THE O'DONOGHUEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, 1389 Whether it is according: to the provisions of the Riot Act for a magistrate to read the proclamation, commonly called "Reading the Riot Act," at a peaceable meeting where there has been no riot actual or attempted, and then for the magistrate to proceed to disperse a crowd by force, as if riot had or was taking place?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTIf the hon. Member wants a legal interpretation of the Statute, he should have put his Question to the Law Officers of the Crown. The Statute provides that if any persons to the number of 12 or more be unlawfully assembled together, and on being required or commanded to disperse themselves shall unlawfully remain together for one hour, and so forth, they shall be liable to be dispersed. The Act, of course, might be read when the facts of the case fulfil the conditions required by the law.