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Malicious Damage Act 1861

24 & 25 Vict. c. 97 · Enacted 6 August 1861 · Extends to United Kingdom

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 1 May 1994.

An Act to consolidate and amend the Statute Law of England and Ireland relating to Malicious Injuries to Property.

[6th August 1861]C1C2C3I1

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Short title given by Short Titles Act 1896 (c. 14)

C2

Preamble omitted under authority of Statute Law Revision Act 1892 (c. 19)

C3

This Act is not necessarily in the form in which it has effect in Northern Ireland

Commencement

I1

Act wholly in force at Royal Assent

Contents

  1. 1—34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  2. Injuries to Railway Carriages and Telegraphs
  3. 35Placing wood, &c. on railway, with intent to obstruct or overthrow any engine, &c.
  4. 36Obstructing engines or carriages on railways.
  5. 37—46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  6. 47. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  7. 48. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  8. 49—55. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  9. Other Matters
  10. 56, 57. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  11. 58Malice against owner of property unnecessary.
  12. 59—71. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  13. 72Offences committed within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty.
  14. 73—79. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed

1—34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

35Placing wood, &c. on railway, with intent to obstruct or overthrow any engine, &c.C2C1 E+W+N.I.

Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously cut, place, cast, or throw upon or across any railway any wood, stone, or other matter or thing, or shall unlawfully and maliciously take up, remove, or displace any rail, sleeper, or other matter or thing belonging to any railway, or shall unlawfully and maliciously turn, move, or divert any points or other machinery belonging to any railway, or shall unlawfully and maliciously make or show, hide or remove, any signal or light upon or near to any railway, or shall unlawfully and maliciously do or cause to be done any other matter or thing, with intent, in any of the cases aforesaid, to obstruct, upset, overthrow, injure, or destroy any engine, tender, carriage, or truck using such railway, shall be guilty of felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the discretion of the court, to be kept in penal servitude for life . . . F1 or to be imprisoned . . . F2

36Obstructing engines or carriages on railways.C1

Whosoever, by any unlawful act, or by any wilful omission or neglect, shall obstruct or cause to be obstructed any engine or carriage using any railway, or shall aid or assist therein, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the discretion of the court, to be imprisoned for any term not exceeding two years, . . . F1

37—46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

47. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W+N.I.

48. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W+N.I.

49—55. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

56, 57. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

58Malice against owner of property unnecessary.

Every punishment and forfeiture by this Act imposed on any person maliciously committing any offence, whether the same be punishable upon indictment or upon summary conviction, shall equally apply and be enforced, whether the offence shall be committed from malice conceived against the owner of the property in respect of which it shall be committed, or otherwise.

59—71. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

72Offences committed within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty.

All indictable offences mentioned in this Act which shall be committed within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty of England or Ireland shall be . . . F1 liable to the same punishments as if they had been committed upon the land in England or Ireland . . .

73—79. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1