Statutory Interpretation: Aids to interpretation

Aids to interpretation

To assist judges in interpreting words/phrases of statutues there are various aids they may refer to for assistance

1) Internal/intrinsic aids

2) External/extrinsic aids

3) Rules of Language

4) Presumptions

5) The four main rules of statutory interpretation

Internal/intrinsic aids: Contained in the statute itself

• The preamble: Older Acts often have a paragraph at the start of the Act that states what the law will do and may be helpful in finding the michief of the Act. Modern acts don't tend to have them or they are so brief that they are of limited use. (Eg. Theft Act 1968 states that they are…