Section 2 Offence of threatening or abusive behaviourI1

Northern Ireland

(1)

A person (“A”) commits an offence if—

(a)

A behaves in a threatening or abusive manner,

(b)

the behaviour would be likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm, and

(c)

A intends by the behaviour to cause fear or alarm or is reckless as to whether the behaviour causes fear or alarm.

(2)

It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) to show that the behaviour was reasonable in the particular circumstances.

(3)

Subsection (1) applies to—

(a)

behaviour of any kind including, in particular, things said or otherwise communicated as well as things done, and

(b)

behaviour consisting of—

(i)

a single act, or

(ii)

a course of conduct.

(4)

A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable—

(a)

on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or a fine (or both), or

(b)

on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both).

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