The Right to Not Be Offended?

The Halk

The Halk

The Halk

Soldato
Joined
13 May 2003
Posts
11,865
Location
Hamilton
Reform Section 5.

It's seriously important that this happens, otherwise literally anything you say can be a crime.

Have a look at section 5 for some mental things that have been tried by the police and others against people.
 
That website doesn't appear to provide actual wording. Can someone transcribe the actual wording of this part of the public order act?

In fact, is this it?

(1)A person is guilty of an offence if he—
(a)uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, or
(b)displays any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting,
within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby.
(2)An offence under this section may be committed in a public or a private place, except that no offence is committed where the words or behaviour are used, or the writing, sign or other visible representation is displayed, by a person inside a dwelling and the other person is also inside that or another dwelling.
(3)It is a defence for the accused to prove—
(a)that he had no reason to believe that there was any person within hearing or sight who was likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress, or
(b)that he was inside a dwelling and had no reason to believe that the words or behaviour used, or the writing, sign or other visible representation displayed, would be heard or seen by a person outside that or any other dwelling, or
(c)that his conduct was reasonable.
(4)A constable may arrest a person without warrant if—
(a)he engages in offensive conduct which [F1a] constable warns him to stop, and
(b)he engages in further offensive conduct immediately or shortly after the warning.
(5)In subsection (4) “offensive conduct” means conduct the constable reasonably suspects to constitute an offence under this section, and the conduct mentioned in paragraph (a) and the further conduct need not be of the same nature.
(6)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
Click to expand...
 
I watched PMQ's today and was damn offended by the pathetic whooping booing and other ******** that happens at 1200 - 1230 every Wednesday.
 
Nobody should have the right to not be offended, it's a required price for "free speech, well what little we have left".

Simply pretending that racists, homophobes, zealots or other groups some wish to silence don't exist does not solve the problem.

Neither should any individual have the right to dictate the right's of another's opinion, regardless of how much they may dislike it.

I'm not say all views should be respected (they all need to be judged on merit) - but I don't trust any government with the power to curtail criticism, insults, mockery or offensiveness.
 
Its sad that we have, as a society arrived at a situation whereby government are having to legislate for peoples inability to not run their mouths off without thought. That said you cant enforce respect so I cant see how it could be policed.
 
Gilly said:
I disagree, dependant on context.

The Westboro Baptist Church should be criminal. Their type of protest should be criminal.
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I think they're about as low as it gets, and I'd be happy if they were illegal. However I can't think of legislation that would apply to them, but not to (what I would consider) legitimate protests. I think we may have to suffer them in order to have free speech.

People do need to learn how to not be offended, Westboro Baptish Church are just insane trolls, and people should realise that they shouldn't care what they think.

However this section 5 stuff... the examples page on the website in my first post lists some circumstances where it wasn't premeditated like a protest, but where something you say can be a criminal offence.
 
realBabelfish said:
what about scientology 'church'

also, if we cant protest at a church why can protest as us in the street?
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They aren't protesting at your house though?

As far as I can tell, if you happen to protest in a fairly random non-specific location you're OK if it is a peaceful protest, but if you aren't protesting in a reasonable manner, or are targeting one site in particular (ie a specific church) you're asking for it.
 
The Halk said:
The Right to Not Be Offended?
Click to expand...

Lets also remember that you have responsibilities as well as rights. You have the responsibility not be an arse in public. S5 to some degree is used for this. And by arse I will use the example of my last S5 arrest being running up to random strangers and shouting expletives in their face and then running away.
 
Burnsy2023 said:
Lets also remember that you have responsibilities as well as rights. You have the responsibility not be an arse in public. S5 to some degree is used for this. And by arse I will use the example of my last S5 arrest being running up to random strangers and shouting expletives in their face and then running away.
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Why wouldn't you be able to use breach of the peace for that?
 
Burnsy2023 said:
Lets also remember that you have responsibilities as well as rights. You have the responsibility not be an arse in public. S5 to some degree is used for this. And by arse I will use the example of my last S5 arrest being running up to random strangers and shouting expletives in their face and then running away.
Click to expand...

ambiguous. were you being the arse or were you the one feeling a collar?

if you are a collar feeler how do you feel about all the photographers being harassed by the police? not great for public relations.
 
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