Public Order Offences Solicitors

Our solicitors are highly experienced in dealing with all aspects of criminal law including Public Order Offences.

Public Order Offences

Under the Public Order Act 1986 (the Act 1986) statute, public order offences cover riot, affray and certain statutory offences relating to public order, such as the threat of violence or intentional harassment towards an individual or group in a public setting.

While the law relating to public order offences can be complicated, under the Sentencing Council’s guidelines, severe cases can carry ten years imprisonment. You should always seek expert legal advice as soon as possible if you have been arrested for a public order offence, or are in the police station for questioning.

What are public order offences?

According to Act 1986, public order offences are vast and wide-ranging. Usually, they encompass the use of or threat of violence, abuse or harassment towards an individual or group, in a public place. 

These offences can range from drunken and disorderly behaviour through to riots, and many illegal acts involving public disorder are often a precursor to, or part of, the commission of other offences.

Crimes related to a public order offence include:

Riot

Under S1 Act 1986, a riot is when a group of 12 or more people present together use threatening violence or have the intent to use unlawful violence for a common purpose, that will cause some with reasonable resolve to fear for their safety.

Offenders sentenced for this charge would be tried in a Crown Court and could be given a maximum sentence of 10 years if found guilty. 

Violent Disorder

Under S2 Act 1968, when three or more people use or threaten to use violence that would cause someone of reasonable firmness to be afraid they are committing violent disorder.

Under the Sentencing Council’s guidelines, the maximum sentence given for this offence is five years, with trials taking place at either the Crown Court or magistrates court. 

Affray

The volume of affray offences tend to be high, and a majority of offenders are tried in the Crown Court.

Under Section 3 Public Order Act 1986, affray is where two or more people use or intend to use threatening behaviour which would cause those present to fear for their safety. Offenders may receive three years imprisonment, a fine or both. On a summary conviction, offenders shall receive no more than six months imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Intentional Harassment, Alarm or Distress

Under S4 Act 1986, a person found guilty of intentional harassment, alarm or distress, which can be demonstrated through abusive or insulting words and behaviour, or visual representation can be charged a maximum sentence of six months.

The majority of offenders are tried in the magistrates’ court, although serious offences can be taken to the Crown Court where a more severe penalty can be given.

If intentional harassment, alarm or distress offences are racially or religiously motivated, offenders can receive a maximum of two years imprisonment.

Under S4 of the Act 1986, intentional harassment, alarm and distress offences can be committed in a public and private setting.

Disorderly behaviour likely to cause Intentional Harassment, Alarm or Distress

Under S5 the Act 1986, a person is deemed guilty of this offence if they use threatening or abusive language, gestures, or showcase disorderly behaviour with the intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress to a person nearby.

The maximum penalty for this offence is a £1000 fine, and a vast majority of offenders are tried in the magistrates’ court. 

Sentencing Public Order Offences

The Sentencing Council’s guidelines on public order offences are there to help the court determine the level of involvement an offender had in the crime and the damage or harm caused to any victims.

As public order acts encompass a wide range of incidents, sentences vary depending on the offence and the level of harm caused. Riot acts carry the most severe penalties, while disorderly and threatening behaviour carries the lowest sentence.

Contact Us

Fill in our contact form below and one of our experts will be in touch shortly. Please provide a brief outline of your situation.

  • Privacy

    Any data that you submit using this web form office@gqs-solicitors.co.uk will be held by GQS Solicitors as Data Controller and will be held securely and in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation for 12 months before being securely and confidentially destroyed

    Your data will not be disclosed to any third parties without your consent or as otherwise allowed by the relevant Data Protection legislation and will only be used for responding to your query (or purposes associated with that purpose). 

    You have the right to be informed about what data we hold about you along with other rights set out in the legislation. Further information about your rights under the data protection legislation can be found at www.ico.org.uk

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

All of the work is done to a high standard, the lawyers have many new cases referred to them from previous happy clients. They are involved in some of the biggest cases not only in the Midlands but also at Southwark

The team is efficient and incredibly busy. The lawyers are sought out by clients up and down the country to conduct their cases

The lawyers are very hardworking and talented individuals but yet approachable

It is an excellent firm, particularly for difficult and substantial fraud cases. The lawyers are reliable, highly organised, warm and approachable

Not Guilty For Murder

I would have no hesitation in recommending GQS Solicitors to my family and friends. A proven track record in serious crime, “they successfully defended my mate G.R and he was acquitted of Murder

Aquitted of Kidnap, Possesion of Firearm

I was charged with serious offences of Kidnap, Firearms and was at risk of receiving a lengthy prion sentence. Thanks to the hard work GQS put into my case, I was found not guilty.

Drugs Importation

I would like to say a massive thank you for representation at the Crown Court. I was found not guilty after trial. Brilliant Team !!

Thank You

I was found not guilty of a shooting I did not commit. Thank you GQS for all your hard work from me and my family.

Good Represenation at the Police Station

I was represented at the police station, thanks for the proper advise, no further action was taken against me.

Miracle

My husband was expecting to go to prison for a Fraud offence, against all the odds the Judge went outside the sentencing guidelines and was gave him a suspended sentence. Thanks to the support and advice from GQS we can now carry on living with our lives.

Soar Online
GQS Solicitors

Contact GQS Solicitors

  • Privacy

    Any data that you submit using this web form office@gqs-solicitors.co.uk will be held by GQS Solicitors as Data Controller and will be held securely and in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation for 12 months before being securely and confidentially destroyed

    Your data will not be disclosed to any third parties without your consent or as otherwise allowed by the relevant Data Protection legislation and will only be used for responding to your query (or purposes associated with that purpose). 

    You have the right to be informed about what data we hold about you along with other rights set out in the legislation. Further information about your rights under the data protection legislation can be found at www.ico.org.uk

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.