The statute remains in force in both the United Kingdom (except Scotland) and the Republic of Ireland, and is frequently used by local councils to close roads to allow public events such as processions or street parties to take place.

The act is also used to regulate the local hackney carriage, taxi and private-hire trade in many areas.

It deals with a range of street obstructions and nuisances, for example, it makes it illegal to perform certain actions in a public street or other thoroughfare, such as hanging washing, beating carpets, and flying kites,[1] although many of those clauses were repealed in 2015.

[3] The select committee wrote: ... some varying or interfering with the general statute or common law of the country; some, though ordinary in their nature, yet of a perplexing and needless diversity in form; and, finally, some so contradictory and mutually discordant as to render their enforcement impossible, and to make the law doubtful and embarrassing even to those who are professionally versed in it[4]To provide uniformity in legislation in different geographical areas, to reduce the number of private bills about public functions, and to reduce expense, the select committee proposed eight public acts, each dealing with a different topic: The police legislation was enacted as the Town Police Clauses Act 1847.

Until 2003, the act was one piece of legislation against prostitution in a range of premises, including hotels.