Most postcard prosecutions were carried out under the Obscene Publications Act, 1857 (20 and 21 Victoria, Cap.83). Upon receiving a complaint about the sale of obscene postcards, the police would obtain a search warrant from a local magistrate, raid the shop or warehouse concerned, and seize offending stock. This was presented to the magistrates, who summoned the owners and issued a destruction order if they were persuaded that the postcards were indeed obscene.