Post Office Act, 1908

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Criminal diversion of letters from addressee.

54.—(1) If any person not in the employment of the Postmaster-General wilfully and maliciously, with intent to injure any other person, either opens or causes to be opened any letter which ought to have been delivered to that other person, or does any act or thing whereby the due delivery of the letter to that other person is prevented or impeded, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds, or to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for any term not exceeding six months.

(2) Nothing in this section shall apply to a person who does any act to which this section applies where he is parent, or in the position of parent or guardian, of the person to whom the letter is addressed.

(3) A prosecution shall not be instituted in pursuance of this section except by the direction or with the consent of the Postmaster-General.

(4) A letter in this section means a postal packet in course of transmission, by post and any other letter which has been delivered by post.