[2011] EWHC 3992 (Admin)
In the absence of express evidence, a magistrates' court had been wrong to conclude that expletives used by a young man when being searched by police officers were capable of causing harassment, alarm or distress to the officers or bystanders. Accordingly, his conviction for a public order offence contrary to the Public Order Act 1986 s.5 was quashed.
QBD (Admin) (Bean J)
17/11/2011