Metropolitan Police Act 1839

XLVI Power to enter unlicensed Theatres, and take away Persons found there.

And be it enacted, That it shall be lawful for the said Commissioners of Police, by Order in Writing, to authorize any Superintendent belonging to the Metropolitan Police, with such Constables as he may think necessary, to enter into any House or Room kept or used within the said District for Stageplays or Dramatic Entertainments into which Admission is obtained by Payment of Money, and which is not a licensed Theatre, at any Time when the same shall be open for the Reception of Persons resorting thereto, and to take into Custody all Persons who shall be found therein without lawful Excuse ; and every Person keeping, using, or knowingly letting any House or other Tenement for the Purpose of being used as an unlicensed Theatre shall be liable to a Penalty not more than Twenty Pounds, or in the Discretion of the Magistrate may be committed to the House of Correction, with or without hard Labour, for a Time not more than Two Calendar Months; and every Person performing or being therein without lawful Excuse shall be liable to a Penalty not more than Forty Shillings, and a Conviction under this Act for this Offence shall not exempt the Owner, Keeper, or Manager of any such House, Room, or Tenement from any Penalty or penal Consequences to which he may be liable for keeping a disorderly House, or for the Nuisance thereby occasioned.