EMERGENCY POWERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 51, 29 August 1939, Page 9

EMERGENCY POWERS

FIRST REGULATIONS

BRITAIN TAKES DRASTIC STEPS

LONDON, August 28.

The following are among the points in the first British emergency regulations which have been issued under the new powers given by Parliament:

Communication or association is forbidden to anyone reasonably suspect of assisting an emeny. Permits will be required to photograph or sketch specified areas, access to which is to be strictly controlled.

Communications by code or cipher are forbidden unless officially approved, and postal packets for destinations abroad may be restricted.

Travellers arriving in or departing from the United Kingdom may be searched.

Extensive powers are conferred on the police and firemen in regard to airraid shelters, the demolition of unsafe buildings and the cutting off of supplies of electricity, gas, and water. The Admiralty will take over the general control and navigation of ships and seaplanes and will provide measures for the safety of shipping.

The Government will assume drastic powers in taking over land property and will take over the control of fisheries.

There are heavy penalties for unauthorised signalling and the possession of secret documents.

The Ministry of Transport is empowered to take over the railways and the control of road transport.

Only persons authorised may possess pigeons, and any pigeon found dead to which anything is attached must be handed over to the police.