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Animal Rights History Timeline » [1785-1837] Romantic Age » Animal Rights Law

Police Magistrates, Metropolis Act 1833

Great Britain Parliament

[4 William IV, c. 19]An Act for the More Effectual Administration of Justice in the Office of a Justice of the Peace in the Several Police Offices Established in the Metropolis, and for the More Effectual Prevention of Depredations on the River Thames and its Vicinity, for Three Years

Penalties for "fighting or baiting lions, bears, badgers, cocks, dogs, or other animals;" Prohibits nuisances in thoroughfares including 1. Display of animals for show or sale; feeding, foddering, shoeing, bleeding, farrying, cleaning, dressing, exerciseing, training or breaking any animal 2. Turning loose any Horse, Cattle or unmuzzled ferocious Dog, or urging any dog or other Animal to attack, worry, or put in fear any person, horse, or other Animal: 3. by Negligence or Ill-usage in driving Cattle shall cause any Mischief to be done by such Cattle, and also every Person not being hired or employed to drive such Cattle who shall wantonly and unlawfully pelt, drive, or hunt any such Cattle; Prohibits dog carts; Allows for destruction of rabid animals by police.

[1833-Jun-18 ] "An Act for the More Effectual Administration of Justice in the Office of a Justice of the Peace in the Several Police Offices Established in the Metropolis, and for the More Effectual Prevention of Depredations on the River Thames and its Vicinity, for Three Years," in A Collection of the Public General Statues Passed in the Third and Fourth Year of the Reign of His Majesty King William the Fourth, 1833 (London, 1833; Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks) 149-74.

XXVIII. [Penalty for Bullock-hunting imposed by 21 G. 3. c. 67 increased.] 'And whereas an Act passed in the Twenty-first Year of the Reign of King George the Third, intituled An Act to prevent the Mischiefs that arise from driving Cattle within the Cities of London and Westminster, and Liberties thereof, and Bills of Mortality, had been found ineffectual for the Prevention of such Mischiefs, and it is expedient to extend the Powers and enlarge the Limits of the said Act;' be it therefore enacted, That all the Powers and Provisions of the said Act shall extend and be in force within the Distance of Five Miles from Temple Bar, as fully an effectually as if such Limits had been originally inserted into the said Acts; and that if any Person not being employed to drive Cattle shall within the said Limits pelt with Stones, Brickbats, or by any other Means hunt or drive away, or shall set any Dog at any Ox, Heifer, Cow, Steer, or other Cattle, contrary to the Provisions of the said Act, such Person shall, upon being convicted thereof according to the said Act, forfeit and pay, on the First Conviction, any Sum not exceeding Forty Shillings nor less than Twenty Shillings, and on the Second and very future Conviction any Sum not exceeding Five Pounds nor less than Fifty Shillings, to the Person or Persons who shall prosecute such Offender to Conviction, and in default of Payment shall be committed to the Common Gaol or House of Correction, there to be kept to hard Labour for any Time not exceeding Two Months on the First Conviction, nor Five Months on the Second and every future Conviction in the Manner prescribed by the said Act, unless the penalty be sooner paid.

XXIX. [Penalty for Bear-baiting, Cock-fighting, &c.] 'And whereas divers Places in and about the Metropolis are kept and used for the Purpose of fighting or baiting of Bears or other Animals, at which Places idle and disorderly Persons commonly assemble, to the Interruption of good Order and the Danger of the public Peace;' be it therefore enacted, That any Person who shall, within Five Miles of Temple Bar, keep or use, or shall act in the Management of conducting of any Premises of Place whatsoever for the Purpose of fighting or baiting of Bears, Cock-fighting, baiting or fighting of Badgers or other Animals, shall, on Conviction thereof before any One Justice of the Peace, forfeit any Sum not exceeding Five Pounds, and in default of immediate Payment shall be liable to be imprisoned and kept to hard Labour for any Time not exceeding Two Months, unless the said Penalty shall be sooner paid.