Section 4 (Causing Fear or Provocation of Violence)
A person is guilty of this offence if they do the following:
- Uses towards another person threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or
- Distributes or displays to another person any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting, with intent to cause that person to believe that immediate unlawful violence will be used against him or another by any person, or to provoke the immediate use of unlawful violence by that person or another, or whereby that person is likely to believe that such violence will be used or it is likely that such violence will be provoked.
The offence of threatening behaviour is a summary only offence, which means it can only be heard in a Magistrates Court. The offence can carry up to 6 months imprisonment, so if you are accused of this offence it is very important that you instruct a solicitor who you are sure is acting to the best of their ability to represent your best interest.
