Talk:Disturbing the peace

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[edit] International

Which jurisdiction does this apply to? The terminology suggests America, but the links suggest Britain or Canada. perfectblue 14:29, 28 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] NPOV

This material:

It also serves as one of many catchall laws that allows police officers to arrest someone who they dislike or don't want to deal with, but have no other basis for arresting. It's similar to the Contempt Of Court law where a judge can throw a person in jail because they don't like the persons tone of voice or attitude. Without these laws to hide behind, police officers and judges would have to deal with people the same way everyone else does, and that would not be fair. Once you obtain a position in law enforcement or a high position in the judicial system, you shouldn't have to put up with people if you don't want to.

was removed a little while back (first inserted in this edit, then wittled away). It's certainly not NPOV, but the current article is hardly NPOV either, since it has no coverage of this view. We need serious discussion of the view that disturbing the peace (and disorderly conduct) are bogus crimes used by the state to oppress people (without, of course, stating that the view is true or false).

Not that I'm prepared to write it myself now. (If I were, then I'd just do it.) But I want to put the need out there, hoping that somebody else may know what to say. —Toby Bartels 23:02, 17 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Redirect

There is no England and Wales crime of "disturbing the peace". "Breach of the peace" is not a crime and has a separate (not very good) article. I have flagged this article as lacking context and as unreferenced.Cutler (talk) 12:38, 23 January 2008 (UTC)

Encyclopaedia Britannica says "also called Breach Of The Peace" (capitalisation in EB!!) and searching EB on breach of the peace gives disturbing the peace as the top result. EB defines three meanings:

1. Crime in general;

2. Crimes that would be known in England as public order offences, e.g. riot, affray, ...;

3. Breach of the peace.

As far as I can see, this is a U.S. term [1]. Should this be redirected to breach of the peace?Cutler (talk) 12:53, 23 January 2008 (UTC)