Vagrancy Act 1824

VIII Vagrants to be searched, and Trunks, Bundles, &c. to be inspected. Effects found upon Vargrants to be sold, and applied towards the Expenses of maintaining such Offenders.

And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for any Constable, Peace Officer, or other Person apprehending any Person charged with being an idle and disorderly Person, or a Rogue and Vagabond, or an incorrigible Rogue, to take any Horse, Mule, Ass, Cart, Car, Caravan, or other Vehicle or Goods in the Possession or Use of such Person, and to take and convey the same as well as such Person before some Justice of the Peace, and for every Justice of the Peace by whom any Person shall be adjudged to be an idle and disorderly Person, or a Rogue and Vagabond, or an incorrigible Rogue, to order that such Offender shall be searched, and that his or her Trunks, Boxes, Bundles, Parcels, or Packages shall be inspected in the Presence of the said Justice, and of him or her, and also that any Cart, Car, Caravan, or other Vehicle which may have been found in his or her Possession or Use shall be searched in his or her Presence; and it shall be lawful for the said Justice to order that any Money which may be then found with or upon such Offender shall be paid and applied for and towards the Expense of apprehending, conveying to the House of Correction, and maintaining such Offender during the Time for which he or she shall have been committed; and if upon such Search Money sufficient for the Purposes aforesaid be not found, it shall be lawful for such Justice to order that a Part, or, if necessary, the whole of such other Effects then found, shall be sold, and that the Produce of such Sale shall be paid and applied as aforesaid, and also that the Overplus of such Money or Effects, after deducting the Charges of such Sale, shall be returned to the said Offender.