MYTH BUSTER
Five things you think are illegal but aren’t from resisting arrest to underage drinking
Trespassing and lying to the police are among the laws that don't exist - despite what most people think
A VIDEO has revealed five things we think are illegal but actually aren't, including underage drinking and resisting arrest.
There are 11,000 laws in the UK but has revealed that some of the laws many of us live in fear of breaking aren't even real.
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It would be impossible to remember every single law, so most people use common sense to determine what is likely to be illegal.
Watching American programmes on the television often influences what is seen as illegal in the UK, but there are many differences in the law across the Atlantic.
While some laws seem totally illogical - for example it's illegal to be drunk in a pub - there are also plenty of things we would logically expect to be illegal but aren't.
These five non-existent laws are useful to remember so you don't have to worry about getting arrested... and can worry about getting illegally drunk at the pub instead.
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Trespassing
Although "trespassers will be prosecuted" signs appear everywhere you go, there's no danger of being prosecuted as trespassing is not illegal.
These signs are readily available online and landowners put them up as an empty threat to deter anyone from entering their land.
The only risk of breaking the law is committing aggravated trespass which is entering private land with the intention to intimidate, disrupt or obstruct lawful activity.
While you are allowed to ask someone to leave your property and use reasonable force if they refuse, it is illegal to hold someone against their will while you wait for the police to arrive and doing so could lead to you being arrested for assault.
Entering parks, fields, farmland, building sites, car parks and even front gardens without permission may be trespassing, but it's not against the law.
However Crown and State land such as the MOD, any royal grounds, public railways and airports are off limits.
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Resisting arrest
Unlike in the US, resisting arrest in the UK is not illegal.
You can only be prosecuted if you commit "assault with intent to resist arrest" which means being violent towards the police officer while being arrested.
However, it is illegal to resist or wilfully obstruct a police officer in the execution of their duty by interfering with someone else's arrest.
But if you're arrested unlawfully, you're allowed to take action against the police officer and could even sue.
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Lying to the police
While police may want you to think you legally have to tell them the truth, it is not actually an offence to lie to a police officer unless you're wasting police time or perverting the course of justice.
You can only be prosecuted you lie and sign a declaration or if you lie in court.
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Underage drinking
While it is illegal to drink alcohol under the age of 18 in public or licensed venues, doing it at home is totally legal.
This is due to prohibition laws that do not apply in private spaces, which means it's legal for a parent to give their five-year-old child alcohol. Only your morals stand in the way.
The UK has the second highest underage intoxication rate in the world - coming second only to Denmark, who have the same alcohol laws as we do here, indicating that the relaxed laws could encourage underage drinking.
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Recording conversations
Organisations have strict rules when it comes to recording conversations, as does the government, but the public are free to record any call or discussion in person without consent or knowledge.
Many people think recordings obtained without consent aren't eligible to be used as evidence in court, but this isn't true.
Any evidence, even if illegally obtained, can be used in court at the discretion of the judge.
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