All Acts
Public Order· 1986
POA 1986
Public Order Act 1986
Frames the spectrum of public order offences from riot through to harassment, alarm or distress — the daily currency of response policing on a Friday night.
Self-test
Sections
Section 4 — Fear or provocation of violence
Using threatening, abusive or insulting words/behaviour, or distributing such material, with intent to cause another to believe immediate unlawful violence will be used, or to provoke it.
Key points
- Requires another person present likely to be caused to believe / provoked.
- Defence — inside a dwelling, neither party expected to be heard/seen outside.
- Either way offence.
Section 4A — Intentional harassment, alarm or distress
With intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress — uses threatening/abusive/insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, thereby causing that or another person harassment, alarm or distress.
Key points
- Intent required (vs s.5 which is no-intent equivalent).
- A person must actually be caused HAD.
- Summary only.
Section 5 — Harassment, alarm or distress
Threatening or abusive words/behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, within hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress.
Key points
- No intent required — but officer must believe HAD likely.
- 'Insulting' was removed in 2014.
- Summary only — fine.