MEGAPHONE LAW UK: Using a loud hailer speaker in a public place is not against the law per se (by or in itself).

But, depending where you are, and what you say, you could get into trouble with police and policing work.

In some cases you could get cited for disorderly conduct or violating noise ordinances. It would depend on how loud your megaphone setup is.

Using a megaphone in a vehicle could also cite driving without due care and attention. Some severe situations may also get classed as assault.

Assault I hear you say! Yes, in fact some individuals got charged with assault for using a PA system in a public place. Someone else’s earbuds were the victim of the ‘attack’ but yes – it happened.

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Public Speaking: Megaphone

There is no specific offence in using a public megaphone in a public place. But, using a loud hailer speaker on private land would require the permission of the landowner as a rule.

In fact, people use megaphones in the United Kingdom during election campaigns. The candidate is usually in a car, but they can still deliver their speech with ease and everybody can hear it.

But, yelling through a megaphone to people on the streets is not the rule of thumb in the United Kingdom. You are unlikely to get arrested but people on the streets may get annoyed with you.

Note: The circumstances and the speech content mean the individual may be committing an offence. See the legislation on Breach of the Peace and breach of the Public Order Act 1986.

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Breach of the Peace

Breach of the peace is a crime at common law constituted by one or more persons. Causing a breach of the peace means you are acting in a riotous or disorderly manner.

Such conduct is often severe enough to cause alarm to ordinary people and threaten serious disturbance to the community and property.

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Protests and Public Marches

Are you planning on organising a march, a rally, or a demonstration? If so, this section explains when you need to let the police know beforehand – and when you don’t.

According to the laws in the United Kingdom, as an event organiser you must notify the police in writing at least six (6) days before a public march. The police will need to know:

• The date and the time of the planned march.
• The exact route that the walk will follow.
• The names and the addresses of the march organisers.

Even so, police rules and regulations mean they can:

• Restrict (limit) or change the route of the march.
• Set out others conditions attached to the route march.

In some cases, police forces also have the authority to:

• Place a limit on the amount of people who can attend.
• Place limits on how long the rally lasts.
• Change its location.
• Stop a sit-down protest (if it is blocking road traffic or public walkways).

Note: You must tell the police without delay (as soon as possible) if you arrange a march at short notice.

Demonstrations Not Involving a March

There is no need to notify the police if there will be no march organised as part of this type of event or protest.

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Public Order Act 1986

1. A person who uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or displays any written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting, is guilty of an offence if:
   1. He intends thereby to stir up racial hatred, or
   2. Having regard to all the circumstances racial hatred is likely to be stirred up thereby.

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Section 54 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982

• So as to give any other person reasonable cause for annoyance and fails to desist on being required to do so by a constable in uniform, shall be guilty of an offence.
• Refer to the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) for further clarification.

Note: “Operating other sound producing device” would include a megaphone or personal loudspeaker. Thus, if members of the public make a complaint the individual would have to stop if required to do so by a constable in uniform.

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