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HOGSMEADE HERALD
15th July 1992
MUGGLE PROTECTION ACT PASSES
Natalie Poett
The Wizengamot voted to approve the Muggle Protection Act on Tuesday night, putting months of debate to rest. The Act, which was introduced by Head Obliviator Emmeline Vance, grants the Ministry wide authority to sign Decrees prohibiting the enchantment of objects of apparent Muggle origin.
It is understood that the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, headed by Arthur Weasley, has an array of Decrees drafted and ready to sign. The purpose of these measures is to prevent magical items passing accidentally into the Muggle world, where they can inadvertently cause harm. Mr Weasley explained to the Herald: “We’ve been anticipating this moment for over a year. Now that the Act has passed, we’ll be wasting no time in putting it into force.”
The passage of the Act into law was greeted enthusiastically by business leaders, who state that it will protect the wizarding economy from a growing flood of cheap, low quality Muggle imports. The robe industry has been hit particularly hard, with three Diagon Alley closures in the last decade. Many in the industry consider the newcomer Sickleland responsible.
The Herald caught up with Madam Madeline Malkin, who explained the problem. “They can import a Muggle dress for a sickle or two and have it enchanted on the cheap by an unlicensed seamstress. It’s just not possible to compete with a business model with such low costs. No one seems to care that their charms fail after a few months, and the fabric not long after.”
However, not everyone has welcomed the Act, which passed by a narrow margin of 35 votes to 31. Warlock Melissa Abbott had the following to say: “While the protection of Muggles is of course a noble pursuit, no moderate could support such a draconian Act, which will effectively criminalise the vast majority of British witches and wizards. We all have enchanted Muggle artefacts in our homes, and compliance with these measures will place an intolerable burden on the average citizen.”
Critics have also stressed that the Ministry did not lack for legal powers in this area. It has long been illegal for an enchanted object to pass into Muggle possession or ownership, and the Ministry has wide authority to appropriate such objects and punish those responsible.
“This Act is a cynical overreach by the Ministry,” stated Warlock Cantankerous Burke, the most senior member of the Wizengamot. “It is clear that the true purpose is not to protect Muggles, but to give the Ministry the power to invade the homes of private citizens and seize their property.”
Ministry representatives reject these allegations, claiming that their pre-existing powers were inadequate to the task of preventing magical items falling into Muggle hands. Over sixty enchanted items were found in Muggle possession last year, with several Muggles seriously injured.
But many have raised concerns over the cost of protecting these Muggles. “Of course we must protect Muggles, but we must do so in a proportionate way,” stated Mr Lucius Malfoy, widely considered the richest wizard in Britain. “As a taxpayer, it gives me great concern to see the budget of a singular office so widely inflated for so little gain. Wizarding gold should be spent on wizarding problems.”
In the face of such opposition, it is easy to see why the Act was expected to be voted down, and the Warlocks of the Wizengamot must have considered themselves in for a short session when they arrived on Tuesday afternoon. But after many hours of debate, the great upset came at nine o’clock, when Isaiah Diggory threw his support behind the Act. He brought with him five votes, just enough to see the Act into law. In explaining his change of heart, Warlock Diggory declared himself convinced that the number of magical objects finding their way into Muggle possession presented a serious threat to the International Statute of Secrecy.
It was that argument which won the day, and many Warlocks departed with ashen faces. The Ministry will now commence their visits to wizarding households in order to collect unauthorised Muggle artefacts.