خلاصہ
The Public Order Act 1986 creates a range of offences designed to maintain public order. It replaced older common law offences and statutory provisions with a modern statutory framework. The offences range from riot (the most serious) to using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour.
اہم نکات
- Riot (s.1) — Where 12 or more persons together use or threaten unlawful violence for a common purpose. Maximum 10 years imprisonment
- Violent disorder (s.2) — Where 3 or more persons together use or threaten unlawful violence. Maximum 5 years imprisonment
- Affray (s.3) — A person uses or threatens unlawful violence such as would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety
- Fear or provocation of violence (s.4) — Using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour towards another person
- Intentional harassment, alarm or distress (s.4A) — Added by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
- Harassment, alarm or distress (s.5) — Using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress
- Racial hatred offences (Part III) — Stirring up racial hatred by words, behaviour, written material, or public performances
حصے اور دفعات
ترامیم کی تاریخ
1994 — Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
Inserted s.4A (intentional harassment) and extended powers regarding raves and trespassory assemblies.
2006 — Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006
Extended stirring up hatred offences to include religious hatred.