likely to assist the enemy or to prejudice the public safety, the defence of the realm or the efficient prosecution of the war, he shall be liable to penal servitude for life."<ref>{{cite hansard|title=Offences (Penalties)|jurisdiction=United Kingdom|house=House of Commons|date=20 November 1940|volume=365|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1940/nov/20/offences-penalties#S5CV0365P0-08238}}</ref>
-The Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1940 ([[3 & 4 Geo. 6]]. c. 20) extended the 1939 Act for another year, and provided for annual extensions by parliamentary resolution.{{sfn|Jennings|1940|p=132}} It also extended the government's powers under the Defence Regulations to require persons "to place themselves, their services and their property at the disposal of His Majesty" though the practical significance of this extension is unclear given the Government had already passed the [[National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939]] and the [[Control of Employment Act 1939]] ([[2 & 3 Geo. 6]], c. 104).{{sfn|Jennings|1940|p=132}}
+However, in 1940 amendments to the regulations created two capital offences: "forcing safeguards" (breaking through roadblocks etc.) under regulation 1B, and looting under regulation 38A.<ref name=":0" /> A third new capital offence, called treachery, was created soon afterwards by the [[Treachery Act 1940]].
+The Emergency Powers (Defence) (No. 2) Act 1940 ([[3 & 4 Geo. 6]]. c. 45) enabled the creation of special courts to administer criminal justice in war zones, as well as authorizing them to punish offenders for violating the Defence Regulations.{{sfn|Jennings|1940|p=133}}
 == Continuance and repeal ==
-After the end of the war, the Defence Regulations were continued in force by the [[Supplies and Services (Transitional Powers) Act 1945]] ([[9 & 10 Geo. 6]]. c. 10) and later by the [[Emergency Laws (Transitional Provisions) Act 1946]] ([[9 & 10 Geo. 6]], c. 26). They continued to be amended periodically, including by the Defence Regulations (No. 2) Order 1949 and the Defence Regulations (No. 3) Order 1949.<ref>{{Cite book |last= |first= |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=pohQAQAAIAAJ |title=Statutory Instruments Other Than Those of a Local, Personal, Or Temporary Character for the Year 1949 |date=1949 |publisher=H.M. Stationery Office |volume=2 |language=en}}</ref>
+After the end of the war, the Defence Regulations were continued in force by the [[Supplies and Services (Transitional Powers) Act 1945]] ([[9 & 10 Geo. 6]]. c. 10) and later by the [[Emergency Laws (Transitional Provisions) Act 1946]] ([[9 & 10 Geo. 6]]. c. 26). They continued to be amended periodically, including by the Defence Regulations (No. 2) Order 1949 and the Defence Regulations (No. 3) Order 1949.<ref>{{Cite book |last= |first= |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=pohQAQAAIAAJ |title=Statutory Instruments Other Than Those of a Local, Personal, Or Temporary Character for the Year 1949 |date=1949 |publisher=H.M. Stationery Office |volume=2 |language=en}}</ref>
-The last significant regulations to be in force before the passage of the [[Emergency Laws (Repeal) Act 1959]] ([[7 & 8 Eliz. 2]], c. 19<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/7-8/19/enacted Emergency Laws (Repeal) Act 1959], 7 & 8 Eliz. 2, c. 19, coming into force upon [[royal assent]] on 25 March 1959.</ref>) were:<ref>{{cite hansard|title=Emergency Laws (Repeal) Bill|jurisdiction=United Kingdom|house=House of Commons|date=12 November 1958|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1958/nov/12/emergency-laws-repeal-bill#column_413|column_start=413|column_end=414|speaker=[[Frederick Erroll, 1st Baron Erroll of Hale|F.J. Erroll]]|position=[[Economic Secretary to the Treasury]]}}</ref>
+The last significant regulations to be in force before the passage of the [[Emergency Laws (Repeal) Act 1959]] ([[7 & 8 Eliz. 2]]. c. 19) were:<ref>{{cite hansard|title=Emergency Laws (Repeal) Bill|jurisdiction=United Kingdom|house=House of Commons|date=12 November 1958|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1958/nov/12/emergency-laws-repeal-bill#column_413|column_start=413|column_end=414|speaker=[[Frederick Erroll, 1st Baron Erroll of Hale|F.J. Erroll]]|position=[[Economic Secretary to the Treasury]]}}</ref>
 * No. 55 (giving general power to control industry for wide purposes);
-* No. 55AA, (empowering the Government to secure the necessary information for these purposes); and
+* No. 55AA (empowering the Government to secure the necessary information for these purposes); and
 * No. 55AB (giving power to impose price control of goods and services).
@@ Line 144: / Line 144: @@
 == See also ==
-*[[Defence of the Realm Act 1914]]
+* [[Defence of the Realm Act 1914]]
+* [[Emergency Powers Act 1920]]
 * [[Capital punishment in the United Kingdom]]
@@ Line 154: / Line 155: @@
 ==Bibliography==
+* {{Cite journal |last=Balogh |first=T. |date=1943-08-28 |title=Control over Property |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-0084.1943.mp5012003.x |journal=Bulletin of the Oxford University Institute of Economics & Statistics |language=en |volume=5 |issue=12 |pages=196–199 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-0084.1943.mp5012003.x |issn=0140-5543}}
 * {{cite journal |last1= Cotter|first1= Cornelius P.|date= 1953|title= Constitutionalizing Emergency Powers: The British Experience|journal= [[Stanford Law Review]]|volume= 5|issue= 3|pages= 382–417|doi= 10.2307/1226448 |jstor= 1226448}}
 * {{cite journal |last= Jennings |first= W. Ivor|date= 1940|title= The Emergency Powers (Defence) (No. 2) Act, 1940 |journal= [[Modern Law Review]]|volume= 4|issue= 2|pages= 132–136|jstor= 1090251|doi= 10.1111/j.1468-2230.1940.tb02739.x|doi-access= }}
@@ Line 159: / Line 161: @@
 * {{Cite book |last=Simpson |first=Alfred William Brian |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=-ETvCgAAQBAJ |title=In the Highest Degree Odious: Detention Without Trial in Wartime Britain |date=1994 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-825949-7 |pages=43–50 |language=en}}
 ==External links==
-*[[iarchive:in.ernet.dli.2015.13107/page/n95/mode/2up|Full text of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939]], as included in {{Cite book |last=Le May |first=G. |title=British Government, 1914–1953: Select Documents |publisher=Meuthen And Co London |year=1955 |location=London}}.
+*[[iarchive:in.ernet.dli.2015.13107/page/n95/mode/2up|Full text of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939]], as included in {{Cite book |last=Le May |first=G. |title=British Government, 1914–1953: Select Documents |publisher=Meuthen And Co London |year=1955 |location=London}}
-*[[iarchive:in.ernet.dli.2015.13107/page/n101/mode/2up|Full text of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1940]], as included in {{Cite book |last=Le May |first=G. |title=British Government, 1914–1953: Select Documents |publisher=Meuthen And Co London |year=1955 |location=London}}.
+*[[iarchive:in.ernet.dli.2015.13107/page/n101/mode/2up|Full text of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1940]], as included in {{Cite book |last=Le May |first=G. |title=British Government, 1914–1953: Select Documents |publisher=Meuthen And Co London |year=1955 |location=London}}
+*[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo6/2-3/75/enacted Full text of the Compensation (Defence) Act 1939] from legislation.gov.uk.
+*[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/7-8/19/enacted Full text of the Emergency Laws (Repeal) Act 1959] from legislation.gov.uk.
 [[Category:United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 1939]]