breach of the peace

plural breaches of the peace

1. lawThe legal offense of engaging in public behavior which is violent, rowdy, or disruptive.

   Short of high treason, the gravest form of breach of the peace known to British law is riot.

   1938 May 16, “Jamaica: Riot Act”, in Time

   2 more examples

   [T]he sheriff turned his eyes again. . . . "What have we here?" he cried; "two men boxing! Has there been a breach of the peace?"

   1823, James Fenimore Cooper, chapter 32, in The Pioneers

   Four men and a woman were arrested and charged with breaches of the peace after a series of scuffles in which protesters and police received minor injuries.

   2003 October 24, Aban Contractor et al., “Why a world leader used the servants' entrance”, in Sydney Morning Herald, retrieved 06 Oct 2012

2. broadlyAny public disturbance or disorderly behavior.

   Then, suddenly, the singing fell upon us and broke the silence into ruins. It was in the nature of a breach of the peace.

   1912, Irving Bacheller, chapter 14, in ‘Charge It’

   2 more examples

   Polly's suspicions were louder, her temper became uncertain; once or twice she forgot herself and used language calculated to cause a breach of the peace.

   1898, George Gissing, chapter 20, in The Town Traveller

   My rural ride continues, and on a gloriously balmy day in Worth Matravers the only obvious sign of a breach of the peace is a flock of geese lolloping out of the pond, on to the lane.

   2009 April 2, Jasper Gerard, “Bucolic Britain is stirring”, in The Telegraph, UK, retrieved 06 Oct 2012