The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
CHILDREN THREATENED WITH FINES
Youngsters told they were ‘too loud’ while campaigning for action on climate change
Children protesting about climate change claimed they were threatened with £80 fines.
Pupils as young as Year 8 were allegedly told by an enforcement officer from Kingdom Services Group last Friday morning that their protest was “anti-social behaviour” and that they could be given tickets if they did not stop.
Video footage sent to the Peterborough Telegraph shows a Kingdom officer describing the protest as “too loud”. The youngsters told the PT the threat of the fine was removed once they made it clear their protest had been sanctioned.
Green Party city councillor Julie Howell, who witnessed the incident, said: “He was threatening to fine them if they did not stop. They are children. It was heavy handed and he misinterpreted the situation.”
Kingdom is contracted by Peterborough City Council to patrol areas covered by Public Space Protection Orders, including one in the city centre.
A council spokesperson said the authority believed there had been a “misunderstanding,” with the protest “mistakenly perceived to be anti-social behaviour”.
He added: “We have since spoke to Kingdom about their handling of this incident and have reminded enforcement officers of their powers and responsibilities.”
A Kingdom spokesman said: “There couldn’t have been an intention to issue (a fine) as the (body-worn) camera wasn’t switched on as per standard operating procedure.”
The youngsters were calling for action locally and nationally as part of a national day of action.