A local law provision that creates an offence of entering an area 'closed to the public by a sign' requires signage that clearly and unambiguously states, by way of command, that the area is closed or that entry is prohibited; advisory or request-style language (such as 'please do not climb on to dunes') is insufficient. Police exercising independent statutory powers of arrest and move on notices under the Criminal Investigation Act 2006 (WA) do not act as agents of a local authority that called them, and the local authority is not liable for false imprisonment arising from such arrests. An owner out of actual possession cannot maintain an action for trespass to goods where the goods were apparently abandoned on land controlled by another.
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