Universities Act 1825

1825 CHAPTER 97

An Act for the better Preservation of the Peace and good Order in the Universities of England.

[5th July 1825]

WHEREAS it is expedient to add to the Means anciently provided for maintaining Peace and good Order in the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge:

Be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same,

Chancellor or Vice Chancellor of Universities may appoint Constables.

That it shall be lawful for the Chancellor or Vice Chancellor of the said Universities respectively, to appoint such Number of able Men as he shall think fit to be Constables in and for the said Universities respectively, who shall continue in Office either during good Behaviour or during Pleasure, or for such Period of Time, either defined or dependant on future Circumstances, as such Chancellor or Vice Chancellor shall direct; and to every Man so appointed such Chancellor or Vice Chancellor shall administer an Oath well and faithfully to execute the Office of Constable, within the Precincts of the University for which he shall be appointed, during his Continuance in Office, and shall deliver to every such Man a Certificate of his having been so sworn, expressing the Duration of his Continuance in Office, which Certificate shall be Evidence of his having been duly appointed : and every Man so sworn shall have full Power to act as a Constable within the Precincts of the University for which he shall be appointed, and Four Miles of the same University, for the Time expressed in the Certificate, unless he shall be sooner dismissed therefrom by the Chan-cellar or the Vice-Chancellor for the Time being; and shall, within the Precincts of the University, and Four Miles of the same, and during his Continuance in Office, be subject to the like Powers and Authorities of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace within the Limits of their respective Jurisdictions, as other Constables are subject to, and have and enjoy all such Powers and Authorities, Privileges, Immunities, and Advantages as any Constables hath or shall have within his Constablewick: Provided always, that every such Constable, for any Act done by him in the Execution of his Office, shall be liable to be sued or indicted in the Courts of Common Law, notwithstanding such Constable may be a Member of the University, and notwithstanding any Claim of Cognizance or Privilege whatsoever.

II In Absence of Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor, Deputy may act.

And be it further enacted, That in the Absence of the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor, it shall be lawful for any Pro Vice-Chancellor, or Deputy Vice-Chancellor, to execute the Powers given by this Act.

III Punishing Prostitutes.

And be it further enacted, That every common Prostitute and Night-walker, found wandering in any Public Walk, Street, or Highway, within the Precincts of the said University of Oxford, and not giving a satisfactory Account of herself, shall be deemed an idle and disorderly Person, within the true Intent and Meaning of an [5 G. 4. c. 83.] Act passed in the last Session of Parliament, intituled An Act for the Punishment of idle and disorderly Persons, and Rogues and Vagabonds, in that Part of Great Britain called England, and shall and may be apprehended arid dealt with accordingly.

IV Public Act.

And be it further enacted, That this Act shall be deemed to be a Public Act; and shall be judicially taken Notice of as Such by all judges, Justices, and other Persons whomsoever, without being Specially pleaded.