Part 1: Public Order Section 1: Offence of locking on
Subsection (1) creates a new offence of "locking on". An offence is committed where a person attaches themselves to another person, to an object or to land, or an object to another object or to land. It is a requirement of the offence that the act causes or is capable of causing serious disruption to two or more individuals or an organisation in a place other than a dwelling and that the accused intends that to occur or is reckless as to whether it will occur.
	Subsection (2) provides for a reasonable excuse defence. The burden of proof is placed on the defendant as the facts as to whether they have a reasonable excuse will be within their knowledge. The prosecution will still need to prove all the elements of the offence to the criminal standard of proof, including that the act causes or is capable of causing serious disruption, and the defendant intended or was reckless as to whether their act would have this consequence. Although not explicitly set out, the standard to which the defendant will be required to prove the defence is the balance of probabilities.
	Subsections (3) and (4) provide for the maximum penalty for the offence, namely six months imprisonment (rising to 51 weeks once section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 has been brought into force), an unlimited fine, or to both.
	Subsection (5) defines what is meant by a "dwelling".