Hoghton Tower Leaflet Complaint

Hoghton Tower tried having peaceful animal welfare protesters arrested under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 for handing out a leaflet to visitors that was critical of their wildlife killing policy.

The offence is created by section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986:

    "(1) A person is guilty of an offence if he:

        (b) displays any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting, within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby."

After receiving the complaint from Hoghton Tower, Lancashire Constabulary dispatched an officer to the demonstration to view the offending leaflet, needless to say no-one was arrested and Hoghton Tower completely wasted police time again.

Below is the leaflet which Hoghton Tower claimed caused harassment, alarm or distress: