Latest news with #HeatherKeen
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Brickbat: I Swear
Thanet District Council in England is reviving plans to fine individuals up to £100 ($134) for swearing in public spaces, following an attempt last year that was abandoned due to a threatened legal challenge. The proposed Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) would cover towns like Margate, Ramsgate, and Broadstairs. It aims to curb certain antisocial "activities," including "the use of foul or abusive language within the hearing or sight of any other person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby," with the council citing rising tensions and police struggles to maintain order. Councilor Heather Keen argues the measure "is not aimed at preventing free speech or swearing, but foul language that is such to cause fear, distress or alarm," but critics have expressed concern over potential free speech violations. The post Brickbat: I Swear appeared first on Solve the daily Crossword
The Sun
5 days ago
- The Sun
Yobs to be fined £100 after council crackdown on swearing in public
YOBS swearing in public can be fined £100 after a council introduced a law to stop 'foul language'. They are also banned from 'excreting bodily fluid', boozing in public and taking legal highs. 1 Thanet council in Kent said the rules apply to all public spaces in Margate, Ramsgate, Birchington-on-Sea and Broadstairs. A bid to bring in the restrictions last summer was halted after the Free Speech Union threatened to take legal action. On Thursday councillors approved the public space protection order. A council spokesman said: 'There was strong support, with a majority of respondents indicating agreement.' Cllr Heather Keen said: 'We've listened and these measures are designed to reassure residents and set clear expectations around acceptable public behaviour in Thanet. "It crucially provides us with the tools to intervene earlier which we hope will successfully prevent situations from escalating. "The overwhelming support from local people, businesses and the police during the consultation process is evidence that these measures are welcomed. "Every year our residents tell us feeling safe is a top priority. "I'm proud to say that we've listened and hope this serves as a reminder that antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated in Thanet."
ITV News
5 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Thanet Council threatens £100 fines for swearing in public after beach fights and town disorder
ITV Meridian's Tony Green reports from Ramsgate Fines of £100 for swearing in public are among measures that have been approved by a council in Kent as it attempts to crack down on public disorder. It follows a series of beach brawls and attacks on Thanet town centre. Councillors at Thanet Council have now approved a PSPO - a Public Spaces Protection Order. But the authority is being accused of exceeding its powers with the threatened fines for bad language, and critics include Kent's Police and Crime Commissioner. However, the leader of the council has called recent reporting on the order 'a mountain of nonsense' as they backed new plans to protect public spaces. At a cabinet meeting in Margate on Thursday evening, councillors complained of 'misleading' reporting about the new order. Labour councillor Heather Keen said: 'The importance of the PSPO, which has seven behaviours identified, has been overshadowed by the portrayal that Thanet is banning swearing. 'This is a disingenuous, inaccurate headline designed to grab attention. Let me be clear, Thanet is not banning swearing or preventing free speech. 'The reference to foul and abusive language only applies if it is causing harassment, alarm or distress to another person – not if it is casual swearing.' Cllr John Davis, Opposition leader, Thanet District Council (Con) An order was first brought in by Thanet in 2018, and similar orders exist in Canterbury and Dartford as well as elsewhere in the country, the meeting heard. Last summer, when the council attempted to renew and reword their PSPO, the proposal was rejected amid a threat of a legal challenge. They said that more work has been undertaken to ensure this is something their residents want. Within the report, the authors touch on concerns raised by Thanet residents, who said the current wording was too broad and may lead to young people and people from minority backgrounds being unfairly moved on or fined. There was also a concern that 'causing distress to others' could be used to target peaceful protests. Cllr Heather Keen, Cabinet Member for Communities at Thanet District Council, said: 'We've listened, and these measures are designed to reassure residents and set clear expectations around acceptable public behaviour in Thanet. "It crucially provides us with the tools to intervene earlier which we hope will successfully prevent situations from escalating. "The overwhelming support from local people, businesses and the police during the consultation process is evidence that these measures are welcomed. "Every year our residents tell us feeling safe is a top priority. "I'm proud to say that we've listened and hope this serves as a reminder that antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated in Thanet.'
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Brits could be slapped with £100 fine for 'foul language' in these four towns
A council in the southeast has ruled to implement an order that could see fines handed out for 'foul' language in four popular seaside towns - in a bid to help residents feel safe Brits could face fines for up to £100 for using abusive language in four seaside towns in an attempt to crack down on anti-social behaviour. This week, plans have been approved for Thanet District Council in Kent to enforce a new public space protection order (PSPO) in Birchington, Margate, Ramsgate, and Broadstairs. Under the new rules, it will be an offence to refuse to stop using certain language if asked to do so by an officer. The language that is set to be restricted by the order is described as "foul or abusive language [used] in a manner likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress to a person within hearing or sight, judged by the standards of a 'reasonable person'." The council originally tried to introduce the order in July of last year, but the plans never went ahead after it faced the threat of a legal challenge from The Free Speech Union, a campaign group. A spokesperson said: "The Proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) was approved at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday 24 July 2025. The PSPO was put forward with the aim of reducing antisocial behaviour in Thanet's main towns, and is similar to previous PSPOs in place between 2018 and 2024. "They mirror the same restrictions in place across many other districts and boroughs, including in other parts of Kent in line with powers under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.' They said that there was 'strong support' for the proposals in response to the public consultation. The order will also restrict gathering in anti-social groups, misusing public places, excreting bodily fluids, consuming alcohol, consuming legal psychoactive substances, and causing humiliation or degradation. In Birchington, Margate, Ramsgate, and Broadstairs, there will be signs put up explaining the rules of the order. If someone is found to be breaking the rules, they will be spoken to by enforcement officers - but if the behaviour continues, they could be slapped with a fine of up to £100. At a cabinet meeting on Thursday, councillors said that claims from the media that the order would be a blanket ban on swearing were 'a mountain of nonsense'. Heather Keen, the Labour councillor, said these claims were "disingenuous, inaccurate and designed to grab attention". She confirmed that the order did not apply to 'casual swearing', the BBC reported. Commenting on the order's approval, Keen said: "We've listened and these measures are designed to reassure residents and set clear expectations around acceptable public behaviour in Thanet.' She explained that the order will provide authorities with 'the tools to intervene earlier which we hope will successfully prevent situations from escalating'. Keen added: "The overwhelming support from local people, businesses and the police during the consultation process is evidence that these measures are welcomed. Every year our residents tell us feeling safe is a top priority.'
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Thanet District Council passes abusive language crackdown order
Thanet District Council (TDC) has passed a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour in the of the order, which also covers tourist hotspots such as Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs, makes it a fineable offence not to refrain from using foul and abusive language if requested by police or a council a cabinet meeting in Margate on Thursday, councillors blasted recent media reports that the authority was trying to enforce a blanket swearing ban, calling them "a mountain of nonsense".Labour councillor Heather Keen called the reports "disingenuous, inaccurate and designed to grab attention". "Let me be clear, Thanet is not banning swearing or preventing free speech," she said."The reference to foul and abusive language only applies if it is causing harassment, alarm or distress to another person - not if it is casual swearing."It was also stressed during the meeting that such a PSPO is not new, one having existed in the area since is it unique, with similar orders existing in places like Canterbury and Dartford, along with other parts of the country, the meeting in August 2024 TDC's attempts to renew and reword their PSPO was met with threat of a legal challenge from campaign group The Free Speech Union, which cited concerns about potential human rights then put the proposed amendments up for public consultation, and Keen described the measures of the new order as having received "overwhelming support" from local people and businesses. "Every year our residents tell us feeling safe is a top priority and we've listened to that," she said.A TDC spokesperson added: "The PSPO will become into force following the required legal notice period and signs will be displayed at key locations to explain the rules."Enforcement officers will engage with anyone found to be committing antisocial behaviour in the first instance, with fines issued only if the behaviour continues."
