Urban Exploration (often shortened as urbex or UE) is the examination of the normally unseen or off-limits parts of urban areas or industrial facilities. Urban exploration is also commonly referred to as infiltration, although some people consider infiltration to be more closely associated with the exploration of active or inhabited sites.
The nature of this activity presents various risks, including both physical danger and the possibility of arrest and punishment. As most buildings are on private land, it becomes a civil matter and Police don't generally want to waste time dealing with tresspassers.
Safety
Urban exploration is a hobby that comes with a number of inherent dangers. For example, Storm water drains are not designed with human access as their primary use. They can be subject to flash flooding and bad air. There have been a number of deaths in storm water drains, but these are usually during floods, and are normally not Urban Explorers.
Many old abandoned structures feature hazards such as unstable structures, unsafe floors and Asbestos, Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide, exposed electrical wires and entrapment hazards.
Internet Sites
UK Urbex - UK Urban Exploration Forums - Urban Exploration UK. 2012. UK Urbex - UK Urban Exploration Forums - Urban Exploration UK. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.ukurbex.com/. [Accessed 14 March 2012].
UK Urbex - UK Urban Exploration Forums - Urban Exploration UK. 2012. UK Urbex - UK Urban Exploration Forums - Urban Exploration UK. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.ukurbex.com/. [Accessed 14 March 2012].
Urban Exploration Forums. 2012. Urban Exploration Forums. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.urbexforums.co.uk/. [Accessed 14 March 2012].
Reference
Reference
I have also been currently reading the following books for inspiration :-
Romany, WG, 2010. Beautyin Decay. 2nd ed. Great Britain: Carpet Bombing Culture.
Marchand & Romain Meffre, Y, 2010. Detroit in Ruins. 1st ed. Germany: Steidl
DeBeauty in Decay: The Art of Urban Exploration. 2012. Beauty in Decay: The Art of Urban Exploration. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.luxurbex.com/press-and-public-relations/291-beauty-in-decay-the-art-of-urban-exploration.html. [Accessed 18 March 2012].ca
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Romany, WG, 2010. Beautyin Decay. 2nd ed. Great Britain: Carpet Bombing Culture.
Marchand & Romain Meffre, Y, 2010. Detroit in Ruins. 1st ed. Germany: Steidl
DeBeauty in Decay: The Art of Urban Exploration. 2012. Beauty in Decay: The Art of Urban Exploration. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.luxurbex.com/press-and-public-relations/291-beauty-in-decay-the-art-of-urban-exploration.html. [Accessed 18 March 2012].ca
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Legality
Civil Trespass: Civil trespass, also known as "simple" trespass, is not a
criminal offence in the UK. You cannot be arrested for civil trespass, though
police may attend if there's a possibility that another offence has been
committed or will be committed. In England and Wales, you can be sued by the
landowner in a civil court for trespass, in Scotland you can only be sued if
actual damage was caused. Repeat trespass could be prevented if a landowner
takes out an injunction, but this is unlikely in urbex situations.
Aggravated Trespass: This applies to trespass committed with the intent to intimidate or disrupt people taking part in a lawful activity. If you trespass on a golf course to move the flags, it's aggravated trespass. Generally, this does not concern urbexers. You cannot be prosecuted for aggravated trespass where there is no activity to disrupt, so it does not apply to derelict sites. It would only apply to live sites if you intended to cause disruption.
Criminal Trespass: One type of this offence applies to a specific list of sites, including defence sites, nuclear power stations and royal palaces.. Another type applies to sites where bye-laws forbid trespass - these include MOD property, railway property, and perhaps other sites like power stations. There is no centralised list of bye-laws. A third type of criminal trespass applies to Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Aggravated Trespass: This applies to trespass committed with the intent to intimidate or disrupt people taking part in a lawful activity. If you trespass on a golf course to move the flags, it's aggravated trespass. Generally, this does not concern urbexers. You cannot be prosecuted for aggravated trespass where there is no activity to disrupt, so it does not apply to derelict sites. It would only apply to live sites if you intended to cause disruption.
Criminal Trespass: One type of this offence applies to a specific list of sites, including defence sites, nuclear power stations and royal palaces.. Another type applies to sites where bye-laws forbid trespass - these include MOD property, railway property, and perhaps other sites like power stations. There is no centralised list of bye-laws. A third type of criminal trespass applies to Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Burglary: This applies to trespass with intent to steal, commit criminal damage,
rape or inflict GBH. All the police need to do to justify arrest is to show
that they reasonably expected that you had intent to commit one of these acts.
Intent could cover such things as carrying tools, carrying a "swag"
bag, or theoretically even taking pictures of valuable objects. It is unlikely
that you would be charged, however, unless you did actually steal or cause
criminal damage.
Theft: This should be blatantly obvious. It is a criminal offence to take anything which belongs to someone else. From an urbex point-of-view, it is a very bad idea to take anything whatsoever from any site. As an aside, it has been ruled that theft does not apply to information - photographing documents, plans, or indeed sites would not be classed as theft - though data protection, copyright or official secrets legislation may apply to some types of information.
Criminal Damage: This is where someone intentionally or recklessly causes damage to another person's property, or intends to do such damage. It covers such things as graffiti, arson, and vandalism. Intent includes posessing an item with the intention to use it to damage or destroy property - carrying a chisel for levering open windows, for example.
Theft: This should be blatantly obvious. It is a criminal offence to take anything which belongs to someone else. From an urbex point-of-view, it is a very bad idea to take anything whatsoever from any site. As an aside, it has been ruled that theft does not apply to information - photographing documents, plans, or indeed sites would not be classed as theft - though data protection, copyright or official secrets legislation may apply to some types of information.
Criminal Damage: This is where someone intentionally or recklessly causes damage to another person's property, or intends to do such damage. It covers such things as graffiti, arson, and vandalism. Intent includes posessing an item with the intention to use it to damage or destroy property - carrying a chisel for levering open windows, for example.
Breach
of the Peace: This is a very wide-ranging offence, covering any activity
liable to cause distress or alarm to a member of the public. This could include
refusing to leave a site when asked by security, or perhaps even showing off -
swinging from a bridge, for example. In Scotland, the definition also includes
"annoyance", making it even wider-ranging.
Manufacture and Storage of Explosives: MSER 2005 covers any site used for the manufacture and/or storage of explosives, including fireworks. This makes it an offence to enter any site covered by MSER. Sites are covered by MSER until the Health & Safety Executive has determined that there are no explosives or explosives residues left on the site.
Manufacture and Storage of Explosives: MSER 2005 covers any site used for the manufacture and/or storage of explosives, including fireworks. This makes it an offence to enter any site covered by MSER. Sites are covered by MSER until the Health & Safety Executive has determined that there are no explosives or explosives residues left on the site.
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