Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office

The Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office is a division of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic. Its head of office was Arthur Weasley until 1996, when he was promoted to head of the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects.

Functions
The Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office regulates the use of magic on Muggle objects and tries to keep items that have been bewitched away from Muggles. To this end, members of the Office often partipate in raids to keep Dark magic items out of circulation. There appears to be a law prohibiting the enchantment of a Muggle item with the intent to use it for purposes other than what it was designed for; Arthur Weasley claims he was able to bewitch a Ford Anglia to fly legally because he did not intend to fly the car.

A proposed law that seems to have originated in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office was the Muggle Protection Act in 1992, drafted by Arthur Weasley. It was considered offensive by some pure-blood wizards and witches; Lucius Malfoy went so far as to plant Tom Riddle's Diary on Arthur's daughter Ginny in an attempt to discredit Arthur and sabotage the proposed legislation.

Reputation
It appears that the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office was not held in high regard, at least before the reforming of the Ministry under Kingsley Shacklebolt's regime beginning in 1998. It is located in a tiny office, apparently only staffed by Arthur Weasley and his assistant, Perkins. Percy Weasley also claimed in 1995 that his father had a poor reputation because he lacked ambition and does not receive a large salary, implying that his position as head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office was neither well-respected nor well-paid.

This may have changed after the Second Wizarding War, as the government actively began combatting prejudice.

Known employees

 * Arthur Weasley (head until 1996)
 * Perkins

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
 * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Notes and references
Service des détournements de l'artisanat moldu