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by torstenvl 1907 days ago
It doesn't depend on my definition of crime. Common law jurisdictions distinguish between felonies and misdemeanors (crimes) and civil infractions (often called "fixed penalties" in the UK). I don't see anything in the article, and I don't see anything anything in the Town and Country Planning Act, that clearly says this is a crime instead of merely a regulatory offense.

It's a perfectly reasonable request, given the extremely strong claim made, for some amount of evidence for the claim. As has become bizarrely common in this thread, the torches and pitchforks came out regardless.
1 comments
altacc 1907 days ago
It does depend upon your usage of the word because for many people the common parlance definition of crime is to do something against the law, rules, regulations, etc... not a specific legal definition.

Words and their meanings are important, but so is flexibility in attempting to interpret their underlying meaning.

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torstenvl 1907 days ago
No, people distinguish pretty clearly, even in common parlance. Nobody in common parlance would say you're a criminal for speeding by 5mph.

I don't think they committed a crime, but my knowledge of UK law is limited and reading the Order and the Act didn't immediately lead to an answer. I'm happy to be shown wrong.

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