Public Order Act 1986

Question 1

Riot: Public Order Act 1986, s.1

Answer 1

a. Where 12 or more persons who are present together

b. use or threaten unlawful violence for a common purpose and

c. the conduct of them taken together is such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his personal safety,

d. each of the persons using unlawful violence for the common purpose is guilty of riot.

Question 2

Violent Disorder: Public Order Act 1986, s.2

Answer 2

a. Where 3 or more persons who are present together

b. use or threaten unlawful violence

c. and the conduct of them taken together is such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his personal safety

d. each of the persons using or threatening unlawful violence is guilty of violent disorder.

Question 3

Affray: Public Order Act 1986, s.3

Answer 3

A person is guilty of affray if he:

a. uses or threatens unlawful violence towards another

b. and his conduct is such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his personal safety.

Question 4

Fear or Provocation of Violence: Public Order Act 1986, s.4

Answer 4

A person is guilty of an offence is he:

a. uses towards another person threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviours,

OR

b. distributes or displays to another person any writing, sign or other visible presentation which is threatening, abusive or insulting,

With intent to cause that person to believe that immediate unlawful violence will be used against home or another by any person, OR to provoke 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 5

Intentional Harassment, Alarm or Distress: Public Order Act 1986, s.4a

Answer 5

A person is guilty of an offence if, with intent to cause a person harassment, alarm or distress, he:

a. uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour

OR

b. 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 6

Disorderly Conduct: Public Order Act 1986, s.5

Answer 6

A person is guilty of an offence if he:

a. uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour,

OR

b. 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.