Public Order

Question 1

what is a public procession and what are its conditions?

Answer 1

• moving protests or marches.
• organisers must generally provide the police with a minimum of six clear days’ notice of the date, time and route of the procession.
• failure to do is an offence

Question 2

why would the police impose conditions or processions and when would they do that?

Answer 2

if they consider it is reasonably necessary to do so to prevent serious disorder, criminal damage, or noise causing significant disruption

conditions may be imposed in advance or by the most senior officer present if the procession is ongoing.

Question 3

what is a public assembly and why would it be prohibited?

Answer 3

a meeting comprising two or more persons in a public place that is ‘wholly or partly open to
the air’

the police may apply to the relevant council for a prohibitive order where it is considered that assembly is going likely trespass a land or is likely to cause serious disruption or is in a place of significant importance.

Question 4

what is a breach of the peace?

Answer 4

a breach of the peace whenever harm is actually done or likely to be done to a person or in his presence to his property or a person is in fear of being so harmed through an assault, an affray, a riot, unlawful assembly or other disturbance.

Question 5

Breach of the peace is not a criminal offence, however, it does generate certain police powers, including…

Answer 5

• arrest
• detention
• having a person ‘bound over’ to maintain good behaviour and keep the peace
• entering a meeting to prevent an anticipated breach of the peace and asking participants to disperse