Member

On the definition of serious disruption, which the right reverend Prelate mentioned, serious disruption to the life of a community is set out in Section 12(2A) of the Public Order Act 1986, so there is clarity about what it means. Again, a judgment is made on issues such as Remembrance Sunday or wakes or religious festivals, where, although there may be serious disruption, it is not in the spirit of the legislation to date. To date, I can think of a handful of occasions when the Public Order Act 1986 has been invoked, such as the case that the right reverend Prelate mentioned during Remembrance Sunday, so I hope that the legislation has stood the test of time. That goes to the points that noble Lord, Lord Leigh of Hurley, mentioned.