A defendant found in a park for the purpose of fornication was not guilty of the offence under the Act because fornication was not a criminal offence. Citations: [1860] 25 JP 39 Statutes: Vagrancy Act 1824 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Approved – Smith v Chief Superintendent, Woking Police Station 1983 The defendant entered … Continue reading Hayes v Stephenson: 1862
The defendant, a youth, apealed his conviction under the 1824 Act of being found on enclosed premises for an unlawful purpose. Held: No unlawful purpose had been shown and the conviction was quashed. Judges: Auld LJ, Collins J Citations: [2007] EWHC 1843 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Vagrancy 1824 4 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited … Continue reading L v Crown Prosecution Service: Admn 16 Jul 2007
The defendant appealed his conviction for being a rogue and vagabond after being found in an enclosed yard and having a criminal intent. He was hiding from the police. Held: His appeal was allowed. Hiding from the police was not an unlawful purpose within the section, since there was no criminal activity in mind which … Continue reading JL (A Youth) v Director of Public Prosecutions: QBD 16 Jul 2007
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The court asked whether the power of arrest under s6 of the 1864 Act survived s26 of the 1984 Act. Held: The 1984 Act affected only the powers given to police officers as police officers. The power under s6 of the Vagrancy Act applied to any person, and therefore was not affected by a restriction … Continue reading Gapper v Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Constabulary: CA 2 Jul 1998
Citations: [1944] KB 77 Statutes: Vagrancy Act 1824 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Akhurst v Director of Public Prosecutions QBD 12-Mar-2009 The defendants appealed their convictions under the 1824 Act for being found in an enclosed space for an unlawful purpose. They had been filmed on CCTV on sites owned by Middlesex … Continue reading Knott v Blackburn: 1944
Meaning of ‘enclosed space’. Citations: [2009] EWHC 806 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Vagrancy Act 1824 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Crime Updated: 15 August 2022; Ref: scu.341176
The court asked what was meant by ‘found’ in the 1824 Act, and whether it meant that, at the time of the arrest, the individual had to have the necessary unlawful purpose. The court decided that that was not necessary, though in many cases that might be the relevant moment because that would be when … Continue reading Moran v Jones: QBD 1911
The defendant having been found inside an office was convicted under the Act of being in an enclosed area within the Act. It was held that the Act clearly referred to enclosed but open areas. The list of buildings was exhaustive and did not include an office or room. Gazette 03-Feb-2000, Times 15-Feb-2000, [2000] 1 … Continue reading Talbot v Oxford City Justices; Director of Public Prosecutions: QBD 3 Feb 2000
The defendant entered the garden of a private house and looked through the windows of the house occupied by the victim. She was terrified. The Justices concluded that the defendant had deliberately frightened the victim, and that that constituted an assault. He appealed his conviction under the 1824 Act s4 of being in an enclosed … Continue reading Smith v Chief Superintendent, Woking Police Station: 1983
The defendants appealed their convictions under the 1824 Act for being found in an enclosed space for an unlawful purpose. They had been filmed on CCTV on sites owned by Middlesex University. Held: The appeals succeeded. The magistrates had incorrectly distinguished the authorities by holding that the phrase ‘enclosed space’ should not be restricted in … Continue reading Akhurst v Director of Public Prosecutions: QBD 12 Mar 2009