Part 1Public order

Offences relating to locking on

I1I21Offence of locking on

1

A person commits an offence if—

a

they—

i

attach themselves to another person, to an object or to land,

ii

attach a person to another person, to an object or to land, or

iii

attach an object to another object or to land,

b

that act causes, or is capable of causing, serious disruption to—

i

two or more individuals, or

ii

an organisation,

in a place other than a dwelling, and

c

they intend that act to have a consequence mentioned in paragraph (b) or are reckless as to whether it will have such a consequence.

2

It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) to prove that they had a reasonable excuse for the act mentioned in paragraph (a) of that subsection.

3

A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the maximum term for summary offences, to a fine or to both.

4

In subsection (3), “the maximum term for summary offences” means—

a

if the offence is committed before the time when section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (alteration of penalties for certain summary offences: England and Wales) comes into force, six months;

b

if the offence is committed after that time, 51 weeks.

5

In this section “dwelling” means—

a

a building or structure which is used as a dwelling, or

b

a part of a building or structure, if the part is used as a dwelling,

and includes any yard, garden, grounds, garage or outhouse belonging to and used with a dwelling.