Monthly Archives: January 2025

In the ongoing battle against crime, the Police now seem to be keen on prosecuting drivers for offences involving messages on car stickers.

A woman appeared in Chester Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to a public order offence. The case involves a car sticker with a message saying, “Don’t be a c*nt”. It could be argued that the local police ignored the advice.

She has been prosecuted under Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 which makes it a crime to use threatening or abusive words or behaviour or to display such behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress.
It will be interesting to see how the Court resolves the charge. But this is part of a rising trend for people to be targeted by the police regarding messages on social media, t-shirts and on car stickers.
During Brexit many police offices advised motorists to remove badges which said “b*ll*cks to Brexit”. Whether they could have successfully prosecuted for such behaviour is a moot point. In 1978 in Nottingham, a record store manager was prosecuted for displaying the classic Sex Pistols album, “Never mind the b*ll*cks, here’s the Sex Pistols”. The case was successfully defended by John Mortimer QC who called a professor to show that the offending word was not actually offensive, bearing in mind its derivation from Old English.

Recently, a Manchester United supporter was warned by the Police about a sticker which read “On the first day God created United, then completely f*cked up and created City”. She agreed to inserting an asterisk, as have we.

There is a debate to be had about how far the police should get involved with jokes that may be in poor taste, and which would arguably not offend most people. There is a debate to be had as to where to draw the line with people who swear or say offensive things at football matches where traditionally swearing has been tolerated.

In the meantime, if you want to buy a car badge, or a t-shirt with a message. You should consider whether the message could be viewed as abusive and likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. The safest bet is probably to use a judicious asterisk!

www.chesterstandard.co.uk/news/24891025.chester-court-trial-woman-sweary-bumper-sticker/