Public Order Act 1986

Question 0

What are the points to prove section 5(1)a of the POA 1986?

Answer 0

Threatening, abusive, insulting.
Words or behaviour.
Disorderly behaviour.
Within hearing or sight of a person.
Harassment, alarm or distress.

Question 1

What is the definition of section 5 of the POA 1986?

Answer 1

A person is guilty of an offence if he uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, or displays any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting, within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby.

Question 2

What is the definition of section 5(1)b of the POA 1986?

Answer 2

A person is guilty of an offence if he (see A) or displays any writing or sign or visible representation which is threatening, abusiveor insulting, within the hearing or sight of a person likely to cause harassment alarm or distress.

Question 3

What are the points to prove section 5(1)b of the POA 1986?

Answer 3

Same as section A but displaying a visible representation such as a sign.

Question 4

What is the definition of section 4A of the POA 1986?

Answer 4

A person is guilty of an offence if, with intent to cause a person harassment, alarm or distress he uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, or displays any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting; thereby causing that or another person harassment, alarm or distress.

Question 5

What is the definition of section 4 of the POA 1986?

Answer 5

A person is guilty of an offence if he uses towards another person threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or distributes or displays to another person, any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting with the intent to cause that person to believe that immediate unlawful violence will be used against them or another by any person, or to provoke the immediate use of unlawful violence by that person or another, or whereby that person is likely to believe that such violence will be used or it is likely that such violence will be provoked.

Question 6

What gives the power of entry under section 4 of the POA?

Answer 6

Section 17 of PACE.

Question 7

What is the definition of affray under section 3 of POA 1986?

Answer 7

A person is guilty of affray if he uses or threatens unlawful violence towards another and his conduct is such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his personal safety.

Question 8

What are the points to prove affray under section 3 of POA?

Answer 8

Uses or threatens unlawful violence.
Towards another
Would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his personal safety.