Forfeiture Act 1870
The Forfeiture Act 1870 (c. 23) is a British Act of Parliament that abolished the automatic forfeiture of goods and land as a punishment for treason and felony. It does not apply to Scotland.[1] Although mostly repealed today, section 2 remains in force and states that anyone convicted of treason shall be disqualified from holding public office, shall lose his right to vote in elections (except in elections to local authorities[2][3]), and lose his pension.
Prior to the Act being passed, a person convicted of treason or felony automatically and permanently forfeited all of his lands and possessions to the Crown.
The offence of praemunire, which was also punished with forfeiture, was not treason or felony but only a misdemeanour, and so the Act did not apply to it.[4]
References
- Section 33
- Local Government Act 1933, Schedules 8, 10 and 11 (Part IV)
- Local Government (Members and Officers) Act (Northern Ireland) 1964, Schedule
- Kenny, C. Outlines of Criminal Law (Cambridge University Press, 1936), 15th edition, p. 323
External links
- Text of the Forfeiture Act 1870 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.
- Text of the Criminal Justice Act 1948 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. which supplements the Forfeiture Act.