ABSTRACT
In some countries of the South Pacific, it has been considered desirable to provide facilities to enable people, if they so wish, to place their property, or documents indicating their rights and interests in property, in safe custody with an agency of the State. Unlawful physical interference with property may take several different forms: it may take the form of removing the property and taking it away, permanently or temporarily, without the permission of the owner, or of damaging the property, or of entering the property, if it is immovable property, such as land or buildings, without the permission of the owner. Under the common law that is in force in all island countries of the South Pacific, to the extent that it is not inappropriate to the circumstances of the country, the taking of property without the permission of the owner is a criminal offence, and this endorsed by legislation in all island countries of the South Pacific.
