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Social Laws
Crime and Criminality

These Acts of Parliament relate to various crimes, law enforcement and prosecution; as well as watches, constabularies and other efforts to control crime. To ease your search for specific topics, keywords in each act are highlighted in red. By simply scanning through the chronological list, you should easily be able to narrow in on desired items. Through the reign of George II, acts are listed by the year in which the Parliamentary session ends ; from George III on they are by date of passage . Local and Personal Acts, and Private Acts are identified by "Cap." numbers in green.

For other related material contained within legislation filed elsewhere, see also: Agricultural and Rural Laws - re. Poaching

The Acts are listed according to the reigns of the British Kings and Queens.
Select from below to view a particular era.

Commonwealth 1642-1660

Charles II 1660-1685

James II 1685-1689

William & Mary 1689-1702

Anne 1702-1714

George I 1714-1727

George II 1727-1760

George III 1760-1820

George IV 1820-1830

William IV 1830-1837

Victoria 1837-1901

The Interregnum
(Commonwealth and Protectorate)

• [5th October, p.131-151]. ... for the Relief of Creditors and Poor Prisoners. $150

Reign of William and Mary
(Later William III)

• [Anno 4&5, p.395-400]. ... to Prevent Frauds by Clandestine Mortgages. $45
• [Anno $&5, p.431-40]. ... to Prevent Malicious Informations in the Court of Kings-Bench, and for the more easie Reversal of Outlaries in the same Court. $40

• [Anno 7&8, p.415-16]. ... to Continue Four former Acts for Preventing Theft and Rapine upon the Northern Borders of England. $25

Reign of Anne

• [Anno 1, p.441-43]. ... for the Incouraging the Consumption of Malted Corn, and for the better Preventing the Running of French and Foreign Brandy (lacks title page). $20

• [Anno 3&4, p.223-26]. ... to Prevent all Traiterous Correspondence with Her Majesties Enemies (lacks title page). $35

Reign of George II

• [Anno 2, p.411-12]. ... Trial of Murders, in Cases where either the Stroke, or Death, only happens, within ... England. $18
• [Anno 2, p.527-531]. ... to impower His Majesty ... to grant the Office of the Warden of the Prison of the Fleet. ... and to incapacitate said Thomas Bambridge to enjoy the said Office ... $20

• [Anno 5, p.459-92]. ...to prevent the committing of Frauds by Bankrupts. $22

• [Anno 9, p.247-55]. ... better regulating the Nightly Watch and Bedels within the Parish of Saint Paul, Covent Garden ... $25
• [Anno 9, p.299-310]. better regulating the Nightly Watch and Bedels within the Parishes of Saint Margaret and Saint John the Evangelist within ... Westminster. $25
• [Anno 9, p.319-26]. ... better regulating the Nightly Watch and Bedels within the Parish of Saint Anne ... Westminster. $25
• [Anno 9, p.331-42]. ... for the better enlightening of the Streets of the City of London. $20

• [Anno 18, p.631-34]. ... preventing the Stealing of Linen, Fustian, and Cotton Goods and Wares, in ... Places used for Printing, Whitening, Bleaching or Drying ... $22

• [Anno 22, p.531-32]. ... remedying Inconveniences ... on the Statutes of Hue and Cry. $15

• [Anno 24, p.663-82]. ... for cleaning and enlightening the open Places, Streets, and other Passages; and regulating the nightly Watch and Bedels in the Parish of Saint Mathew Bethnal Green ... $20

• [Anno 28, p.431-35]. ... making perpetual an Act ... for the better preventing of Thefts and Robberies, ... punishing Persons keeping disorderly Houses; ... selling ... Liquors without Licence ... preventing the burning or destroying of Goss, Furze or Fern ... [etc.] $18

• [Anno 32, p.335-36]. ... to continue so much of an Act ... as relates to the further Punishment of Persons going armed or disguised, in Defiance of the Laws of Customs or Excise; and to the Relief of the Officers of the Customs in Informations upon Seizures; and to appropriate certain penalties mentione in an Act ... for the due Making of Bread; and the regulate the Price and Assize thereof; and to punish Persons who shall adulterate Meal, Flour, or Bread. $18

Reign of George III

• [Anno 12, Cap.20]. ... for the more effectual proceeding against Persons standing Mute on their Arraignment for Felony, or Piracy. $18
• [Anno 12, Cap.23]. ... for the Relief of Insovent Debtors and for indemnifying the Marshal of the King's Bench Prison from Prosecutions at Law, for certain Escapes from the said Prison. (46 p.) $25
• [Anno 12, Cap.24]. ... for the better securing and preserving His Majesty's Dock Yards, Magazines, Ships, Ammunition, and Stores. $15
• [Anno 12, Cap.73]. ... for the better Regulation of Buildings and Party Walls within the Cities of London and Westminster ... and other Parishes, Precincts, and Places in the Weekly Bills of Mortality, ... Saint Mary-le-Bon and Paddington, Saint Pancras, and Saint Luke at Chelsea ...; and for the better preventing of Mischiefs by Fire within the said ..., and for the amending and reducing the Laws relating thereto into One Act ... (49 p.) $25

• [Anno 42, Cap.119]. ... to supress certain Games and Lotteries not authorized by Law. $18

• [Anno 56, Cap 138]. ... to abolish the Punishment of the Pillory, except in certain Cases. $20

Reign of George IV

• [Anno 3, Cap.33]. ... for altering and amending several Acts ..., so far as the same relate to the Recovery of Damages committed by riotous and tumultuous Assemblies and unlawful and malicious Offenders. $15

• [Anno 3, Cap.39]. ... for preventing Frauds upon Creditors, by secret Warrants of Attorney to confess Judgement. $12
• [Anno 3, Cap.40]. ... for consolidating into One Act and amending the Laws relating to idle and disorderly Persons, Rogues and Vagabonds, incorrigible Rogues, and other Vagrants ... $20

• [Anno 3, Cap.55]. ... for the more effectual Administration of the Office of a Justice of the Peace in and near the Metropolis, and for the more effectual Prevention of Depradations on the River Thames and its Vicinity, for Seven Years. (26 pp.) $25

• [Anno 5, Cap.85]. ... for amending an Act ... relating to the building, repairing, and enlarging of certain Gaols and Houses of Correction; and for procuring information as to the State of all other Gaols and Houses of Corrections in Engand and Wales. $18

• [Anno 5, Cap 108]. ... for transferring to the East India Company certain Possessions ... in the East Indies, and for authorizing the Removal of Convicts from Sumatra. $22

Reign of William IV

• [Anno 1, Cap.37]. ... to amend an Act ... to facilitate Criminal Trials in Scotland, and to abridge the Period ... between the pronouncing of Setence and Execution ... [of] Capital Punishment. (With accompanying schedule outlining trials and punishments.) $35

• [Anno 6&7, Cap 57]. ... for the Prevention and Punishment of Offences committed ... within certain Territories adjacent to ... the Cape of Good Hope. $15

Reign of Victoria

• [Anno 1, Cap.14]. ... to repeal so much of an Act ... as authorizes Magistrates to commit to Gaols or Houses of Correction Persons who are apprehended under Circumstances that denote a Derangement of Mind and a Purpose of committing a Crime; and to make other Provisions for the safe Custody of such Persons. $15

• [Anno 1&2, Cap.80]. ... for the Payment of Constables for keeping the Peace near Public Works. $15

• [Anno 1&2, Cap.114]. ... to amend the Law of Scotland in Matters relating to Personal Diligence, Arrestments, and Poindings. $15

• [Anno 2&3, Cap.93]. ... for the Establishment of County and District Constables by the Authority of Justices of the Peace. [Dampstains.] $10

• [Anno 3&4, Cap.88]. ... to amend the Act for the Establishment of County and District Constables. $10

• [Anno *&9, Cap.72]. ... to render it unnecessary to keep up Rothwell Gaol, in the Honor of Pontefract, in the West Riding of the County of York. $10

• [Anno 8&9, Cap.87]. ... for the Prevention of Smuggling. (44 p.) $25

• [Anno 9&10, Cap.24]. ... for removing some Defects in the Administration of Criminal Justice. $12
• [Anno 9&10, Cap.25]. ... for preventing malicious Injuries to Persons and Property by Fire, or by explosive or destructive Substances. $15

• [Anno 13&14, Cap.39]. ... for the better Governance of Convict Prisons. $15

• [Anno 13&14, Cap.91]. ... to authorize Justices of any Borough having a separate Gaol to commit Assize Prisoners to such Gaol, and to extend the Jurisdiction of Borough Justices to all Offences and Matters arising within the Borough for which they act. $12

• [Anno 14&15, Cap.19]. ... for the better Prevention of Offences. $20

• [Anno 14&15, Cap.27]. ... to amend certain Acts for the Improvement of Prisons and Prison Discipline in Scotland. $18

• [Anno 14&15, Cap.52]. ... to facilitate the more speedy Arrest of absconding Debtors. $15

• [Anno 14&15, Cap.85]. ... to further amend an Act ... to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to the Constabulary Force in Ireland. $15

• [Anno 15&16, Cap.66]. ... to continue an Act ... for the better Prevention of Crime and Outrage in certain Parts of Ireland. $10
• [Anno 15&16, Cap.70]. ... for authorizing the Occupation of the House of Correction recently erected by and for the City of London at Holloway in the County of Middlesex. $15

• [Anno 17&18, Cap.36]. ... for preventing Frauds upon Creditors by secret Bills of Sale of personal Chattels. $12

• [Anno 17&18, Cap.38]. ... for the Suppression of Gaming Houses. $25

• [Anno 17&18, Cap.74]. ... to render Reformatory and Industrial Schools in Scotland more available for the Benefit of Vagrant Children. $20
• [Anno 17&18, Cap.76]. ... for the Formation, regulation, and Government of Convict Prisons in Ireland. $30

• [Anno 17&18, Cap.86]. ... for the better Care and Reformation of Youthful Offenders ... $15
• [Anno 17&18, Cap.92]. ... to continue an Act ... for the better Prevention of Crime and Outrage in certain Parts of Ireland. $8

• [Anno 17&18, Cap.115]. ... to amend the Law relative to the Removal of Prisoners in Custody. $10

• [Anno 17&18, Cap.123]. ... to render any Dealing with Securities issued during the present War between Russia and England by the Russian Government a Misdemeanor. $10

• [Anno 24, Cap.12]. ... for the Abolition of Contributions by Counties for the Relief of Prisoners in the Queen's Prison, and for the Benefit of Bethlehem Hospital. (Margin rough.) $10

• [Anno 24&25, Cap.31]. ... for the Prevention and Punishment of Offences committed by ... Subjects within certain Territories adjacent to ... Sierra Leone. $10

• [Anno 24&25, Cap.124]. ... for amending the Law relating to the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District ... $20

• [Anno 32&33, Cap.158*]. ... to confirm a Provisonal Order under "The General Police and Improvement (Scotland) Act, 1862," relating to the Burgh of Broughty Ferry. (Marginal tears.) $10
  * Local and Personal Act

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