View source for Removing article from place open to the public

Removing an article from a place open to the public is a statutory offence in England and Wales under section 11(1) of the Theft Act 1968 and in Northern Ireland under section 11(1) of the Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969. The offence applies when articles are removed from buildings or grounds where the public has access to view them, whether permanently or temporarily, but excludes collections made for commercial purposes.

Key provisions include:

Relevant case law includes R v Durkin [1973] and R v Barr [1978]. Section 11(3) relates to dishonesty, as noted by legal commentator Edward Griew. The offence is classified under the Visiting Forces Act 1952 in both jurisdictions.

Mode of trial:

Sentence options include imprisonment, fines, or both. The clause was nicknamed the "Goya clause" after the unauthorized removal of Goya's portrait from the National Gallery.

Criticism has been raised regarding the law's complexity being disproportionate to its importance.