Is this the end of The Public Order law ?

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 6:56 pm

Keir Starmer QC: Backs free speech by saying it's OK to offend people | Mail Online

Keir Stramer raises some valid points I feel.

Snooz · Post by **Snooz** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 4:10 am

It'd be impossible to quantify what's insulting, everyone has a different threshold/interpretation. I could call you an old bag and you'd just laugh but another member might be highly aggrieved and would report my post. Simple jokes can be misunderstood. A polite disagreement could generate claims of bullying. It's ridiculous.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 4:50 am

Who was insulted in the examples below ?

The law was notoriously used in 2005 when an Oxford University student was arrested for saying to a police officer: ‘Excuse me, do you realise your horse is gay?’ It has also been used to arrest a Christian preacher in Workington who told a passer-by that he thought homosexuality was sinful.

And teenager Kyle Little was fined £50 in 2007 for ‘causing distress’ to a pair of labradors by saying ‘woof woof’ at them within earshot of the police

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 5:54 am

When I was arrested, I was also charged with a section 5 public order offence. Later, the CPS offered me a deal, plead guilty and accept a caution to common assault and they'd drop the criminal damage and section 5.... I don't do deals !!!!!

Why was I charged with a section 5 ? During the Incident, my husband had finally managed to turn the car round and get to me as my so called victim was squaring up to me... who happened to be two Inches bigger than me... As Peter got to me, the youth said to my husband ' And what are you going to do about It, you **cking old C*** ?

Which by the way, the judge acknowledged In his summing up that the youth had been abusive to Peter. I answered the sweet young thing In his own language.... I got charged for using a swear word to him because funny enough, I don't take kindly to foul mouthed teenagers threatening my husband who was recovering from advanced cancer at the time.. but there you go, that's just me... funny old world eh?

Point Is... I never used any four letter expletives as he did... just called him a wanker.

The point again Is.... my husband Ignored his foul language and behaviour but he bitterly complained to police that I had dissed him In front of his pals.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 6:20 am

Bruv;1412342 wrote:

And teenager Kyle Little was fined £50 in 2007 for ‘causing distress’ to a pair of labradors by saying ‘woof woof’ at them within earshot of the police

That's disgusting. Those poor dogs... she should have gone to the pokey.

Snooz · Post by **Snooz** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 7:24 am

I say "tweet tweet" to birds all the time... unless its a duck then I'll say "quack quack." I've even mooed at cows. I'm damn lucky I'm not spending the rest of my life behind bars.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 10:36 am

SnoozeAgain;1412358 wrote: I say "tweet tweet" to birds all the time... unless its a duck then I'll say "quack quack." I've even mooed at cows. I'm damn lucky I'm not spending the rest of my life behind bars.

Or at least a rubber room..

Snooz · Post by **Snooz** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 10:49 am

You don't talk to animals? I'm positive they enjoy the attempt... like Americans visiting foreign countries and trying to speak the language. I bet they get a good laugh out of it.

Oh yeah, I say "CAW!" to crows too.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 10:56 am

SnoozeAgain;1412378 wrote: You don't talk to animals? I'm positive they enjoy the attempt... like Americans visiting foreign countries and trying to speak the language. I bet they get a good laugh out of it.

Oh yeah, I say "CAW!" to crows too.

Foreigners always understand what I'm saying if I just talk louder to them..

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 11:16 am

I've been known to blow up a horses nostrils before In a sort of meet and greet type kind of way.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 12:37 pm

oscar;1412389 wrote: I've been known to blow up a horses nostrils before In a sort of meet and greet type kind of way.

I'm sure that makes you popular at the stud ranches.

Post by **Peter Lake** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 3:21 am

I feel the public order laws need amending but not eradicating completely. The initial context of the law has been abused and rather than being used in extreme cases of public nuisance, police have been arresting perfectly law abiding people because they have hurt someone's feelings. More often than not, police can use a section 5 should they want to arrest someone bad enough but have no evidence of a criminal act. Oscar and i have both witnessed this ourselves with our local police dealing with troublesome teenagers. One youth was arrested right in front of us because he argued back with the officer. Another night, a young girl, was thrown into a police van and carted off in front of me because she said " the pigs are here" when they arrived. It's a law that can be used as and when to suit especially with police officers working to targets and needing to fulfill their quota.

Unless a comment or difference of opinion is not racially motivated, cries of bullying and offence taken because someone else thinks you're talking out of the back of your neck are absurd. We have jurisdiction that an individual is legally entitled to an opinion and the section 5 is muddying the waters of that legal right. I can understand a section 4 which is swearing in public where four letter insults can tantamount to threatening behaviour but to be arrested because you have offended an individual by expressing your opinion is nanny state pandering to those who failed to attend the school of hard knocks. It's life, people need to accept it and deal with it instead of calling upon the law whining they have been offended.