Category: public order
Who, what, why: Can police stop protests at Margaret Thatcher’s funeral? – BBC News
“There has been widespread speculation that protests will take place during the funeral of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. But what laws will be in force?”
BBC News, 16th April 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Thatcher funeral: Police plan to arrest protesters under ‘draconian’ Public Order Act – The Independent
“Campaigners reacted angrily last night after Scotland Yard suggested protesters should consider avoiding Baroness Thatcher’s cortège – because they face arrest under a controversial public order law.”
The Independent, 15th April 2013
Source: www.independent.co.uk
James Best: Jailed in the riots for stealing a gingerbread man… dead in the prison that should have protected him – The Independent
“James Best had a history of mental health problems before being jailed after the riots of 2011. Now his brother has warned that the systemic failures which led to his death could happen again.”
The Independent, 1st April 2013
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Canterbury court sentences royal car protester Jonathan Elliott – The Independent
“A protester has been bound over to keep the peace for 12 months after he lunged at a car carrying the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall before the Archbishop of Canterbury’s enthronement.”
The Independent, 22nd March 2013
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Activist ‘shocked’ at conviction for yelling at David Cameron – The Guardian
“A woman has described her shock after being found guilty of a public order offence for telling David Cameron he had ‘blood on his hands’.”
The Guardian, 16th March 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Naked rambler’ given Asbo by Southampton magistrates – BBC News
“A man known as ‘the naked rambler’ has been given an interim Anti-social
Behaviour Order (Asbo) banning him from going nude in public places.”
BBC News, 28th February 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Olympic 100m final bottle thrower Ashley Gill-Webb sentenced – BBC News
“A man who threw a plastic beer bottle on to the track at the start of the men’s
100m final at the London Olympics has been given a community order.”
BBC News, 4th February 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Father jailed for biting off love rival’s finger at Nativity play – Daily Telegraph
“A father-of-three who bit part of the finger off a love rival in a brawl at a children’s school Nativity play has been jailed for 11 months.”
Daily Telegraph, 25th January 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Public insults to be legalised but grossly offensive messages still criminal – UK Human Rights Blog
“Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986, which outlaws the use of ‘threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour’ will be amended to remove the word ‘insulting’. The amendment is the result of a successful, high-profile campaign which asked ‘Do we really need the police and the courts to deal with insults?'”
UK Human Rights Blog, 15th January 2013
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘Insulting words’ crime ditched – BBC News
“The crime of ‘insulting’ someone through words or behaviour, which once led to the arrest of a student for asking a police officer whether his horse was gay, is to be dropped.”
BBC News, 14th January 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Man who threw bottle at Usain Bolt at Olympics found guilty – The Guardian
“A man who threw a plastic beer bottle at Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt moments before the Olympic 100m final has been found guilty of public disorder at Stratford magistrates court.”
The Guardian, 11th January 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Luciana Berger MP abuse: Philip Hayes fined for anti-Semitic remarks – BBC News
“A Merseyside music promoter who admitted making anti-Semitic remarks to a Jewish MP has been fined £120.”
BBC News, 9th January 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Peers vote to remove law banning insulting language – The Guardian
“The House of Lords on Wednesday night voted to remove a law that criminalises the use of insulting language in Britain.”
The Guardian, 12th December 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Man cleared of racial abuse after using nigger ‘as term of endearment’ – The Guardian
“A court has cleared a man who shouted the word ‘nigger’ at a black man of racial abuse, after he claimed he was a rap music fan who used the term as an endearment.”
The Guardian, 4th December 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Man jailed over naked climb on Whitehall statue – BBC News
“A 29-year-old who stripped naked on top of a statue in central London, before breaking off its sword and biting it, has been jailed for 12 weeks.”
BBC News, 4th December 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Criminal records of striking miners ‘should be erased’ – The Guardian
“Calls to erase the criminal records of the estimated 7,000 men detained and ‘falsely charged’ during the miners’ strike have been made by campaigners demanding a fresh inquiry into the policing of the dispute.”
The Guardian, 1st December 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Freedom of expression: why are there greater restrictions online? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
“When you are speaking to someone face to face you are free to say something grossly offensive to them, or even to shout it out so that anyone within earshot can hear. It’s not a crime. Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 states that it doesn’t matter whether you let loose your volley of invective in front of someone who is likely to be insulted by it, or even offended by it, provided they are not likely to have been caused harassment, alarm or distress.”
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 2nd November 2012
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.com
Frankie Boyle, free speech and legal jokes – The Guardian
“When speech offends, insults and disparages should we resort to legal action?”
The Guardian, 23rd October 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Boat Race protester Trenton Oldfield jailed – BBC News
“A man who disrupted this year’s University Boat Race has been jailed for six months for causing a public nuisance.”
BBC News, 19th October 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
