Current UK Laws - Second Question

[SRobb]

So if there is nowhere to find out exactly what is illegal except the site mentioned in the answer to my previous question, how are we expected to know what is illegal? Ignorange isn't much of a defence when you have been arrested for doing something illegal but if we can't easily find out what we could be arrested for then it's a bit unfair. There are the obvious illegal things like murder, rape, assault etc. but there are laws about lots of things that you may simply not have heard of in the course of your life. Shouldn't the government have an easily accessible source of information so that ignorance genuinely is no defence?

[geofbob]

The plain fact is that most of the illegal acts that ordinary people might commit DO come into your category of "obvious". There are also specialised areas - such as driving, certain leisure activities and skilled occupations - where training is provided to ensure that you don't break the law. At the end of the day, I doubt very much whether many people are hauled into court genuinely ignorant of why they are there, unless of course they simply have not committed the act of which they are accused.

[wildwood]

I know what you are saying SRobb, and agree that 'the law' should be available for all to peruse. I have never looked for it, but perhaps your local library has something close to it.
If the whole law was easily available say on the Net, the legal eagles - who basically make the laws - would go broke.
BTW, genuine ignorance is a defence.

[FredPuli]

'Ignorantia juris haud excusat' : 'Ignorance of the Law does not excuse' ( See, the lawyers even put that into Latin so laymen wouldn't understand it). The reason is that if it were a defence everyone could claim it and the prosecution could almost never refute it; it would be hard indeed to prove that the accused was versed in the law in any given case. Good that, isn't it? There are some 100,000 books of law in one of the four Inns of Court ( societies for barristers) libraries alone. Fat chance, eh? Still it gives employment ! Even murder is not really understood by most people; how many know that an intent to kill is not essential to committing it ( an intent to inflict really serious bodily harm is enough)

[FredPuli]

Genuine ignorance of the law is never a defence. Ignorance of an essential fact may be, but of the law, never.If it were then all could claim it and it would usually be impossible to refute it.

[FredPuli]

You have to ignore all indications that your original post is not going to appear on this site, don't you !!!

[beagle1]

Most local libraries contain straightforward law books which would help you identify whether something is against the law or not. You don't say whether you are concerned about a criminal matter or not, but you can only be arrested for certain types of offences, and if you are arrested, the police should tell you what for and why (Police and Criminal Evidence Act, 1984). You could also try looking at www.hmso.gov.uk, which lists all UK legislation since 1988. Failing that, write to your MP!

[SRobb]

I am aware that when you are arrested you must be told what for and why, my point is that by then it is too late. Receiving knowledge that you acted illegally on your way to a police cell is like deciding to buy a smoke alarm on your way to heaven.