h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

...apparently, but actually, they wont. I hate these stupid signs you often see, around the perimeters of various premises, yards, building sites and the like.

Trespass is a Civil offence, not a Criminal one, and one can only be 'prosecuted' under Criminal law....so the sign and implication is actually meaningless. There are other laws that govern such situations, but 'Trespass' is not one of them. So anytime you cross a boundary and are threatened by laws of Trespass, and impending prosecution...I wouldn't worry too much. Just don't damage anything..that's a whole new can of worms....( and lifting a latch or opening a door does not constitute criminal damage )

I was lead to believe that in Scotland there was no "law" relating to trespass. Basically the ownership of a property did not permit you to prevent uninvited guests, however if those guests damaged the property you did have some rights under the law. In America my guess is this would give rise to some "he damaged my grass so I shot him" defences but in the U.K. it just gave rise to "the sign". Perhaps there is a market for a "Trespassers may be found liable for damages" sign but it really doesn't give the same level of pushback.

There is a sign in Sydney Aquarium's crocodile enclosure which reads "If the fall doesn't kill you the crocodile will", complete with a picture - priceless!