Cut the cursing: Town’s £1,000 swearing fines
THE good people of Rochdale are known for their down-to-earth plain speaking.
But in future their conversations had better not be too earthy – for councillors are planning to fine anyone caught swearing with fines of up to £1,000.
The proposed crackdown on antisocial behaviour in the former mill town’s centre would use powers to warn, move on or impose on-the-spot fines on anyone caught ‘using foul and abusive language’.
Other activities which could also be outlawed include begging, playing loud music, loudly revving car engines, street drinking, unauthorised charity collecting, and skateboarding.
In addition, under-18s could be barred from the town centre between 11pm and 6am.
The plans sparked a furious row last night, with human rights group Liberty branding it a ‘staggering misuse of power’ – only for the council leader to accuse them of meddling on behalf of a few ‘drunken ne’er-do-wells’.
Councillor Richard Farnell said: ‘With all the horrific human rights abuses happening around the world right now, I would have thought Liberty had bigger things to worry about.
‘We are clamping down on a small minority of antisocial ne’er-do-wells who drunkenly shout and swear and harangue shoppers in our town centre.’ The council, in Greater Manchester, is proposing to impose a public space protection order (PSPO) – a power given to councils in 2014 to ban activities that have a ‘detrimental effect on the quality of life’ of residents. Under
‘Clamping down on ne’er-do-wells’
the plans, currently out for consultation, enforcement teams would be authorised to impose £100 penalties to anyone breaking the rules, with the fine rising to £1,000 if offenders fail to fight it through the courts.
Local resident Julie Walmsley, 52, supported the plan, saying: ‘I don’t agree with swearing in public. It’s okay if you’re in your own home or with people you know, but if you swear in public and there’s children around, you should have the right to say “Tone it down a bit” which I would do.’
But Erica Dawson, 35, said: ‘I don’t know how they’re going to police it. It’s one thing effing and blinding all the time, but we all swear and I certainly wouldn’t appreciate being fined for it.’
Lara ten Caten, legal officer for Liberty, said: ‘These proposals would unjustifiably curb the rights and freedoms of Rochdale residents. The swearing ban is so vaguely defined it would prove impossible for anyone to know whether they were breaking the law or not.’
In 2015, Salford Council was accused of ‘breaching the right to freedom of expression’ by Liberty after introducing a similar swearing ban at Salford Quays.
Yesterday Salford Council said its PSPO, which was targeted at people risking their lives by jumping from bridges, had not so far resulted in a single fine.
However two youths were issued formal warnings for throwing lifesaving equipment into the dock water.
Last year libertarian group the Manifesto Club said 79 councils had imposed PSPOs banning activities ranging from drinking alcohol, letting dogs off leads and loitering near bus stops.
It branded the powers a ‘busybody’s charter’ and said councils should fully consult locals before imposing PSPOs.