Public Order Act 2023
2023 Chapter 15An Act to make provision for new offences relating to public order; to make provision about stop and search powers; to make provision about the exercise of police functions relating to public order; to make provision about proceedings by the Secretary of State relating to protest-related activities; to make provision about serious disruption prevention orders; and for connected purposes.
Enacted
[2nd May 2023]
Be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
Part 1 Public order¶
Offences relating to locking on¶
I1I381 Offence of locking on¶
I2I392 Offence of being equipped for locking on¶
Offences relating to tunnelling¶
I443 Offence of causing serious disruption by tunnelling¶
I454 Offence of causing serious disruption by being present in a tunnel¶
I465 Offence of being equipped for tunnelling etc¶
Offences involving works and infrastructure¶
I476 Obstruction etc of major transport works¶
- “associated development” has the same meaning as in the Planning Act 2008 (see section 115 of that Act);
- “development” has the same meaning as in the Planning Act 2008 (see section 32 of that Act);
- “development consent” has the same meaning as in the Planning Act 2008 (see section 31 of that Act);
- “England” includes the English inshore region within the meaning of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (see section 322 of that Act);
- “maintain” includes inspect, repair, adjust, alter, remove, reconstruct and replace, and “maintenance” is to be construed accordingly;
- “nationally significant infrastructure project” has the same meaning as in the Planning Act 2008 (see section 14(1) of that Act);
- “statutory undertaker” means a person who is, or who is deemed to be, a statutory undertaker for the purposes of any provision of Part 11 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990;
- “trade dispute” has the same meaning as in Part 4 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, except that section 218 of that Act is to be read as if—
- it made provision corresponding to section 244(4) of that Act, and
- in subsection (5), the definition of worker included any person falling within paragraph (b) of the definition of worker in section 244(5) of that Act;
- “Wales” includes the Welsh inshore region within the meaning of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (see section 322 of that Act).
I3I407 Interference with use or operation of key national infrastructure¶
- “England” includes the English inshore region within the meaning of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (see section 322 of that Act);
- “trade dispute” has the same meaning as in Part 4 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, except that section 218 of that Act is to be read as if—
- it made provision corresponding to section 244(4) of that Act, and
- in subsection (5), the definition of worker included any person falling within paragraph (b) of the definition of worker in section 244(5) of that Act;
- “Wales” includes the Welsh inshore region within the meaning of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (see section 322 of that Act).
I4I418 Key national infrastructure¶
- “gas” has the same meaning as in section 12 of the Gas Act 1995;
- “pipe-line” has the same meaning as in the Pipe-lines Act 1962 (see section 65 of that Act).
- “onshore infrastructure” means infrastructure situated on land (excluding land covered by the sea or any tidal waters);
- “petroleum” has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the Petroleum Act 1998 (see section 1 of that Act).
- “onshore infrastructure” means infrastructure situated on land (excluding land covered by the sea or any tidal waters);
- “supply”, in relation to electricity, has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the Electricity Act 1989 (see section 4(4) of that Act).
- “local newspaper” means a newspaper which is published at least fortnightly and is in circulation in a part of England and Wales;
- “national newspaper” means a newspaper which is published at least fortnightly and is in circulation in England, in Wales or in both;
- “newspaper” includes a periodical or magazine.
Interference with access to or provision of abortion services¶
I5I689 Offence of interference with access to or provision of abortion services¶
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“abortion clinic” means—
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a place approved for the purposes of section 1 of the Abortion Act 1967 by the Secretary of State under subsection (3) of that section, or
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a hospital identified in a notification to the Chief Medical Officer under section 2(1) of the Abortion Act 1967 in the current or previous calendar year, and published identifying it as such, where “current” or “previous” are references to the time at which an alleged offence under subsection (1) of this section takes place;
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“abortion services” means any treatment for the termination of pregnancy;
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“dwelling” has the same meaning as in section 1 of this Act (offence of locking on).
Powers to stop and search¶
I6I5110 Powers to stop and search on suspicion¶
In section 1(8) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (offences in relation to which stop and search power applies)—I7I5211 Powers to stop and search without suspicion¶
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“specified” means specified in an authorisation under this section;
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“vehicle” includes a caravan as defined in section 29(1) of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.
I8I5312 Further provisions about authorisations and directions under section 11¶
I9I5413 Further provisions about searches under section 11¶
I10I5514 Offence relating to section 11¶
Processions, assemblies and one-person protests¶
I11I4215 Processions, assemblies and one-person protests: delegation of functions¶
In section 15 of the Public Order Act 1986 (processions, assemblies and one-person protests: delegation of functions), for subsection (2) substitute—I1216 Assemblies and one-person protests: British Transport Police and MoD Police¶
, and
, and
,
Exercise of police powers in relation to journalists etc¶
I4817 Exercise of police powers in relation to journalists etc¶
- “injunction” means an injunction granted by the High Court, the county court or a youth court;
- “police power” means a power which is conferred on a constable by or by virtue of an enactment or by a rule of law;
- “protest-related breach”, in relation to an injunction, means a breach which is directly related to a protest;
- “protest-related offence” means an offence which is directly related to a protest.
Proceedings by the Secretary of State¶
I1318 Power of Secretary of State to bring proceedings¶
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“key national infrastructure” has the same meaning as in section 7 (key national infrastructure);
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“trade dispute” has the same meaning as in Part 4 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, except that section 218 of that Act is to be read as if—
-
it made provision corresponding to section 244(4) of that Act, and
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in subsection (5), the definition of worker included any person falling within paragraph (b) of the definition of worker in section 244(5) of that Act.
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I1419 Injunctions in Secretary of State proceedings: power of arrest and remand¶
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“harm” includes serious ill-treatment or abuse (whether physical or not);
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“the court” means the High Court or the county court and includes—
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in relation to the High Court, a judge of that court, and
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in relation to the county court, a judge of that court.
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Part 2 Serious disruption prevention orders¶
Serious disruption prevention orders made on conviction¶
I15I5620 Serious disruption prevention order made on conviction¶
Serious disruption prevention orders made on application¶
I16I5721 Serious disruption prevention order made on application¶
Provisions of serious disruption prevention orders¶
I17I5822 Provisions of serious disruption prevention order¶
I18I5923 Requirements in serious disruption prevention order¶
I19I6024 Notification requirements in serious disruption prevention order¶
I20I6125 Duration of serious disruption prevention order¶
I21I6226 Other information to be included in serious disruption prevention order¶
A serious disruption prevention order made in respect of a person must specify—Offences¶
I22I6327 Offences relating to a serious disruption prevention order¶
Variation, renewal or discharge of serious disruption prevention orders¶
I23I6428 Variation, renewal or discharge of serious disruption prevention order¶
Appeals¶
I24I6529 Appeal against serious disruption prevention order¶
General¶
I25I4930 Guidance¶
I26I5031 Guidance: Parliamentary procedure¶
I27I6632 Interpretation of Part¶
In this Part—-
“home address”, in relation to a person (“P”), means—
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the address of P’s sole or main residence, or
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if P has no such residence, the address or location of a place where P can regularly be found and, if there is more than one such place, such one of those places as P may select;
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“injunction” means an injunction granted by the High Court, the county court or a youth court;
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“protest-related breach”, in relation to an injunction, means a breach which is directly related to a protest;
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“protest-related offence” means an offence which is directly related to a protest.
I28I6733 Consequential amendments¶
.
Part 3 General¶
I29I4334 Meaning of serious disruption¶
I3035 Extent, commencement and short title¶
Schedule ¶
Injunctions in Secretary of State proceedings: powers to remand
Section 19
I311 Introductory¶
Remand in custody or on bail¶
I355 Further remand¶
I366 Postponement and taking recognizance¶
Where under paragraph 2(2)(b) the court fixes the amount in which the principal and their sureties, if any, are to be bound, the recognizance may afterwards be taken by such person as may be prescribed by rules of court, with the same consequences as if it had been entered into before the court.I377 Requirements imposed on remand on bail¶
The court may when remanding a person on bail under this Schedule require the person to comply, before release on bail or later, with such requirements as appear to the court to be necessary to secure that the person does not interfere with witnesses or otherwise obstruct the course of justice.Footnotes
- I1S. 1 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I2S. 2 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I3S. 7 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 35(3)(a)
- I4S. 8 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I5S. 9 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I6S. 10 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I7S. 11 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I8S. 12 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I9S. 13 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 35(3)(a)
- I10S. 14 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I11S. 15 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I12S. 16 in force at 2.7.2023, see s. 35(4)
- I13S. 18 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I14S. 19 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I15S. 20 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I16S. 21 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I17S. 22 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I18S. 23 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I19S. 24 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I20S. 25 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I21S. 26 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I22S. 27 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I23S. 28 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I24S. 29 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I25S. 30 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I26S. 31 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I27S. 32 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I28S. 33 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I29S. 34 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I30S. 35 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(3)(b)
- I31Sch. para. 1 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I32Sch. para. 2 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I33Sch. para. 3 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I34Sch. para. 4 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I35Sch. para. 5 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I36Sch. para. 6 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I37Sch. para. 7 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 35(5)
- I38S. 1 in force at 3.5.2023 by S.I. 2023/502, reg. 2(a)
- I39S. 2 in force at 3.5.2023 by S.I. 2023/502, reg. 2(b)
- I40S. 7 in force at 3.5.2023 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2023/502, reg. 2(c)
- I41S. 8 in force at 3.5.2023 by S.I. 2023/502, reg. 2(d)
- I42S. 15 in force at 3.5.2023 by S.I. 2023/502, reg. 2(e)
- I43S. 34 in force at 3.5.2023 by S.I. 2023/502, reg. 2(f)
- C1S. 6(7)(a): power to amend conferred (2.7.2023) by 2008 c. 29, s. 14(3A) (as inserted by Public Order Act 2023 (c. 15), ss. 6(10), 35(5); S.I. 2023/733, reg. 2(d))
- I44S. 3 in force at 2.7.2023 by S.I. 2023/733, reg. 2(a)
- I45S. 4 in force at 2.7.2023 by S.I. 2023/733, reg. 2(b)
- I46S. 5 in force at 2.7.2023 by S.I. 2023/733, reg. 2(c)
- I47S. 6 in force at 2.7.2023 by S.I. 2023/733, reg. 2(d)
- I48S. 17 in force at 2.7.2023 by S.I. 2023/733, reg. 2(e)
- I49S. 30 in force at 1.12.2023 by S.I. 2023/1281, reg. 2(a)
- I50S. 31 in force at 1.12.2023 by S.I. 2023/1281, reg. 2(b)
- I51S. 10 in force at 20.12.2023 by S.I. 2023/1418, reg. 2(a)
- I52S. 11 in force at 20.12.2023 by S.I. 2023/1418, reg. 2(b)
- I53S. 12 in force at 20.12.2023 by S.I. 2023/1418, reg. 2(c)
- I54S. 13 in force at 20.12.2023 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2023/1418, reg. 2(d)
- I55S. 14 in force at 20.12.2023 by S.I. 2023/1418, reg. 2(e)
- I56S. 20 in force at 5.4.2024 by S.I. 2024/472, reg. 2(a)
- I57S. 21 in force at 5.4.2024 by S.I. 2024/472, reg. 2(b)
- I58S. 22 in force at 5.4.2024 by S.I. 2024/472, reg. 2(c)
- I59S. 23 in force at 5.4.2024 by S.I. 2024/472, reg. 2(d)
- I60S. 24 in force at 5.4.2024 by S.I. 2024/472, reg. 2(e)
- I61S. 25 in force at 5.4.2024 by S.I. 2024/472, reg. 2(f)
- I62S. 26 in force at 5.4.2024 by S.I. 2024/472, reg. 2(g)
- I63S. 27 in force at 5.4.2024 by S.I. 2024/472, reg. 2(h)
- I64S. 28 in force at 5.4.2024 by S.I. 2024/472, reg. 2(i)
- I65S. 29 in force at 5.4.2024 by S.I. 2024/472, reg. 2(j)
- I66S. 32 in force at 5.4.2024 by S.I. 2024/472, reg. 2(k)
- I67S. 33 in force at 5.4.2024 by S.I. 2024/472, reg. 2(l)
- I68S. 9 in force at 31.10.2024 by S.I. 2024/1050, reg. 2
- F1Word in s. 7(6) omitted (12.2.2026) by virtue of The Public Order Act 2023 (Interference With Use or Operation of Key National Infrastructure) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/112), regs. 1(2), 2(2)(a)
- F2S. 7(6)(j) and word inserted (12.2.2026) by The Public Order Act 2023 (Interference With Use or Operation of Key National Infrastructure) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/112), regs. 1(2), 2(2)(b)
- F3S. 8(16) inserted (12.2.2026) by The Public Order Act 2023 (Interference With Use or Operation of Key National Infrastructure) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/112), regs. 1(2), 2(3)