Violent disorder is a statutory offence in England and Wales. It is created by section 2(1) of the Public Order Act 1986. Sections 2(1) to (4) of that Act provide:
- (1) Where 3 or more persons who are present together use or threaten unlawful violence and the conduct of them (taken together) is such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for their personal safety, each of the persons using or threatening unlawful violence is guilty of violent disorder.
- (2) It is immaterial whether or not the 3 or more use or threaten unlawful violence simultaneously.
- (3) No person of reasonable firmness need actually be, or be likely to be, present at the scene.
- (4) Violent disorder may be committed in private as well as in public places.
"3 or more persons"
See the following cases:
- R v Mahroof, 88 Cr App R 317, CA
- R v Fleming and Robinson Crim LR 658, CA
- R v McGuigan and Cameron Crim LR 719, CA
"Violence"
This word is defined by section 8.
Read more about Violent Disorder: Mens Rea, Indictment, Alternative Verdict, Arrest, Mode of Trial and Sentence
Famous quotes containing the words violent and/or disorder:
“All violent feelings have the same effect. They produce in us a falseness in all our impressions of external things, which I would generally characterize as the “pathetic fallacy.””
—John Ruskin (1819–1900)
“Both of us felt more anxiety about the South—about the colored people especially—than about anything else sinister in the result. My hope of a sound currency will somehow be realized; civil service reform will be delayed; but the great injury is in the South. There the Amendments will be nullified, disorder will continue, prosperity to both whites and colored people will be pushed off for years.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)