I am struggling to see disorder around that sticker in the photo. It's not a public order offence.
Section 5 (I may have said 4 earlier, it's been a while) of the Public Order Act 1986 -
Harassment, alarm or distress.
(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.
A police officer only needs to have reasonable grounds to suspect that the offense has been committed to arrest (which is why if you are ever arrested - worse luck - there is no point arguing with the PC about proof as they don't need "proof" to arrest). Whether that person is prosecuted or not is down to firstly the Custody Sergeant and then the CPS.
I could (as could anyone else) easily make a case to arrest (not necessarily prosecute) someone for having that sticker displayed in public. There being many members of the public who are likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress by that word.
Let's not forget, I never said that what the CoL PC has done here was a right and publically useful thing to do, that is a much larger debate that I am not interested in getting into here. I only said that he could arrest the offender and be in no wrong by the letter of the law.
Section 5 (I may have said 4 earlier, it's been a while) of the Public Order Act 1986 -
Harassment, alarm or distress.
(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.
A police officer only needs to have reasonable grounds to suspect that the offense has been committed to arrest (which is why if you are ever arrested - worse luck - there is no point arguing with the PC about proof as they don't need "proof" to arrest). Whether that person is prosecuted or not is down to firstly the Custody Sergeant and then the CPS.
I could (as could anyone else) easily make a case to arrest (not necessarily prosecute) someone for having that sticker displayed in public. There being many members of the public who are likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress by that word.
Let's not forget, I never said that what the CoL PC has done here was a right and publically useful thing to do, that is a much larger debate that I am not interested in getting into here. I only said that he could arrest the offender and be in no wrong by the letter of the law.