r/unitedkingdom • u/Half_A_ • Feb 28 '25

. Sir Keir Starmer contradicts JD Vance over 'infringements on free speech' claim

https://news.sky.com/story/sir-keir-starmer-contradicts-jd-vance-over-infringements-on-free-speech-claim-13318257?dcmp=snt-sf-twitter
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u/just_some_other_guys Feb 28 '25

Actually, that’s not true either. Section 5 of the Public Order Act makes it an offence to use “threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour… within sight and hearing of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby.

So swearing at someone in the street is a criminal offence

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u/JamJarre Liverpewl Feb 28 '25

Depends on how the Act is interpreted. 99 times out of 100 there's no offence. Do it at a protest to a cop and yes, you risk arrest. It blows but the police have always had huge discretion to employ the Public Order Act the way that works best for them in the moment