Public order act 2023 - Locking on offences

This study guide covers the offences of:

Locking on
Being equipped for locking on
Interference with use or operation of key national infrastructure

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Locking On

The Public Order Act 2023, s.1

It is a defence to prove that they had a reasonable excuse for the act of attaching themselves, another or an object.

Serious Disruption

The cases in which individuals or an organisation may suffer serious disruption include, in particular, where the individuals or the organisation

(a) are by way of physical obstruction prevented, or hindered to more than a minor degree, from carrying out

(i) their day-to-day activities (including in particular the making of a journey),

(ii) construction or maintenance works, or

(iii) activities related to such works,

(b) are prevented from making or receiving, or suffer a delay that is more than minor to the making or receiving of, a delivery of a time-sensitive product, or

(c) are prevented from accessing, or suffer a disruption that is more than minor to the accessing of, any essential goods or any essential service.

Time Sensitive Product

“Time-sensitive product” means a product whose value or use to its consumers may be significantly reduced by a delay in the supply of the product to them.

Reference to accessing essential goods or essential services includes in particular a reference to accessing