Part 3General
34Meaning of serious disruption
1
For the purposes of this Act, the cases in which individuals or an organisation may suffer serious disruption include, in particular, where the individuals or the organisation—
a
are by way of physical obstruction prevented, or hindered to more than a minor degree, from carrying out—
i
their day-to-day activities (including in particular the making of a journey),
ii
construction or maintenance works, or
iii
activities related to such works,
b
are prevented from making or receiving, or suffer a delay that is more than minor to the making or receiving of, a delivery of a time-sensitive product, or
c
are prevented from accessing, or suffer a disruption that is more than minor to the accessing of, any essential goods or any essential service.
2
In this section—
a
“time-sensitive product” means a product whose value or use to its consumers may be significantly reduced by a delay in the supply of the product to them;
b
a reference to accessing essential goods or essential services includes in particular a reference to accessing—
i
the supply of money, food, water, energy or fuel,
ii
a system of communication,
iii
a place of worship,
iv
a transport facility,
v
an educational institution, or
vi
a service relating to health.
35Extent, commencement and short title
1
This Act extends to England and Wales only, subject to subsection (2).
2
An amendment made by this Act has the same extent as the provision amended.
3
The following provisions come into force on the day on which this Act is passed—
a
sections 7 and 13, but only for the purposes of making regulations;
4
Section 16 comes into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.
5
Except as provided by subsections (3) and (4) this Act comes into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by regulations made by statutory instrument appoint.
6
Different days may be appointed for different purposes or areas.
7
The Secretary of State may by regulations made by statutory instrument make transitional, transitory or saving provision in connection with the coming into force of any provision of this Act.
8
The power to make regulations under subsection (7) includes power to make different provision for different purposes or areas.
9
This Act may be cited as the Public Order Act 2023.