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The Defence of the Realm Act
(DORA) was passed in the United
Kingdom on 8 August 1914, during the early weeks of World War I. It gave
the government wide-ranging powers during the
war period, such as the power to requisition buildings or land needed for
the war effort, or to
make regulations creating criminal offences.[1] Some of
the things the British public were not allowed to do included
flying a kite, lighting a bonfire,
buying binoculars,
feeding wild animals bread, discussing naval and military matters
or buying alcohol on public
transport. Alcoholic beverages were watered down and pub
opening times were restricted to noon-3pm and 6:30pm-9:30pm (the
requirement for an afternoon gap in premitted hours lasted until
the Licensing Act 1988 was brought into force). The DORA ushered in
a variety of authoritarian social control mechanisms, such as censorship.
The law was designed to help prevent invasion and to keep morale
at home high. It imposed censorship of journalism and of letters
coming home from the front line. The press was subject to controls
on reporting troop movements, numbers or any other operational
information that could be exploited by the enemy.
People who breached the regulations with intent to assist the
enemy could be sentenced to death. 10 people were executed under
the regulations.[2]
Though some provisions of DORA may seem strange, they did have
their purposes. Flying a kite or lighting a bonfire could attract
Zeppelins, and after
rationing was introduced in 1917, feeding wild animals was a waste
of food. The first person to be arrested under DORA was John Maclean, a Marxist and Clydeside revolutionary, for uttering
statements deemed prejudiced against recruiting. He was fined £5
but refused to pay and so spent five nights in prison.
Excerpt of
text
- Be it enacted ... as follows:
- (1) His Majesty in Council has power during the continuance of
the present war to issue regulations for securing the public safety
and the defence of the realm, and as to the powers and duties for
that purpose of the Admiralty and Army Council and of the members
of His Majesty's forces and other persons acting in his behalf; and
may by such regulations authorise the trial by courts-martial, or
in the case of minor offences by courts of summary jurisdiction,
and punishment of persons committing offences against the
regulations and in particular against any of the provisions of such
regulations designed:
-
- (a) to prevent persons communicating with the enemy or
obtaining information for that purpose or any purpose calculated to
jeopardise the success of the operations of any of His Majesty's
forces or the forces of his allies or to assist the enemy; or
-
- (b) to secure the safety of His Majesty's forces and ships and
the safety of any means of communication and of railways, ports,
and harbours; or
-
- (c) to prevent the spread of false reports or reports likely to
cause disaffection to His Majesty or to interfere with the success
of His Majesty's forces by land or sea or to prejudice His
Majesty's relations with foreign powers; or
-
- (d) to secure the navigation of vessels in accordance with
directions given by or under the authority of the Admiralty;
or
-
- (e) otherwise to prevent assistance being given to the enemy or
the successful prosecution of the war being endangered.
- (3) It shall be lawful for the Admiralty or Army Council:
-
- (a) to require that there shall be placed at their disposal the
whole or any part of the output of any factory or workshop in which
arms, ammunition, or warlike stores and equipment, or any articles
required for the production thereof, are manufactured;
-
- (b) to take possession of, and use for the purpose of, His
Majesty's naval or military service any such factory or workshop or
any plant thereof;
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