Protection of unclaimed
common land.
Where the
registration under section 4 of this Act of any land as common land has become
final but no person is registered under this Act or the Land Registration Acts
1925 and 1936 as the owner of the land, then, until the land is vested under
any provision hereafter made by Parliament, any local authority in whose area
the land or part of the land is situated may take such steps for the protection
of the land against unlawful interference as could be taken by an owner in
possession of the land, and may (without prejudice to any power exercisable
apart from this section) institute proceedings for any offence committed in
respect of the land.