Section 57: Public order offences
680.Section 57 removes the ‘insulting’ limb from section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 (“the 1986 Act”), thereby making the use of insulting words, behaviour etc which is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress no longer a criminal offence.
681.Subsection (2) removes the word ‘insulting’ from section 5(1) of the 1986 Act, which sets out the offence.
682.Subsection (3) removes the word ‘insulting’ from section 6(4) of the 1986 Act, which provides that a person is guilty of an offence under section 5 only if they intend their words, behaviour etc to be threatening, abusive or insulting, or are aware that their words, behaviour etc may be threatening, abusive or insulting.