Public Order Act 1986

Changes over time for: Section 14

Version Superseded: 15/06/2023

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Public Order Act 1986, Section 14 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 01 May 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.

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14 Imposing conditions on public assemblies.E+W+S

(1)[F1Subsection (1A) applies if] the senior police officer, having regard to the time or place at which and the circumstances in which any public assembly is being held or is intended to be held, reasonably believes that—

(a)it may result in serious public disorder, serious damage to property or serious disruption to the life of the community,

[F2(aa)in the case of an assembly in England and Wales, the noise generated by persons taking part in the assembly may result in serious disruption to the activities of an organisation which are carried on in the vicinity of the assembly,

(ab)in the case of an assembly in England and Wales—

(i)the noise generated by persons taking part in the assembly may have a relevant impact on persons in the vicinity of the assembly, and

(ii)that impact may be significant, or]

(b)the purpose of the persons organising it is the intimidation of others with a view to compelling them not to do an act they have a right to do, or to do an act they have a right not to do,

F3...

[F4(1A)The senior police officer may give directions imposing on the persons organising or taking part in the assembly—

(a)in the case of an assembly in England and Wales, such conditions as appear to the officer necessary to prevent the disorder, damage, disruption, impact or intimidation mentioned in subsection (1);

(b)in the case of an assembly in Scotland, such conditions as to the place at which the assembly may be (or continue to be) held, its maximum duration, or the maximum number of persons who may constitute it, as appear to the officer necessary to prevent the disorder, damage, disruption or intimidation mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (b).]

(2)In [F5this section] “the senior police officer” means—

(a)in relation to an assembly being held, the most senior in rank of the police officers present at the scene, and

(b)in relation to an assembly intended to be held, the chief officer of police.

[F6(2A)For the purposes of subsection (1)(a), the cases in which a public assembly in England and Wales may result in serious disruption to the life of the community include, in particular, where—

(a)it may result in a significant delay to the supply of a time-sensitive product to consumers of that product, or

(b)it may result in a prolonged disruption of access to any essential goods or any essential service, including, in particular, access to—

(i)the supply of money, food, water, energy or fuel,

(ii)a system of communication,

(iii)a place of worship,

(iv)a transport facility,

(v)an educational institution, or

(vi)a service relating to health.

(2B)In subsection (2A)(a) “time-sensitive product” means a product whose value or use to its consumers may be significantly reduced by a delay in the supply of the product to them.

(2C)For the purposes of subsection (1)(aa), the cases in which the noise generated by persons taking part in a public assembly may result in serious disruption to the activities of an organisation which are carried on in the vicinity of the assembly include, in particular, where it may result in persons connected with the organisation not being reasonably able, for a prolonged period of time, to carry on in that vicinity the activities or any one of them.

(2D)For the purposes of subsection (1)(ab)(i), the noise generated by persons taking part in an assembly may have a relevant impact on persons in the vicinity of the assembly if—

(a)it may result in the intimidation or harassment of persons of reasonable firmness with the characteristics of persons likely to be in the vicinity, or

(b)it may cause such persons to suffer alarm or distress.

(2E)In considering for the purposes of subsection (1)(ab)(ii) whether the noise generated by persons taking part in an assembly may have a significant impact on persons in the vicinity of the assembly, the senior police officer must have regard to—

(a)the likely number of persons of the kind mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (2D) who may experience an impact of the kind mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of that subsection,

(b)the likely duration of that impact on such persons, and

(c)the likely intensity of that impact on such persons.]

(3)A direction given by a chief officer of police by virtue of subsection (2)(b) shall be given in writing.

(4)[F7Subject to subsection (5A), a person] who organises a public assembly and F8... fails to comply with a condition imposed under this section is guilty of an offence, but it is a defence for him to prove that the failure arose from circumstances beyond his control.

(5)[F9Subject to subsection (5A), a person] who takes part in a public assembly and F10... fails to comply with a condition imposed under this section is guilty of an offence, but it is a defence for him to prove that the failure arose from circumstances beyond his control.

[F11(5A)A person is guilty of an offence under subsection (4) or (5) only if—

(a)in the case of a public assembly in England and Wales, at the time the person fails to comply with the condition the person knows or ought to know that the condition has been imposed;

(b)in the case of a public assembly in Scotland, the person knowingly fails to comply with the condition.]

(6)A person who incites another to commit an offence under subsection (5) is guilty of an offence.

(7)F12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F13(8)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (4) is liable on summary conviction—

(a)in the case of a public assembly in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks or a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale or both;

(b)in the case of a public assembly in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale or both.]

[F13(9)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (5) is liable on summary conviction—

(a)in the case of a public assembly in England and Wales, to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale;

(b)in the case of a public assembly in Scotland, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.]

[F13(10)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (6) is liable on summary conviction—

(a)in the case of a public assembly in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks or a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale or both;

(b)in the case of a public assembly in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale or both.]

[F13(10A)In relation to an offence committed before the coming into force of section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (alteration of penalties for certain summary offences: England and Wales), the references in subsections (8)(a) and to (10)(a) to 51 weeks are to be read as references to 6 months.]

[F14(11)The Secretary of State may by regulations amend any of subsections (2A) to (2C) for the purposes of making provision about the meaning for the purposes of this section of—

(a)serious disruption to the activities of an organisation which are carried on in the vicinity of a public assembly, or

(b)serious disruption to the life of the community.

(12)Regulations under subsection (11) may, in particular, amend any of those subsections for the purposes of—

(a)defining any aspect of an expression mentioned in subsection (11)(a) or (b) for the purposes of this section;

(b)giving examples of cases in which a public assembly is or is not to be treated as resulting in—

(i)serious disruption to the activities of an organisation which are carried on in the vicinity of the assembly, or

(ii)serious disruption to the life of the community.

(13)Regulations under subsection (11)—

(a)are to be made by statutory instrument;

(b)may apply only in relation to public assemblies in England and Wales;

(c)may make incidental, supplementary, consequential, transitional, transitory or saving provision, including provision which makes consequential amendments to this Part.

(14)A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (11) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.]

Textual Amendments

F1Words in s. 14(1) substituted (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 74(2)(a), 208(1); S.I. 2022/520, reg. 5(i)

F2S. 14(1)(aa)(ab) substituted (28.6.2022) for word by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 74(2)(b), 208(1); S.I. 2022/520, reg. 5(i)

F3Words in s. 14(1) omitted (28.6.2022) by virtue of Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 74(2)(c), 208(1); S.I. 2022/520, reg. 5(i)

F4S. 14(1A) inserted (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 74(3), 208(1); S.I. 2022/520, reg. 5(i)

F5Words in s. 14(2) substituted (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 74(4), 208(1); S.I. 2022/520, reg. 5(i)

F6S. 14(2A)-(2E) inserted (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 74(5), 208(1); S.I. 2022/520, reg. 5(i)

F7Words in s. 14(4) substituted (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 75(8)(a), 208(1); S.I. 2022/520, reg. 5(i)

F8Word in s. 14(4) omitted (28.6.2022) by virtue of Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 75(8)(b), 208(1); S.I. 2022/520, reg. 5(i)

F9Words in s. 14(5) substituted (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 75(9)(a), 208(1); S.I. 2022/520, reg. 5(i)

F10Word in s. 14(5) omitted (28.6.2022) by virtue of Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 75(9)(b), 208(1); S.I. 2022/520, reg. 5(i)

F11S. 14(5A) inserted (28.6.2022) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 75(10), 208(1); S.I. 2022/520, reg. 5(i)