Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

The Ministry of Justice has tidied the statute book.

309 offences have recently been removed from the statute book.

One that will benefit (some) councillors is that 'being an incorrigible rogue' is no longer an offence.

Committed adherents of a life of disrepute aren't the only ones to benefit. Under the Vagrancy Act 1824, one could have been convicted of this offence if one had escaped from imprisonment after being sentenced only once for being a rogue and a vagabond.

Of course, the whipping, on conviction, could have appealed to some...