2 days ago
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.
