Member

382F: After Clause 126, insert the following new Clause— “Amendment to speech offences(1) The Malicious Communications Act 1988 is repealed.(2) Omit section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.(3) In the table in section 1(1) of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (offences leading to penalties on the spot) omit the entry relating to section 127(2) of the Communications Act 2003.(4) The Public Order Act 1986 is amended as follows.(5) In section 4—(a) in subsection (1)(a) after “threatening” omit “, abusive or insulting”, and(b) in subsection (1)(b) after “threatening” omit “, abusive or insulting”.(6) Omit sections 4A and 5.(7) In section 6—(a) in subsection (3)—(i) after the first “threatening,” omit “abusive or insulting”,(ii) after the second “threatening” omit “, abusive or insulting”, and(b) omit subsection (4).(8) In section 18(1)—(a) after the first “threatening” omit “, abusive or insulting”, and(b) after the second “threatening” omit “, abusive or insulting”.(9) In section 19(1) after “threatening,” omit “abusive or insulting”.(10) In section 20(1) after “threatening,” omit “abusive or insulting”.(11) In section 21(1) after “threatening,” omit “abusive or insulting”.(12) In section 22(1) after “threatening,” omit “abusive or insulting”.”Member’s explanatory statement This amendment would amend a number of different Acts to ensure that freedom of speech is protected, so that a person cannot be prosecuted for causing “anxiety” or for “insulting” another person.