Strange alliances have been formed to call for a change in the law to allow people to insult each other without fear of prosecution.

Peter Tatchell dressed as a policeman to highlight the cause, and the actor Rowan Atkinson recalled his 30-year-old comedy sketches with apparent similarities to modern court cases.

Real-life arrests under Section 5 of the Public Order Act have followed someone barking at a dog, and another asking if a horse was gay. The rule was aimed at football hooligans using insulting words or behaviour.

Wrong to shout woof or call a horse gay?

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