Public Order Offence Solicitors

Causing Fear or Provocation of Violence

A prosecution for Causing Fear or Provocation of Violence will be brought under Section 4. A person is guilty of this offence if they:

• Use towards another person threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or
• Distributes or displays to another person any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting,

The prosecution will also need to prove that the intention was to cause that person to believe that immediate unlawful violence would be used against him or another by any person, or to provoke the immediate use of unlawful violence by that person or another, or that person is likely to believe that such violence will be used or it is likely that such violence will be provoked.

A person convicted of this offence can receive a prison sentence of up to 6 months and / or a fine of an unlimited amount.

Intentional Harassment, Alarm or Distress

Section 4A creates an offence of Intentional Harassment, Alarm or Distress. A person charged under Section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986 is guilty if it was their intention to cause a person harassment, alarm or distress, and he

• Uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour or
• Displays any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting, thereby causing that or another person harassment, alarm or distress.

A person found guilty of this offence can receive a prison sentence of up to 6 months and / or a fine of an unlimited amount. If the offence is racially aggravated a defendant could receive a greater penalty at the Crown Court.

Threatening, Abusive or Insulting Behaviour

An offence is committed under Section of the 5 Public Order Act 1986 if a person uses abusive language or gestures with intent to cause another harassment alarm or distress. The maximum penalty for this offence is a £1,000 fine.

Consequences of a Criminal Conviction

Our top-rated criminal defence team understand that being prosecuted will have a devastating impact upon your career, future income and your professional profile. For that reason, we leave no stone unturned when it comes to scrutinising the evidence and planning a strong defence strategy.

We appreciate that for many white-collar workers and regulated professionals a conviction for a crime could result in a professional regulatory body such as the Solicitors Regulation Authority, General Medical Council or Financial Conduct Authority assessing whether you remain suitable to continue in your profession given the criminal conviction on your record. We aim to secure the best possible outcome for all our clients, as a conviction could result in life changing consequences or prevent you from continuing your chosen career path.

It is important to appreciate that whilst a relatively minor conviction, such as using Threatening, Abusive or Insulting Behaviour, will not result in a custodial sentence (prison). However, a conviction could potentially result in the end of your career or issues with other aspects of your life, such as travelling to other countries for holidays or work. Our lawyers understand that being prosecuted can be a tough time and your case is a priority for us. Instructing our specialist top-ranked criminal lawyers to represent you will give you the best possible chance of a successful outcome and we will fight your corner to win.

Our solicitors appreciate that if you are a public figure or sports personality, a criminal conviction or even investigation could potentially result in suspension from public office or cancellation of sponsorship/advertising deals. It is, therefore, crucial that you instruct a qualified and specialist criminal defence law firm that has previously represented many high-profile clients and professionals, as this will provide you with the best chance of a not guilty verdict.

A criminal record for an offence such as assault, battery or harassment could also cause difficulties in family law / care proceedings as a criminal conviction will create a further obstacle to overcome in those proceedings. The lawyer you choose to instruct to defend your case will have a significant impact upon the direction and outcome of the case, therefore you should take serious consideration when choosing the law firm.

To contact one of our specialist private crime lawyers, phone us on 0345 222 9955 for an initial telephone case assessment and a no obligation fixed fee quotation or fill out our contact form and we will get back to you.