An Act to prevent the training of Persons to the Use of Arms, and to the Practice of Military Evolutions and Exercise.
[11th December 1819]
[F1 Whereas in some parts of the United Kingdom men clandestinely and unlawfully assembled have practised military training and exercise, to the great terror and alarm of his Majesty’s peaceable and loyal subjects, and the imminent danger of the public peace:]
Textual Amendments
F1Act repealed (except as it extends to N.I.) (21.7.2008) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2008 (c. 12), Sch. 1 Pt. 3
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Short title given by Short Titles Act 1896 (c. 14)
C2Powers of Lieutenant and two justices of the peace of a county under this Act now exercisable by a Secretary of State or any officer deputed by him for the purpose: Firearms Act 1920 (c. 43), s. 16
C3This Act is not necessarily in the form in which it has effect in Northern Ireland
C4Act excluded by S.I. 1981/155 (N.I. 2), art. 54(4)
C5Act saved (N.I.) (temp.) (27.8.1991) by Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991 (c. 24, SIF 39:1), ss. 32(4), 69
C6Act excluded (N.I.) (1.2.2005) by The Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/702), arts. 1(3), 49(4) (with art. 81); S.R. 2005/4, art. 3 (with arts. 4-7)
Commencement Information
I1Act wholly in force at Royal Assent
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Extent Information
E1This version of this provision extends to England and Wales and Scotland only; a separate version has been created for Northern Ireland only
Textual Amendments
F1Act repealed (except as it extends to N.I.) (21.7.2008) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2008 (c. 12), Sch. 1 Pt. 3
All meetings and assemblies of persons for the purpose of training or drilling themselves, or of being trained or drilled to the use of arms, or for the purpose of practising military exercise, movements, or evolutions, without any lawful authority from his Majesty, or [F9a Secretary of State], by commission or otherwise, for so doing, shall be and the same are hereby prohibited as dangerous to the peace and security of his Majesty’s liege subjects and of his government; and every person who shall be present at or attend any such meeting or assembly for the purpose of training and drilling any other person or persons to the use of arms or the practise of military exercise, movements, or evolutions, or who shall train or drill any other person or persons to the use of arms, or the practise of military exercise, movements, or evolutions, or who shall aid or assist therein, being legally convicted thereof, shall be liable to [F10imprisonment] for any term not exceeding seven years, F11. . .; and every person who shall attend or be present at any such meeting or assembly as aforesaid, for the purpose of being, or who shall at any such meeting or assembly be trained or drilled to the use of arms, or the practice of military exercise, movements, or evolutions, being legally convicted thereof, shall be liable to be punished by fine and imprisonment not exceeding two years, at the discretion of the court in which such conviction shall be had.
Extent Information
E2This version of this provision extends to Northern Ireland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales and Scotland only
Textual Amendments
F9Words in s. 1 substituted (N.I.) (8.11.1995) by 1995 c. 44, s. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 1(b)
F10Words in s. 1 substituted (8.11.1995) by 1995 c. 44, s. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 1(c)
F11Words in s. 1 repealed (8.11.1995) by 1995 c. 44, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. VI Group 1
[F1[F2 It shall be lawful for any justice of the peace or for any constable or peace officer [F3 , or for any other person acting in their aid or assistance, ] to disperse any such unlawful meeting or assembly as aforesaid, and to arrest and detain any person present at or aiding, assisting, or abetting any such assembly or meeting as aforesaid; F4 . . . ]]
Textual Amendments
F1Act repealed (except as it extends to N.I.) (21.7.2008) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2008 (c. 12), Sch. 1 Pt. 3
F2S. 2 ceased to have effect (E.W.) (1.1.2006) by virtue of Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 7 para. 38; S.I. 2005/3495, art. 2(1)(m)
F3Words in s. 2 repealed (E.W.) (1.1.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8)(8), Sch. 7 para. 1, Sch. 17 Pt. 2; S.I. 2005/3495, art. 2(1)(m)(u); (N.I.) (1.3.2007) by The Police and Criminal Evidence (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/288), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 1, 2
F4Words repealed by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), Sch. 11 Pt. IV, and are expressed to be repealed (N.I.) by Statute Law Revision (Northern Ireland) Act 1980 (c. 59), Sch. Pt. IV
[F1The [F5sheriffs principal] and their substitutes, justices of the peace, magistrates of royal burghs, and all other inferior judges and magistrates, and also all high and petty constables, or other peace officers, of any county, city or town within Scotland, shall have such and the same powers and authorities for putting this present Act in execution within Scotland, as the justices of the peace and other magistrates and peace officers and constables aforesaid respectively have, by virtue of this Act, within and for other parts of the United Kingdom.]
Textual Amendments
F1Act repealed (except as it extends to N.I.) (21.7.2008) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2008 (c. 12), Sch. 1 Pt. 3
F5Words substituted by virtue of Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971 (c. 58), s. 4
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C7Functions of Burgh magistrates now exercisable by justice of the peace: District Courts (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 20), s. 1(2)
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Textual Amendments
F6S. 4 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1989 (c. 43), s. 1(1), Sch. 1
Textual Amendments
F7Ss. 5, 6 repealed by Public Authorities Protection Act 1893 (c. 61), Sch.
[F1Provided always, that no person shall be prosecuted by virtue of this Act for any thing done or committed contrary to the provisions herein-before contained, unless such prosecution shall be commenced within six calendar months after the offence committed.]
Textual Amendments
F1Act repealed (except as it extends to N.I.) (21.7.2008) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2008 (c. 12), Sch. 1 Pt. 3
Textual Amendments
F8S. 8 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1873 (c. 91)