Guidance

Contempt Public Interest Framework

The Framework sets out the public interest factors that are applicable to all contempt referrals

• From: Attorney General's Office, Edward Timpson CBE KC and The Rt Hon Suella Braverman KC MP
• Published: 20 July 2022

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

Documents

Contempt public interest framework

MS Word Document, 17.5 KB

Details

As guardians of the public interest, when deciding whether to bring proceedings for contempt, the Law Officers will consider whether it is in public interest to bring committal proceedings, even if the evidential test is met.

The framework sets out the public interest factors that are applicable to all contempt referrals, to assist the Law Officers in their decision making and to enable the public to understand the considerations that apply in these cases.

Published 20 July 2022