12Prohibited language and behaviour

### 12 Prohibited language and behaviour > *\[Section 12 Subsection (1) amended by No. 55 of 1965, s. 5 \]**\[Section 12 Subsection (1) amended by No. 13 of 1987, s. 5 and Sched. 1 \]**\[Section 12 Subsection (1) amended by No. 44 of 1990, s. 225 and Sched. 3 \]* > > > (1)  *\[Section 12 Subsection (1) amended by No. 32 of 1963, s. 5 \]*A person shall not, in any public place, or within the hearing of any person in that place – > > > > > > (a) curse or swear; > > > > > > > (b) sing any profane or obscene song; > > > > > > > (c) [*\[Section 12 Subsection (1) amended by No. 27 of 2024, s. 17, Applied:13 Dec 2024\]*](/view/html/inforce/2024-12-13/act-2024-027#GS17@EN) use any profane, indecent, obscene or offensive language; or > > > > > > > (d) [*\[Section 12 Subsection (1) amended by No. 15 of 2014, s. 10, Applied:19 Dec 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-12-19/act-2014-015#GS10@EN) use any threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour calculated to provoke a breach of the peace or whereby a breach of the peace may be occasioned. > > > (1A)  *\[Section 12 Subsection (1A) inserted by No. 13 of 1987, s. 5 and Sched. 1 \]*A person who contravenes a provision of [subsection (1)](#GS12@Gs1@EN) is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding 3 penalty units or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months. > > > (2)  *\[Section 12 Subsection (2) added by No. 32 of 1963, s. 5 \]*A person convicted in respect of an offence under this section committed within 6 months after he has been convicted of that or any other offence thereunder is liable to double the penalty prescribed in [subsection (1)](#GS12@Gs1@EN) in respect of the offence in respect of which he is so convicted.