Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 provides sufficient protection for police officers in the execution of their duty.

Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 makes it an offence to use threatening or abusive words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress. This protection applies to police officers carrying out their duties as it does to other members of the public.

Whether particular words or behaviour meet the threshold for an offence will depend on the circumstances of each case. Decisions on arrests and investigations are operational matters for the police, and charging decisions are a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service, who act independently.

In November 2025 the Home Secretary asked Lord Macdonald of River Glaven KC to undertake an independent review of public order and hate crime legislation. Lord Macdonald submitted his report on 29 May and the Government will publish the report, and its response, shortly.