IMPLEMENTATION OF REFORM OF SECTION 5 OF THE PUBLIC ORDER ACT 1986

That this House is greatly disappointed by the Government's delay in bringing into force section 57 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 which removes insulting words or behaviour from the scope of section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 and which received Royal Assent on 25 April 2013; observes that there have been further reports of the misuse of section 5 by the police which would not have occurred if the provision had been implemented; expresses concern that section 5 will continue to be used to limit freedom of expression until this important reform is brought into force; and therefore calls on the Government to bring section 57 into force immediately.