Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act 1875
Encyclopedia
The Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act 1875 (38 & 39 Vict. c.86) is an Act
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
relating to labour relations, which together with the Employers and Workmen Act 1875, fully decriminalised the work of trade union
s. Based on an extension of the conclusions of the Cockburn Commission, it was introduced by a Conservative
government under Benjamin Disraeli.
The Act held that a trade union could not be prosecuted for act which would be legal if conducted by an individual. This meant that labour disputes were civil matters, not for consideration by criminal courts. One result of this was that picketing was decriminalised. The law also made certain forms of stalking
illegal.
Sections 6 and 7 of this Act were repealed for the Republic of Ireland
by the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, section 31 and Schedule.
The Act has been repealed by the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2008
(c.12), Schedule 1, Part 3.
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
relating to labour relations, which together with the Employers and Workmen Act 1875, fully decriminalised the work of trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s. Based on an extension of the conclusions of the Cockburn Commission, it was introduced by a Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
government under Benjamin Disraeli.
The Act held that a trade union could not be prosecuted for act which would be legal if conducted by an individual. This meant that labour disputes were civil matters, not for consideration by criminal courts. One result of this was that picketing was decriminalised. The law also made certain forms of stalking
Stalking
Stalking is a term commonly used to refer to unwanted and obsessive attention by an individual or group to another person. Stalking behaviors are related to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in person and/or monitoring them via the internet...
illegal.
Sections 6 and 7 of this Act were repealed for the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
by the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, section 31 and Schedule.
The Act has been repealed by the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2008
Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2008
The Statute Law Act 2008 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which repealed more than 250 Acts of Parliament in full, and more than 50 in part....
(c.12), Schedule 1, Part 3.