In-depth articles explaining UK speech laws in plain English. Covers the Communications Act, Public Order Act, Online Safety Act, defamation, hate speech, and more. Written for journalists, content creators, and anyone publishing in the UK.
9 July 2026
The workhorse of online-speech prosecution. Section 127 criminalises grossly offensive, indecent, obscene, or menacing messages — with a 6-month maximum and an awareness standard that makes it dramatically easier to prove than any alternative.
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Section 4, 4A, and 5 form a three-tier ladder of public order offences. Section 5 needs no intent and carries a fine only. Section 4 requires intent to provoke fear of immediate violence. Here is how to tell them apart.
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Stirring up hatred on grounds of sexual orientation has been a crime since 2010 — but the bar is deliberately high. Threatening words only. Intent required. DPP consent. Here is what the CJIA 2008 actually covers.
Read Article9 July 2026
A death threat sent online can now carry 5 years — the highest maximum for any individual-speech offence short of the hatred provisions. Here is what s.181 requires.
Read Article9 July 2026
You can abuse someone's religion. You can insult someone because of their sexual orientation. Neither is criminal under the hatred provisions — unless the words are threatening. Parliament drew that line deliberately. Here is the story.
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