Intrinsic Aids to Interpretation

The Short and Long Title

these give the purpose of the act

USED IN:

In Cornwall County Council V Baker

the purpose of the Protection of Animals Act 2000 was interpreted using the long title

The Preamble

outlines the statute covers and its purpose

Marginal Notes & Headings

added by the person who drafts the Act, providing guidance on a section

USED IN:

R V TIVNAN

• marginal notes helped to clarfiy Parliament's intentions regarding the deprevation of drug dealers

• this helped them to understand whether Parliament intended to seize items of the same worth as money obtained from drug dealing
• or to seize items that had been brought using money made from the sale of drugs

The Interpretation Section

clarifies ambigious or complex areas of the Act

USED TO:

• interpret section 10 of the Theft Act 1968
• this stated 'a weapon of offence'
• but there was confusion as to what this meant 
• so the interpretation section was used to define 'a weapon of offence' as 'any article made or adapted for use to cause injury'

Schedules

documents added to the end of statutes, explaining certain areas in detail

USED IN:

• the Contracts Term Act 1977
• Schedule 2 of this act outlines tests that help to determine reasonableness