Metropolitan Police Act 1839

The Metropolitan Police Act 1839 (2 & 3 Vict c 47) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Act enlarged the district of, and gave greatly increased powers to the Metropolitan Police established by the Metropolitan Police Act 1829. It is one of the Metropolitan Police Acts 1829 to 1895.^[1]

Section 2 of the Act allowed for the enlargement of the Metropolitan Police District to include places in a radius of 15 miles (24 kilometres) from Charing Cross.

Section 5 gave constables of the Metropolitan Police all "powers and privileges of constabulary" in the counties of Berkshire and Buckinghamshire and on the River Thames within or adjoining Middlesex, Surrey, Berkshire, Essex, Kent and the City of London (the MPA 1829 had already given them constabulary powers within Middlesex, Surrey, Essex and Kent).

The Act gave the police force powers over shipping arriving in the Port of London and using the Thames. Among these powers were:

Power to inspect vessels to prevent smuggling
Power to seize unlawful quantities of gunpowder
Powers to seize guns loaded with ball

A number of activities were to regulated within the Metropolitan Police District:

Fairs were only to be open during agreed hours.
Public Houses were to closed on Sundays, Christmas Day and on Good Friday until 1 pm. No alcoholic drink was to be sold to persons under 16 years of age.
Police were empowered to enter unlicensed theatres.
Police could enter premises where bear baiting or cockfighting were being carried on, and fine the participants five pounds.
Police were allowed to enter gaming houses.
Regulations could be made to prevent the obstruction of parades and processions.

Section 54 of the Act enumerated a long list of "Nuisances by Persons in Thoroughfares" that were now prohibited. Among the outlawed activities, for which the miscreant could be taken into custody and fined, were:

"Furious Driving".
Driving carts on the footway.
Selling or distributing "profane, indecent or obscene books, papers, prints, drawings, paintings or representations", or singing any songs or ballads with similar content or using language "to the annoyance of pedestrians or passengers".
Threatening or abusive behaviour or words.
The blowing of horns (except by guards and postmen of the General Post Office).
Discharging firearms, setting fireworks or lighting bonfires.
"Wantonly disturbing" persons by ringing doorbells, knocking on doors or unlawfully extinguishing lamps.
Flying kites or playing games to the annoyance of others.
Making slides upon ice or snow to the danger of pedestrians.

The Act also outlawed the use of dog carts, obliged street musicians to move on when asked and allowed the imprisonment of "drunkards guilty of riotous or indecent behaviour".

References

↑ The Short Titles Act 1896, section 2(1) and Schedule 2

External links

Text of the Metropolitan Police Act 1839 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk

United Kingdom legislation

Pre-Parliamentary legislation	List of English statutes Charter of Liberties Magna Carta

Acts of Parliament by states preceding the Kingdom of Great Britain	Acts of the Parliament of England to 1483 1485–1601 1603–1641 Interregnum (1642–1660) 1660–1699 1700–1706 Acts of the Parliament of Scotland

Acts of Parliament of the Kingdom of Great Britain	1707–1719 1720–1739 1740–1759 1760–1779 1780–1800

Acts of the Parliament of Ireland	to 1700 1701–1800

Acts of Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland	1801–1819 1820–1839 1840–1859 1860–1879 1880–1899 1900–1919 1920–1939 1940–1959 1960–1979 1980–1999 2000 to date Halsbury's Statutes Legislation.gov.uk Short titles

Church of England measures	List Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919

Legislation of devolved institutions	Acts of the Scottish Parliament List Acts and Measures of the National Assembly for Wales List Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly List Acts of the Parliament of Northern Ireland List Orders in Council for Northern Ireland List

Orders-in-Council	Order in Council

Secondary legislation	United Kingdom Statutory Instruments Scottish Statutory Instruments Acts of Sederunt Acts of Adjournal

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