Which section deals with riot, the most serious public order offence under the act, where there are 12 or more people and use unlawful violence and cause fear?

• A. S2 Public Order Act 1986
• B. S1 Public Order Act 1986
• C. S3 Public Order Act 1986
• D. S4 Public Order Act 1986

Answer: (A)

Riot is the most serious public order offence and is defined by a threshold of 12 or more people who, together, use or threaten unlawful violence for a common purpose and thereby cause fear. Because the scenario specifies twelve or more participants and the use of unlawful violence that creates fear, it matches the riot provision. The other offences involve smaller groups—violent disorder with three or more and affray with two or more—so they don’t fit this description. This is why the section dealing with riot is the correct reference here.