Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of public order crimes?

The choice highlighting "involving direct harm to individuals" is not a characteristic of public order crimes. Public order crimes are typically offenses that violate societal norms and disrupt public peace, often without a direct victim. These crimes are more focused on behaviors that the society views as immoral or disruptive rather than direct harm to individual persons. For instance, drug offenses, disorderly conduct, and acts perceived as immoral are all examples of public order crimes as they challenge social order and are considered offenses against the state or community rather than against an individual.

In contrast, crimes that involve direct harm to individuals generally fall under violent or personal crimes, such as assault or theft, where there is a clear victim and tangible impact on a person's wellbeing. This distinction is essential in understanding how public order crimes function within the broader scope of criminal law.