Swearing banned by one in five councils in England and Wales, finds report on ‘busybody’ fines
Summary
A report found that one in five local councils in England and Wales have banned swearing using Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs), which were originally meant to stop serious anti-social behavior. These orders can impose many new rules and fines without public approval, sometimes punishing everyday actions like shouting, picking up stones, or busking.Key Facts
- 20% of local councils now ban swearing, up from 5% in 2022.
- PSPOs allow councils to ban activities judged to harm quality of life, with over 1,000 new orders created.
- Councils can put these orders in place without full council approval or public consultation.
- In 2025, there were 25,000 fines issued under PSPOs, mostly by private companies paid per fine.
- Some councils ban activities like shouting, picking up stones, foraging, or feeding birds.
- A busker was fined despite public enjoyment, and political campaigning can require council permission that is hard to get.
- The government rejected a proposal to stop profit-based fining but agreed to update guidance.
- Some bans use vague rules about causing "annoyance," giving officers wide discretion to decide on penalties.
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