Updated to 16 September 2025 (Act No. 10 of 2025 and S.I. No. 431 of 2025)
Offences against the State Act 1939
No. 13 of 1939
Contents
Commencement
| Section | Commencement/Effective Date Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
|
Commencement Information |
|---|---|---|
| Whole Act | 14 June 1939 | Commenced on enactment |
Amendments and other effects
| How Affected | Affecting Provision |
|---|---|
| Appl. with ness. mods. | 2/2005, s. 5(2), (4) |
| Def. of "unlawful organisation" am. | 2/2005, s. 5(1), (3), (4) |
| Provn. relating to bail. | 16/1997, ss. 1, 13 (2), sch., pars. 25, 29, 30 |
| S. 2 am. | 26/1972, s. 5 |
| S. 6(1) am. | 32/1976, ss. 2(1), 16(2) |
| S. 6(2) am. | 32/1976, ss. 2(2), 16(2) |
| S. 7(1) am. | 32/2009, s. 18(1)(a) |
| 32/1976, ss. 2(3), 16(2) | |
| S. 7(2) am. | 32/2009, s. 18(1)(b) |
| 32/1976, ss. 2(4), 16(2) | |
| S. 7(3) subsec. ins. | 32/2009, s. 18(2) |
| S. 7(3)(a) am. | 43/2014, ss. 1(3), 68, sch. 4 |
| S. 7(4) subsec. ins. | 32/2009, s. 18(2) |
| S. 11(3) (in pt.) rep. | 14/1945, s. 13, sch. |
| Ss. 13, 14 am. | 32/1976, s. 14 |
| S. 15(3) am. | 32/1976, ss. 2(5), 16(2) |
| S. 15(4), assembly under exempt. | 39/1998, ss. 12(4), 18 |
| S. 21 am. | 2/2005, ss. 4, 6(1)(b)(i) |
| S. 21, evidence in proceedings. | 26/1972, s. 2 |
| S. 21 (2) am. | 32/1976, ss. 2(6), 16(2) |
| S. 21 (2) (a) am. | 2/2005, s. 48(a) |
| S. 21 (2) (b) am. | 2/2005, s. 48(b) |
| S. 21A, new s. | 2/2005, s. 49 |
| S. 21A am. | 2/2005, ss. 4, 6(1)(b)(i) |
| S. 22 (a) am. | 2/2005, s. 50 |
| S. 22 trans. of functns. under. | S.I. No. 418 of 2011, arts. 1(2), 3 & sch. 1 |
| S. 22 constr. retro. | 3/1985, s. 8 |
| Ss. 22A-22I, new ss. ins. | 2/2005, s. 51 |
| S. 23 constr. retro. | 3/1985, s. 8 |
| S. 25(1), (2) am. | 32/1976, s. 4(a) |
| S. 25(6) ins. | 32/1976, s. 4(b) |
| S. 27(4) am. | 32/1976, ss. 2(7), 16(2) |
| S. 29 substit. | 33/2012, ss. 1, 4(2) |
| 32/1976, s. 5 | |
| S. 30 power to take samples and prints from persons in custody | 11/2014, ss. 1(2), 9, 11-13, 31-33, 35, 86, 100 |
| S. 30 destruction of samples taken in custody | 11/2014, ss. 1(2), 76-80, 84, 85 |
| S. 30 applied | S.I. No. 74 of 1997, regs. 1(2), 3(2)(b) |
| S. 30 application extended | S.I. No. 119 of 1987, regs. 1(2), 7(4) |
| S. 30, matters to be recorded when direction given under extending period of detention | S.I. No. 119 of 1987, reg. 7(4) |
| S. 30 mod. | 39/1998, ss. 11, 18 |
| S. 30 rstrct. | 32/1976, ss. 1, 2(5), 3 |
| S. 30 saving for. | 22/1984, ss. 1(1), (2), 2, 4(10) |
| 29/1996, ss. 2(8), 12(2) | |
| 29/2007, s. 50(10) | |
| S. 30(3A) subsec. ins. | 32/2009, s. 21(1)(a) |
| S. 30(4)-(4C), subsecs. substit. | 39/1998, ss. 10, 18 |
| S. 30(4BA) subsec. ins. | 32/2009, s. 21(1)(b) |
| S. 30(4BB) subsec. ins. | 32/2009, s. 21(1)(b) |
| S. 30(4BC) subsec. ins. | 32/2009, s. 21(1)(b) |
| S. 30(4D) substit. | 32/2009, s. 21(1)(c) |
| S. 30(4D) subsec. ins. | 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 187(a) |
| S. 30A, new s. | 39/1998, ss. 11, 18 |
| S. 30A(1) constr. of refs. | 11/2014, ss. 1(2), 166 |
| S. 30A(1) substit. | 32/2009, s. 21(2) |
| S. 30A(1A) subsec. ins. | 32/2009, s. 21(2) |
| S. 30A(2)(b) am. | 32/2009, s. 21(3) |
| 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 187(b)(i) | |
| S. 30A(3) am. | 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 187(b)(ii) |
| S. 34* | |
| Pt. 5 (ss. 35-53), saver for powers under | 32/2009, s. 8(3)(c) |
| Pt. 5 (ss. 35-53), certain offences under Criminal Justice Act 2006 (ss. 71A, 72, 73, 76) deemed scheduled offences | 32/2009, s. 8(2) |
| Pt. 5 (ss. 35-53), saving for. | 39/1998, s.14 (3) (c) |
| Ss. 35, 36 saver for Government power under | 32/2009, s. 8(3)(a) |
| Ss. 35, 36, saving for. | 39/1998, s.14 (3) (a) |
| Ss. 36(3), 37 applied to certain offences under Criminal Justice Act 2006 (ss. 71A, 72, 73, 76) | 32/2009, s. 8(2) |
| Ss. 36 (3), 37 constr. | 39/1998, s. 14(2), (3) |
| S. 38(4) ins. | 2/2005, s. 52 |
| S. 39 registrar appointed under deemed to be constituent court office | 36/2009, ss. 1(2), 17(2) |
| S. 39(5) substituted | 18/2023, ss. 1(4), 109 |
| S. 44(1) substit. | 27/2010, ss. 1(2), 32 |
| S. 44(2) am. | 39/1961, s. 12(3) |
| S. 44(2) appl. | 31/1995, s. 3(3) |
| S. 44(2), constr. of cert. refs. am. | 40/1993, s. 3(8) |
| S. 45(2) saver for DPP power under | 32/2009, s. 8(3)(b) |
| S. 45(2) am. | 10/1999, ss. 2(2), 11 |
| S. 45(2), saving for. | 39/1998, s. 14(3)(b) |
| S. 46(2) am. | 10/1999, ss. 2(2), 11 |
| S. 47-49 procedures prescribed | S.I. No. 183 of 2016, rls. 2-91 |
| S.I. No. 182 of 2016, rls. 2-91 | |
| S. 49(2)-(8) ins. | 2/2005, s. 53 |
| S. 52, applic. rstrct. | 39/1998, s. 13 |
| S. 55* | |
| Pt. 6 (ss. 54-59) rep. | 2/1940, s. 2 |
SIs made under the Act
| Section | SIs made under the Act |
|---|---|
| S. 19(1) | Unlawful Organisation (Suppression) Order 1983 (S.I. No. 7 of 1983) |
| Unlawful Organisation (Suppression) Order 1939 (S.I. No. 162 of 1939) | |
| S. 36 | Offences against the State (Scheduled Offences) (No. 2) Order 1972 (S.I. No. 282 of 1972) |
| Offences against the State (Scheduled Offences) Order 1972 (S.I. No. 142 of 1972) | |
| Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) (No. 7) Order 1947 (S.I. No. 326 of 1947) | |
| Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) (No. 6) Order 1947 (S.I. No. 282 of 1947) | |
| Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) (No. 5) Order 1947 (S.I. No. 212 of 1947) | |
| Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) (No. 4) Order 1947 (S.I. No. 205 of 1947) | |
| Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) (No 3) Order 1940 (S.I. No. 334 of 1940) | |
| Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) (No. 2) Order 1939 (S.I. No. 343 of 1939) | |
| Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) Order 1939 (S.I. No. 339 of 1939) | |
| S. 36(3) | Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) (Cessation) Order 1948 (S.I. No. 192 of 1948) |
| S. 41(1) | Offences Against the State Acts 1939 to 1998 Special Criminal Court No. 2 Rules 2016 (S.I. No. 183 of 2016) |
| Offences Against the State Acts 1939 to 1998 Special Criminal Court No. 1 Rules 2016 (S.I. No. 182 of 2016) | |
| Offences Against The State Acts, 1939 To 1998 (Special Criminal Court Rules) 2001 (S.I. No. 536 of 2001) | |
| Special Criminal Court Rules 1975 (S.I. No. 234 of 1975) | |
| Special Criminal Court Rules 1972 (S.I. No. 147 of 1972) | |
| Additional Rules of Special Criminal Court Established on The 24Th Day of August 1939 (S.I. No. 441 of 1942) | |
| Offences Against The State Act, 1939. Additional Rules of Special Criminal Court Established on The 24th Day of August 1939 (S.I. No. 346 of 1939) | |
| Offences Against The State Act, 1939. Rules of Special Criminal Court 1939 (S.I. No. 266 of 1939) | |
| S. 50(4) | Offences Against The State Act, 1939 (Military Custody) (Amendment) (No. 6) Regulations 1946 (S.I. No. 279 of 1946) |
| Offences Against The State Act, 1939 (Military Custody) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 1942 (S.I. No. 338 of 1942) | |
| Offences Against The State Act, 1939 (Military Custody) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 1942 (S.I. No. 182 of 1942) | |
| Offences Against The State Act, 1939 (Military Custody) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 1940 (S.I. No. 297 of 1940) | |
| Offences, Against The State Act, 1939 (Military Custody) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1940 (S.I. No. 178 of 1940) | |
| Offences Against The State Act, 1939 (Military Custody) (Amendment) Regulations 1940 (S.I. No. 106 of 1940) | |
| Offences Against The State Act, 1939 (Military Custody) Regulations 1939 (S.I. No. 288 of 1939) | |
| S. 58 | Offences Against The State Act, 1939 (Part VI) (Detention) Regulations 1939 (S.I. No. 249 of 1939) |
| S. 59 | Offences Against The State (Internment Commission) Order 1939 (S.I. No. 344 of 1939) |