Part XII

Miscellaneous and General

Harassment, alarm or distress

Offence of causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress.
154
In Part I of the Public Order Act 1986 (offences relating to public order), after section 4, there shall be inserted the following section—

Intentional harassment, alarm or distress.
4A
1
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.
2
An offence under this section may be committed in a public or a private place, except that no offence is committed where the words or behaviour are used, or the writing, sign or other visible representation is displayed, by a person inside a dwelling and the person who is harassed, alarmed or distressed is also inside that or another dwelling.
3
It is a defence for the accused to prove—
a
that he was inside a dwelling and had no reason to believe that the words or behaviour used, or the writing, sign or other visible representation displayed, would be heard or seen by a person outside that or any other dwelling, or
b
that his conduct was reasonable.
4
A constable may arrest without warrant anyone he reasonably suspects is committing an offence under this section.
5
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or both.
.
1986 c. 64.