The Vagrancy Act

[Bitter Ashes]

I was not aware of this before today.
I was polietly requested by the police today to "move along" (oh how British!). I asked what crime they believed I was commiting. His friend who was with him smiled and chirped merrily "The Vagrancy Act! If you're going to sit in one place then don't do it in public!". They also thought this was a good time to search me and question whether I'd bought the imported tobacco in my bag myself. I told them that I had and when they saw I didnt have anything dangerous on me, or any ID, they told me go.
I must admit that I bottled it and decieded not to challenge it further and went home.
I've tried to look into what this thing actualy is and I'm getting a bit overwhelmed by the legal-ese, so does anyone have a dummies definition of what exactly that I'd done wrong? Or is this just one of those very grey laws that can be used to haul you in for anything?:crying:

[Sam_b]

Did they give you a valid reason for a search? Did you receive a form from them afterwards with the search details? If you didn't, they had absolutely no right to do what they did.

[Bitter Ashes]

Did they give you a valid reason for a search? Did you receive a form from them afterwards with the search details? If you didn't, they had absolutely no right to do what they did.
None of that no. :crying:
They did mention something that there's no point taking it further because of my lack of ID though and they guessed, that I wouldnt give them a name.

[Sam_b]

Aye, but you don't have to carry about ID.

In future, insist that there is a cause and reason for a search, take down the officer's numbers (on their shoulders) and make sure to receive documentation that the search was carried out, findings etc. The police get away with this shit all of the time due to their physical presence and idea of moral 'authority' in society. I mean, how many of us would (or would have used to) allow the police into our homes without a warrant?

[rednordman]

This actually reminds me of something that I read towards the end of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by HS Thompson. He was basically saying how certain drug users basically got arrested by the police and taken to very strange court precedings just for walking around parts of Las Vagas. When asked what they where getting prosecuted for, the police said vagrancy!? Dunno if its true or not, just it was quite a funny story when reading it. Mabey the police officer you where talking to was just being sarcastic towards you basically saying that there is a direct comparison between your situation and that of the book. Dont want to look into it too deeply, just your situation really reminds me of that story:D Just replace hippy or 'drug fiend' (lol) with left winger? I dunno..Sorry if you think that is well random, i'v had a few bevies:).

[Lynx]

We have laws against loitering, but vagrancy - that refers to homeless people :confused:

[pastradamus]

From my experience with the cops -they're quite dim-witted and get citations of law wrong all the time. Like when once they told me to 'clear off' from a local fast food area. When I asked them what I was doing wrong they cited loitering under a made-up section of law. Basically when the cop couldn't remember the section and chapter and act of law, he simply made something up. When I corrected him on this I could see him reaching for his baton so I turned around quickly and moved along. There is one major fact when It comes to the police - of any country, They can do what they like to you, when they like as long as there is no-neutral witnesses or CCTV watching them. Its always your word against theirs in court. So who do you think the judge will believe?

[Dóchas]

ye i get this shit all the time whenever im hanging out with my friends. you can just see them spot us and make their way over and we all know whats coming. the usual "move along there lads". we may have not been doing anything but sit on a wall but i guess they think we make to area look a bit dodgy. to be honest its enfuriating and i always ask myself that if i was 5 or 10 years older would he have even bothered coming over? it just gets old and it really pisses me off

[Rjevan]

What exactly was their problem? As far as I understood you just sat there and then they told you to "move on" and search you. :confused:
I think vagrancy is, e.g. sleeping on a park bench or camping outside a public toilet but I don't think that this was case here.

[brigadista]

this site has some useful and practical info
http://www.urban75.org/legal/rights.html