RS5 AMENDMENT WILL COME INTO FORCE IN FEBRUARY
Posted on 5th, December 2013
The Home Office has at last confirmed that the amendment to remove ‘insults’ from Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 will come into force on 1 February 2014. The amendment, now known as Section 57 of the Crime and Courts Act, has been given its commencement order by the Government. Earlier this year […]
Crime and Courts Act gains Royal Assent
Posted on 3rd, May 2013
The Crime and Courts Act containing the amendment to remove ‘insults’ from Section 5 passed into law last week when it gained Royal Assent . The amendment (now known as Section 57 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013) will not come into force until a commencement order is brought forward by the Government. Home […]
House of Commons backs Reform Section 5 amendment
Posted on 13th, February 2013
The House of Commons has affirmed the amendment to remove “insults” from Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986. This is a fulfilment of the Home Secretary’s promise to accept the amendment, which was passed by the House of Lords in December. We can now say, officially, that Reform Section 5 has achieved its […]
Radio 4’s News Quiz applauds reform of Section 5
Posted on 24th, January 2013
The “News Quiz” panel and audience give the Government a round of applause for reforming Section 5. They also give the RS5 team a mouthful of insults!
Thank you for your support
Posted on 15th, January 2013
Dear RS5 Supporter, We are delighted to report that the Home Secretary, Theresa May, has announced that the Government will not seek to overturn the amendment, put forward by the House of Lords, to scrap the term ‘insulting’ from Section 5 of the Public Order Act, 1986. Speaking in the House of Commons on the […]
Coverage of victory to reform Section 5
Posted on 15th, January 2013
‘Insulting words’ crime ditched BBC News ‘Insulting’ to be dropped from section 5 of Public Order Act The Guardian Law which made it illegal to call a police horse ‘gay’ is to be changed The Daily Telegraph Blackadder preserves our right to be insulting: Ministers agree to amend laws after campaign led by Rowan Atkinson […]
Government accepts Lords amendment to reform Section 5
Posted on 15th, January 2013
The Home Secretary told the House of Commons last night that the Government will accept the Lords amendment to remove the word “insulting” from Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986. Theresa May told the House that the Government respected the view of the House of Lords and said comments by the Director of […]
Government set for defeat on Section 5, polling suggests
Posted on 7th, January 2013
MPs are set to back the move to drop the term ‘insulting’ from Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986, according to a new poll by leading opinion pollster, ComRes. The survey found a majority of both Conservative and Liberal Democrats – 79 per cent and 70 per cent respectively – back the reform, […]
Audio: LBC Radio interviews RS5 Campaign Director
Posted on 2nd, January 2013
RS5 Campaign Director, Simon Calvert, spoke to LBC Radio about removing the word ‘insulting’ from Section 5 of the Public Order Act. Mr Calvert said: “Most people are amazed when you tell them that British law outlaws insults because we all recognise that insults is such a vague and subjective term”. He said: “Of course […]
VIDEO: House of Lords debates ‘insult’ law (12 December 2012)
Posted on 21st, December 2012
Former HM Inspector of Constabulary, Lord Dear, persuades the House of Lords to back his amendment deleting “insulting words” from Section 5 of the Public Order Act. Peers voted for the amendment by 150 votes to 54, a shock defeat for both the coalition government and the Labour opposition who opposed the reform. The House […]