Obscene Prints, Books, or Pictures

Obscene Prints, Books, or Pictures exhibited in public render the exhibitor liable to be indicted for a misdemeanour. Persons exposing them in streets, roads, or public places are also liable to be punished as rogues and vagabonds with hard labour. An important change in the law was effected by Lord Campbell's Act, which was passed in 1857, to suppress the traffic in obscene books, pictures, prints, and other articles. Any two justices of the peace, or any police-magistrate, upon complaint made before him on oath that such books, &c. are kept in any house, shop, room, or other place, for the purpose of sale, or distribution, or exhibition for gain or on hire, and that such things have been sold, &c., may authorise a constable to enter in the daytime, and, if necessary, use force by breaking open doors, or otherwise to search for and seize such books, &c., and carry them before the magistrate or justices, who may, after giving due notice to the occupier of the house, and being satisfied as to the nature and object of keeping the articles, cause them to be destroyed.