2006-11-01 08:23:27 · 6 answers · asked by A True Gentleman 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Just to cheer you up - Tony Bliar and New McLabour have put another 3000 criminal offences on the Statute Book since coming to power - unbeleivable isn't it?
2006-11-03 04:09:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't suppose anyone has ever counted the laws which are in current use in the UK, but there are a great many of them. If you were allowed to come to court, open your eyes wide and tell the judge that you honestly didn't know that it was wrong to do whatever it was you were charged with, it would be grossly unfair, as it would mean that the more stupid and ignorant you were, the more easily you could get away with criminal offences. So, although nobody can possibly be acquainted with the whole body of legislation, it is not an acceptable excuse when charged with a criminal offence to say you didn't know that it was wrong.
2006-11-01 09:14:32 · answer #2 · answered by Doethineb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This country has masses and masses of laws but hardly any of them are ever enforced. Laws are only ever enforced if there is a matter of public order to be resolved. That is to say if no-one actually complains you can get away with anything at all. However in times of dispute, the law will be applied. The reason ignorance is no defence is that the law is being applied to resolve a dispute and the dispute will be resolved end of. Whether you, I or anyone is aware of this law is irrelevant, indeed if no actual law exists per se, the courts are perfectly at liberty to make one up
2006-11-01 09:17:18 · answer #3 · answered by DIANNE M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is impossible to quantify the laws, because there is precedent being set almost weekly. Most laws that actually result in prosecution are based on common sense, and ignorance can not be a valid exemption because everyone would claim ignorance. I don't know all the differences between murder, infanticide, assisted suicide, etc yet I know that if I take a gun and shoot someone in the head, I'll probably end up in prison.
2006-11-01 08:28:06 · answer #4 · answered by SteveUK 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ignorance can not be used as an excuse because everyone would use that a an excuse "I didn't realise it was illegal to hit him" "I didn't know it was illegal to speed" "I didn't know it was illegal to steal" and so on.
As for how many laws there are, there are thousands! Including, Allowing your chimney to be on fire and wheelbarrow offences.
2006-11-02 05:35:52 · answer #5 · answered by willowbee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the courts dont know thier ar$es from thier elbows.
2006-11-01 08:27:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋