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[a]
Dates
Royal assent	24 August 1939
Other legislation
Repealed by	Emergency Laws (Repeal) Act 1959
Status: Repealed

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(forcing safeguards and looting) were punishable with death.^[1] Following the conclusion of the war, the 1939 Act was repealed, with the individual regulations gradually following suit. As of 2023, at least one Regulation (relating to the use of service personnel to perform agricultural and other "urgent work of national importance") remains in force.

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