Latest news with #PSPO
Telegraph
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Christians overturn ban on street preaching in London borough
A group of Christians have overturned a legal ban that stopped them from preaching on the street in a west London borough. In 2023, the London Borough of Hillingdon introduced a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) that banned religious groups from preaching with amplification, distributing leaflets and displaying Bible verses in Uxbridge town centre. The Kingsborough Centre, a Pentecostal church, claimed to have found out without warning at a prayer meeting that the majority of its outreach activities had been criminalised and it risked a fine of up to £1,000 if preaching continued. The Uxbridge church, which was once attended by the England football star Bukayo Saka, took the council to court, claiming the move was an attack on freedom of speech. Church leaders claimed they had been 'criminalised for loving our neighbour', without any consultation from civic chiefs. PSPO legislation, introduced as part of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 under the Lib Dem-Conservative coalition, is normally used to deal with anti-social behaviour such as drinking and drug abuse. On one occasion, church members said police officers approached them in Uxbridge and told them to hide signs displaying biblical messages such as Jesus Christ is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Leaflets entitled How Can I Know God? and What is Christianity: An Introduction to the Story of Jesus also faced censorship. 'The legislation was oppressive' Pastor Babatunde Balogan, who leads the Kingsborough Centre, told The Telegraph: 'As Christians who are committed to our faith, carrying out street evangelism is essential to manifesting our Christian beliefs. 'These rules threatened to not only prevent us from loving our community, as we are commanded by the Bible, but also to criminalise us for doing so. The legislation was oppressive and created a climate of fear. We are concerned at the damage that has already been done.' The 57-year-old added: 'We had no choice but to pursue a legal claim, and were deeply concerned how it would impact not only us but other churches across the borough.' In an application for a judicial review to the High Court, lawyers for the Kingsborough Centre said the council 'unlawfully' introduced the measures and that they breached articles 9, 10, and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protect fundamental rights related to belief, expression, and association. In December , lawyers acting for the council confirmed a U-turn and said: 'The PSPO restriction on distribution of leaflets does not apply where distribution is for a political or religious purpose or by or on behalf of a charity.' It is understood the council has also agreed to pay the church's legal costs, believed to be in the region of £20,000. 'A pillar of free speech and expression' Andrea Williams, the chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting the church, said: 'Christian open-air preaching has a long and respected history in the UK and is seen as a pillar of free speech and expression, whether passers-by agree with the message or not. 'The legislation published by the London Borough of Hillingdon represented something we had not seen before. Published under the radar, it demonstrated a clear direction of travel that would see sharing Christianity on the streets of Uxbridge become a criminal offence. 'If allowed to go unchallenged, this legislation would have set a chilling precedent for Christian outreach ministries across the UK. We would encourage churches and other outreach ministries to be vigilant and ready to report and challenge any similar legislation proposed by local authorities.' Lord Toby Young, the general secretary of the Free Speech Union, told The Telegraph that simply threatening a judicial review 'has been enough' to get councils to lift PSPO orders and added: 'It looks like Hillingdon had to learn the lesson the hard way.' Hillingdon Council said: 'It is utterly misleading to suggest there was a ban on 'sharing Christian beliefs' or any censorship on preaching. 'The conditions of the PSPO applied generally to everyone, did not target Christian preaching groups, and were introduced with the intention of addressing public concerns about the inappropriate use of amplification equipment and other concerns around leafletting and unauthorised pop-up displays within town centres. 'It was only intended this would tackle the disturbance to shoppers, residents and visitors caused by unlicensed or unpermitted events, including pop-ups, street trading and promotional stands. 'Once aware of the concerns raised by the church groups, the council worked in close communication with them to reach a resolution. This included meeting with the groups to explain the PSPO and how it works and the available licensing schemes to allow the groups to continue activities in town centres. 'The council proceeded to conduct an early review of the PSPO in light of the concerns of the church groups, running a consultation in early 2025, and subsequently discharged the order and introduced a new one in its place from 1 May 2025.'
ITV News
4 days ago
- ITV News
Council wants crackdown on antisocial behaviour including fines for swearing
A council in Kent is looking to crackdown on antisocial behaviour by seeking permission for an order which could land people with a fine for swearing. Thanet District Council is asking for approval for a Public Spaces Protection Order to address issues of antisocial behaviour in Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate. It's after the area recently faced issues including what police have described as 'underage street drinking and aggressive behaviour towards staff at shops and restaurants'. Orders proposed by the council include using foul or abusive language within the hearing or sight of another person, urinating, defecating or spitting in a public place and taking psychoactive substances such as nitrous oxide. Council documents state the restriction is not intended to penalise 'casual or non-directed swearing' and that in order to be enforceable, the behaviour must be both 'foul or abusive in nature and likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to a reasonable person'. In response to the application for an order, Chief Inspector Ian Swallow said in a letter: "We believe that the implementation of the PSPO is a necessary measure to reduce crime, disorder and ASB on the Thanet District, and to provide Officers and staff suitable powers to deal with such behaviour. "Failure to implement the PSPO would, in our opinion, be detrimental to Community Safety in the district." If approved, enforcement officers would have the authority to issue fines of £100 which would need to be paid within 28 days, but is reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. The PSPO would be in place for a period of three years. The council did seek to implement a public order last summer, however this was halted after a threat of a legal challenge. The order is due to be discussed at a cabinet meeting next Thursday.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Thanet District Council renews bid to issue fines for swearing
A council in Kent is renewing its efforts to introduce fines for people who are caught swearing in District Council last summer applied for permission to enforce a public space protection order (PSPO), which aims to target anti-social behaviour, including foul those plans were rejected amid a threat of a legal authority has reapplied for a PSPO to be introduced in areas including Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate, highlighting issues with swearing, drug use and alcohol. A PSPO makes it an offence to refuse to stop drinking alcohol in public, leave the area or use foul and abusive language if requested by a police or council officer.A fine of £100 can be a statement in support of the order, Ch Insp Ian Swallow said the implementation was a "necessary measure" to reduce crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in Thanet. 'Reasonable excuse' In a council document presented at a meeting, the authority said there was "ongoing issues with anti-social behaviour" in the said there was overwhelming support for a PSPO among those consulted on the matter, following changes to its previous some of those consulted raised concerns that the PSPO could be used against peaceful protestors, while others were worried that young people may be fined wrongly for gathering in a person said in the council papers: "Whilst I disagree with foul language, I think that it is part of life today in the UK. I don't really see that it could cause harassment, alarm or distress to the majority of people."In response to these concerns, the council highlighted that there was a defence of "reasonable excuse", and that the Human Rights Act remained District Council has been approached for a full statement.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- The Guardian
Why the flip is an English council trying to ban swearing?
Name: Swearing. Age: It never gets old. Appearance: Anywhere people experience surprise, anger, distress, mild incredulity or a shortage of adjectives, except in Thanet. Thanet? Where the @&^% is Thanet? It's a peninsula on the north-eastern tip of Kent, including the seaside towns of Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs. Why can't you swear there? Because Thanet district council doesn't want you to. I see. And how do they plan to @&^%ing stop me? With a public spaces protection order (PSPO). What's that? In effect, it's an Asbo with a geographic boundary, in this case allowing police to issue fines of £100 to anyone 'using foul or abusive language in such a manner that is loud and can be heard by others and cause either alarm or distress' in a designated area. I prize my right to free expression highly, but a hundred quid is a lot of money. It's only £60 if you pay within 14 days. When does this come in? It hasn't yet but, if the council passes the measure, the PSPO could be in place for three years. Has anyone tried to ban swearing before? Many times over many centuries. The Profane Oaths Act of 1745 introduced fines for the 'horrid, impious and execrable vices of profane cursing and swearing'. I meant more recently. Thanet district council tried it only last summer. What happened then? It ditched the idea after the Free Speech Union (FSU) threatened to make it the subject of a judicial review. And what's happened since? A rise in antisocial behaviour on the seafront has prompted the council to try again. I thought swearing was supposed to be good for you. It's true that studies have shown swearing can improve your mood, make you more impervious to pain and increase muscle performance during exercise. And yet Thanet wants to ban it. According to Ch Insp Ian Swallow of the Kent police, this PSPO is specifically designed to target abusive language that is threatening and escalates trouble. 'This is not a reference to casual swearing,' he said. I should effing hope not. Anyway, it's just the latest in a long line of attempts to curb foul language since PSPOs were first introduced in 2014. Did any of them work? Hard to say. Salford outlawed swearing in 2016, but dropped the measure in 2019. In that same period, 15 other councils used PSPOs to ban foul language. In some places, they received public support and, in others, people campaigned against it. Do say: 'One really ought to be articulate enough to cause people distress without swearing.' Don't say: 'A hundred pounds? Holy $£*!.'
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
English seaside hotspot to fine people £100 for SWEARING in ‘draconian' council crackdown
A POPULAR seaside hotspot has introduced new plans to issue £100 fines for swearing in a controversial council crackdown. Council papers from a meeting earlier this week have revealed that the authority hopes to enforce these controversial 6 A council has revealed plans to crackdown on swearing at popular seaside hotspot Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 6 Those caught could face a £100 fine Credit: Alamy Council crackdown on swearing and 'foul' language A report from Thanet District Council said: "All persons are prohibited from using foul or abusive language in such a manner that is loud and can be heard by others and cause either alarm or distress to any other person in any public place." This rule comes under the public space protection order (PSPO) - which the council is trying to reinstate after a failed attempt last year. The In addition to swearing, the order also bans anti-social groups, misuse of public space, urinating, deficating or spitting, legal psychoactive UK news Council responds to criticism This comes after Thanet District Council attempted to initiate this order last July. The authority declared the restrictions were to stop "foul or abusive language" from ruining the peaceful atmosphere of the streets. However, after the Free Speech Union (FSU) threatened to take legal action, the scheme was scrapped a month later. This order has been met with criticism, of which the new report acknowledges. Most read in The Sun The document explains that exceptions will be made if people have a "reasonable excuse" for breaking the rules. It states: "In response to these concerns, residents should be reassured that there are a number of protections within the order. "The first is that there is a defence of 'reasonable excuse' so that if someone appeared to be in breach of one of the restrictions but had a reasonable excuse, then no further action would be taken. "The second is that the Human Rights Act remains applicable and the rights afforded under Article 10 and 11, freedom of expression and assembly, remain relevant." The beautiful lake an hour from London with overwater bungalows like the Maldives Kent Police in favour of restrictions Chief Inspector Ian Swallow from In a letter of support, he wrote: "I can confirm that Kent Police support the implementation of a PSPO for the Thanet district and agree with the proposed prohibitions and requirements. "We believe that the implementation of the PSPO is a necessary measure to reduce crime, disorder, and ASB on the Thanet District, and to provide Officers and staff suitable powers to deal with such behaviour." He also explained that he sees a lot of this type of anti-social behaviour in the area, with police receiving reports of swearing and threatening behaviour on the 6 The ban will span across Margate, Ramsgate, and Broadstairs Credit: Alamy 6 This is the second time the council has attempted to impose these rules Credit: Alamy Mr Swallow claimed they receive multiple reports from businesses and councillors of street drinkers and young people abusing shopkeepers and members of the public trying to use the town centre amenities. He concluded: "This type of behaviour if left unchecked can escalate and result in violence or other disorder." Councillor addresses PSPO plans Councillor Heather Keen, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods at Thanet District council, said: "Antisocial behaviour can have a damaging effect on our local community. "We've sadly seen situations in our public spaces recently which have escalated and we know that local people, visitors and businesses want more to be done to tackle this." She explained that the PSPO aims to reduce this antisocial behaviour. Ms Keen also shared that the proposed restrictions are not only similar to the district's previous PSPO, but they also mirror those put in place across other parts of Kent. On the subject of free speech, she added: "To be clear, the restriction around language is not aimed at preventing free speech or swearing, but foul language that is such to cause fear, distress or alarm. "Evidence gathered by officers indicates that this is a significant issue impacting residents." Ms Keen also addressed the legal action which was threatened to be taken against the previous PSPO, saying they have since gathered further evidence which indicates that this restriction in proportionate. She said: "The public and stakeholder response has again indicated overwhelming support for all of the proposed restrictions. "As a result we will consider the proposed order when the Cabinet meets on Thursday 24 July to carefully consider the results of consultation and take a view. "Subject to approval, we will seek to implement this as soon as possible." Cabinet members are expected to discuss the revisited order in the council chamber on July 24. If approved, the PSPO will be in place for three years. The Sun has reached out to Thanet District Council for further comment. 6 The proposed ban comes after reports of antisocial behaviour in the area Credit: Alamy 6 If successful, the PSPO will remain in place for the next three years Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
