The article makes it clear that people will be cited for their actions, not their thoughts.
This is nothing more than an appearance ticket for minor crimes. Would you rather people be held in cells until their (delayed) court appearance?
(Mind you, I'm no fan of big-brotherish British government, but there is nothing objectionable in this plan.)
Yet another move by the UK to undermine the presumption of innocence. Easy & cheap to plead guilty, a right royal pain in the @$$ to fight a charge- not unlike traffic tickets, where it's cheaper to pay the fine than to take a day off work to fight it. It'll be a major cash cow and enforcement will be like traffic enforcement, where the pattern of charges laid will have everything to do with revenue potential and nothing to do with public safety.
Causing "alarm or distress", "wasting police time". Gimme A Break. Snivel rights in action.
Boonie Rat
MACV SOCOM, PhuBai/Hue '65-'66
Sounds to me like Saudi Arabia's morality police in a different wrapper. Maybe they should be called "Britawa"