Forcible entry


Forcible entry is "the unlawful taking of possession of real property by force or threats of force or unlawful entry into or onto another's property, especially when accompanied by force".
The term is also sometimes used for entry by military, police, or emergency personnel. For the fire service, forcible entry is defined by the International Fire Service Training Association as:
Breaching doorways can be differentiated as "through the lock" or "through the door" depending on the techniques used.

England and Wales

Forcible entry was a common law offence in England and Wales, but was abolished, along with forcible detainer, by the Criminal Law Act 1977. It was replaced with a new offence of "using violence to secure entry" under section 6 of that Act.
Formerly the Forcible Entry Act 1381, chapter 2 of 15 Ric 2, the Forcible Entry Act 1429, the Forcible Entry Act 1588 and the Forcible Entry Act 1623.
Judge Donaldson considered the question of forcible entry in the UK, in Swales v. Cox :