Public nuisance 251Public nuisance
Public nuisance is both a crime and a tort. It can be defined as any act or omission which
endangers the health, property or comfort of the public, or which prevents the public from
exercising rights which all citizens enjoy. Although public nuisance is primarily a criminal
Cricket balls were repeatedly hit into the claimant’s garden and had caused some damage.
This was held to be nuisance.
Contributory negligence
This might be a defence where the nuisance was committed by negligent conduct.
Figure 9.1 gives an overview of private nuisance.
Figure 9.1An overview of private nuisance