‘Wanton’ cycling, swearing and putting golf balls could land you with a council fine

‘Wanton’ cycling, swearing and putting golf balls are all on growing list of activities that could land you with a council fine

  • Cycling in a ‘wanton or furious manner’ could see residents receive a fine 
  • The activity has joined a growing list of activities that some council are banning
  • Councils have listed such activities under a Public Spaces Protection Order 

Swearing, putting golf balls and cycling in a ‘wanton or furious manner’ have joined the growing list of activities councils are banning residents from carrying out.

The growing list, which are being classed as activities that fall under a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPOs), have now seen councils seize thousands of pounds from those who chose to ignore the ban, The Guardian has found.

Among the councils that were shown to be the most strict in its enforcement of the fines was Peterborough City Council who raised £270,000 from the start of the year to August from those whose cycling was deemed ‘unauthorised’. 

The city council, which collected £1,000 from the cyclists, was also able to collect more than £2,000 from those who littered on the city’s streets, data from the Guardian’s FOI request show.    

Cycling in a ‘wanton or furious manner’ has joined the growing list of activities councils are banning residents from carrying out under Public Spaces Protection Orders. (Stock image)

Meanwhile the London Borough of Barnet was able to collect £6,600 from enforcing bans on drinking on the street and from its strict code when it came to walking dogs while    

Elsewhere, following a city-wide ban on street drinking in 2013 and a ban on ball games and busking in certain areas, Nottingham city council, was able to collect around  £20,000 in a year from its fines.  

However the findings have been met with differing views, with some campaigners arguing that such bans infringe upon one’s civil liberties. 

A lawyer for the civil liberties campaign group Liberty, Lara ten Caten, told The Guardian: ‘PSPOs are blunt powers that councils are deploying with impunity, without regard to the wellbeing or rights of their residents.

Putting golf balls, swearing or drinking on the streets has also been banned by some council. (Stock image)

Putting golf balls, swearing or drinking on the streets has also been banned by some council. (Stock image)

‘If you become homeless, your local council should be trying to offer support and help, not victimise you. Councils need to stop using their powers to sweep problems under the carpet, and PSPOs should be scrapped.’

Public Space Protection Orders were created in 2014 under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and are aimed at dealing with nuisances in a particular area that could have a detrimental effect on the quality of life for those in the community.  

The findings come after the campaign group Manifesto Club called for Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) to be scrapped earlier this year.

In April, the group criticised the increase in fines enforced by councils after data from a Freedom of Information request revealed several councils including Derby, Newcastle, Poole, and Barking had issued fines for begging.

The figures also showed that Colchester council had fined four people for putting up an A-frame.   

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk