Duchy of Lancaster Act 1812

XIV Court of Attachments may enquire into the Conduct of the Regarders and other Officers, and for Neglect of Duty may fine them.

And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the Verderers of any of the said Forests, or any Two of them, at any Court or Courts of Attachments to be holden for any of the said Forests, to enquire into the Conduct and Behaviour of the Regarders, Under Foresters, Under Keepers, or other Officers of the, said Forests, in their said Offices; and if the said Verderers shall find that any Regarder, Under Forester, Under Keeper or other Officer, hath wilfully given or delivered in to them any untrue Return or Presentment, or hath concealed or wilfully omitted to insert in such Return or Presentment, any unlawful Enclosure, Purpresture, Encroachment, or other Trespass, which ought to have been described or noticed therein or hath wilfully and without good Cause neglected to make such Survey as is herein-before directed, or hath been guilty of any wilful Neglect in the Care of the Timber or other Trees, Woods, Thorns, or Bushes, situate within such Part or Parts of any of the said Forests as shall be within his or their Regard, View, or Cognizance, or within the Walk or Walks of any of the laid Under Foresters or Under Keepers, or other Officers of any of the said Forests, or in any other Respect hath wilfully omitted to perform the Duty of his Office, it shall be lawful for the Verderers of any of the said Forests, or any Two of them (having due Proof made before them on Oath or any such wilful Neglect, Omission, or Default), and they are hereby authorized to set and impose a Fine not exceeding the Sum of In Pounds on such Regarder, Under Forester, Under Keeper, or other Officer, for every such his wilful Act, Neglect, Omission, or Default, to be recovered and applied as herein-after mentioned; and for the second Offence, such Regarder, Under Forester, Under Keeper, or other Officer, shall forfeit and be deprived of his Office, and shall not at any Time afterwards be restored to such Office, unlets the Verderers, or any Two of them, shall by Order to be made by them at a Court of Attachments, signify that in their Judgement such Regarder, Under Forester, Under Keeper, or other Officer, may properly be re-appointed or restored to his said Office ; and if any such Officer shall be again convicted of a like Offence whereby his Office shall become forfeited, he shall be incapable of being again appointed to such Office, or of holding any Office or Employment whatsoever within any of the said Forests.