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Section 3: Possessing anything with intent to destroy or damage property

Criminal Damage Act 1971 (1971 c. 48)

(3) A person who has anything in his custody or under his control intending without lawful excuse to use it or cause or permit another to use it—

(a) to destroy or damage any property belonging to some other person; or

(b) to destroy or damage his own or the user’s property in a way which he knows is likely to endanger the life of some other person;

shall be guilty of an offence.

Reproduced from legislation.gov.uk as captured on 2026-08-27. Statute is amended over time — check the source below for the version in force. This is a reference, not legal advice.
View s.3 on legislation.gov.uk

Source: legislation.gov.uk, Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.