What is a public order offence? Greta Thunberg charged

She was one of 26 activists who were arrested near the InterContinental Hotel in Mayfair on Tuesday while oil executives met inside as part of the Energy Intelligence Forum.

Officers said they asked the protesters to move from the road onto the pavement which would have allowed them to continue protesting legally.

They said they had imposed conditions to “prevent disruption to the public”.

Miss Thunberg, 20, was bailed after being charged with breaching Section 14 of the Public Order Act and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on November 15.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg was arrested outside of a London oil conference pic.twitter.com/VP0wLyq7x7

— The Messenger (@TheMessenger) October 18, 2023

What is a Public Order offence?

Public order offences are governed by the Public Order Act 1986 and cover a whole host of offences from a riot to the use of threatening or abusive language in public.

The law relating to public order offences can often seem complicated, so it is important to obtain expert legal advice at the earliest stage if you have been accused or arrested of such an offence.

Public order offences usually involve the use or threat of violence, abuse or harassment towards an individual or a group. A conviction for this type of offence, even where no one has been hurt or property damaged, can result in damage to a person’s reputation or career prospects, a criminal conviction and in more serious cases, a prison sentence.

There are numerous sections such as Section 1 (Riot) · Section 2 (Violent Disorder) · Section 3 (Affray) · Section 4 (Fear or Provocation of Violence) · Section 5 (Harassment, Alarm or Distress).

Threatening Behaviour is the most common public order offence and is defined as having intent to make an individual believe that unlawful violence will be used against them.

It carries a maximum sentence of 6 months imprisonment and a fine.