Public Order Act section 5 makes it an offence to do which of the following?

Public Order Act section 5 makes it an offence to do which of the following?

• A. Use threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or display such writing within hearing or sight of someone likely to be harassed, alarmed or distressed
• B. Resist a constable
• C. Theft
• D. Damaging property

Answer: (A)

Public Order Act section 5 targets conduct that risks upsetting others in a public or shared space. It makes it an offence to use threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or to display writing, within hearing or sight of a person likely to be harassed, alarmed or distressed. The key point is that the act itself must be such language or display, and it must be directed in a way that would have that impact on someone nearby who would reasonably be harassed, alarmed or distressed. The offence does not concern resisting a constable, theft, or damaging property—those are different crimes. So the option that matches the statutory elements—verbal or written abuse that would harass, alarm or distress someone who can hear or see it—is the correct one.

Public Order Act section 5 targets conduct that risks upsetting others in a public or shared space. It makes it an offence to use threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or to display writing, within hearing or sight of a person likely to be harassed, alarmed or distressed. The key point is that the act itself must be such language or display, and it must be directed in a way that would have that impact on someone nearby who would reasonably be harassed, alarmed or distressed. The offence does not concern resisting a constable, theft, or damaging property—those are different crimes. So the option that matches the statutory elements—verbal or written abuse that would harass, alarm or distress someone who can hear or see it—is the correct one.