Public Order Act 1963


The Public Order Act 1963 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Changes to penalties and mode of trial

Section 1 increased the penalties to which a person guilty of an offence under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1936 or under section 1 of the Public Meeting Act 1908 was liable. It also provided that the offence under the Public Order Act 1936 was to become triable on indictment. It provided that a person guilty of either of those offences was liable on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to a fine not exceeding £500, or to both, or on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to a fine not exceeding £100, or to both. This did not apply to offences committed before 31 July 1963.

Consequential amendments

Section 1 effected consequential amendments to section 7 of the Public Order Act 1936 and section 1 of the Public Meetings Act 1908 which had previously specified the penalty and mode of trial for those two offences.