HL Deb 30 July 1986 vol 479 cc977-8WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the exceptions in Clauses 4(ii) and 5(iii)(b) of the Public Order Bill provide a defence for unauthorised and uninvited entrants into dwellings, against charges such as provocation or harassment, and if so, whether this would be contrary to good order and public policy.

Lord Glenarthur

Under Clauses 4 and 5 of the Public Order Bill no offence is committed if the defendant uses offensive behaviour inside a dwelling towards a victim who is in the same or any other dwelling. This exception is necessary to exclude minor domestic disputes and similar disputes between neighbours from the scope of the offence. It would apply also to unauthorised entrants; but there is no evidence of a significant mischief caused by intruders using threatening or disorderly behaviour which cannot be dealt with under the existing law.