Council wants crackdown on antisocial behaviour including fines for swearing
Thanet District Council is asking for approval for a Public Spaces Protection Order to address issues of antisocial behaviour in Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate.
It's after the area recently faced issues including what police have described as 'underage street drinking and aggressive behaviour towards staff at shops and restaurants'.
Orders proposed by the council include using foul or abusive language within the hearing or sight of another person, urinating, defecating or spitting in a public place and taking psychoactive substances such as nitrous oxide.
Council documents state the restriction is not intended to penalise 'casual or non-directed swearing' and that in order to be enforceable, the behaviour must be both 'foul or abusive in nature and likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to a reasonable person'.
In response to the application for an order, Chief Inspector Ian Swallow said in a letter: "We believe that the implementation of the PSPO is a necessary measure to reduce crime, disorder and ASB on the Thanet District, and to provide Officers and staff suitable powers to deal with such behaviour.
"Failure to implement the PSPO would, in our opinion, be detrimental to Community Safety in the district."
If approved, enforcement officers would have the authority to issue fines of £100 which would need to be paid within 28 days, but is reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
The PSPO would be in place for a period of three years.
The council did seek to implement a public order last summer, however this was halted after a threat of a legal challenge.
The order is due to be discussed at a cabinet meeting next Thursday.
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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Is THIS Britain's strictest seaside council? Popular towns hit with 'unfair' clampdown after beach brawls... but locals say 'it's not our fault'
Locals at one of Britain's most popular seaside towns are furious at being slapped with an 'insane' and 'patronising' crackdown on swearing after a series of violent incidents. Broadstairs in Kent has become a 'warzone' after a string of brawls have impacted the reputation of the 'beautiful' town. Visitor numbers have plummeted and business is down this summer, according to locals and businesses. In response, Thanet District Council is looking at bringing in a 'bizarre' scheme which sees those that use foul language get fined £100 in an effort to curb anti-social behaviour which has seen an Italian restaurant attacked and a huge beach fight. The Thanet council ban would not just affect Broadstairs but also the neighbouring towns of Ramsgate and Margate which have also suffered from anti-social behaviour this year. But furious residents and tourists believe they are being unfairly blamed for the rise in violence and antisocial behaviour. The most shocking examples of violence include a huge fight on the beach last month which saw hundreds of youths brawl in the open air. Terrifying footage shows the group surround two males who were throwing punches and slaps at each other on a walkaway behind a row of beach huts. The brawl then spilled out onto sand where a baying mob screamed and seemed to urged the pair to carry on fighting. Horrified children and families ran for cover. Another serious incident that has paralysed the close knit community this summer saw a gang of 30 youths surround and target a family-run Italian restaurant in the town. They stormed towards staff at Sardinia, who had helped protect a youth who had been the victim of an assault outside the restaurant. The gang throw a series of chairs at the building before a staff member chases one youth off. In response, the council is looking to introduce fines for those caught swearing. Avdi Kotarja, 39, manager of the restaurant, told Mail Online: 'It was awful. I was there that night, it was horrific. We were helping a guy who was getting attacked and stopped him from more pain and more beatings. 'That's how it all happened. They then came for us. It was terrifying. 'Some of the youths there that night who were involved walk around town as if nothing happened. 'Our customers are brilliant and we love Broadstairs. But there is certainly an issue here. 'I don't see how banning swearing will have any impact. It's bigger than that.'. Patrick Deane, 76, has lived in the town all his life, and said he is worried about going out at night. The retired builder said: 'It's a warzone. I don't feel safe. We don't see police but do have plenty of these private security people. The town has an edge to it as if it could kick off at any moment. I'm scared at night here. 'A lot of my friends feel the same. What is banning swearing going to do? That will end up targeting the wrong people? The people carrying out this violence are serious. They need a proper punishment. 'Not a fine for swearing. The plan is frankly insulting to those people who live and work here or those that have gone through this.' Fellow residents John Corbett, 71, and Caroline Miners, 82, said the town had become 'lost to the gangs' and 'plagued by yobs.' Mr Corbett, who has lived there for 20 years, said: 'It's so sad. I want Broadstairs to go back to what it was. A beautiful and pleasant place where people could relax and people played on the beach. Now people are scared. 'We get these private security people wandering around. You don't see many police. People are scared. 'It's all fueled by alcohol which is drank on the streets and drugs. The locals are great. We just want a nice time. It's caused by youths, some who live here and some from London. 'They think it's just a big play area to them.' Caroline added: 'I've lived here 50 years and it's as bad as it has ever been. The authorities do not do anything worthwhile. 'Banning swearing is a joke. I genuinely thought people were having a laugh. We're talking about youths terrorising restaurants, family businesses, having huge organised fights and intimidating people. 'It's all fuelled by drinking. They've ruined beach huts which were beautiful. They're just destroying the area. People are staying away. 'This is further down the line and more serious than just some swearing. The people who suggested that are very naive.' Despite the presence of council security who MailOnline saw prowling the promenade, Carole wanted to see more police. She said: 'They arrive to react. But we don't see them on patrol. That's what we need.' Shop keeper Adrian Poulter, 56, said he had experienced 'numerous' problems with youths in recent months. He said: 'Shoplifting this year has become a big issue. It never has before. I've had to ban groups in my shop. They just flood in and steal a lot of items and run off. It's terrible. 'I've had more shoplifting this year than in the last 10 years of being here. I don't think they're all local. They often film it and no doubt put it on social media. 'There is absolutely no respect. Bans on swearing will not work, they'll just laugh. It's an insane plan. The town is lost. I know businesses which have closed and people who have moved and won't come back. It's very sad.' Liz and Graham Sage were visiting Broadstairs on Friday lunchtime from nearby Whitstable. They visited the town the evening after the violence erupted at Sardinia. Graham, 76, said: 'There was absolutely at atmosphere that evening we visited. Everyone was on an edge and that has not gone away. If anything, it has increased. 'It's youths from the town and those from outside. We have visited today in the day, I'm not sure we would want to come at night.' Liz added: 'It's a huge shame. People work so hard around here. It's a beautiful area. I don't know what they will do to stop it. 'But some sort of swearing ban won't work. That would just become a huge joke. It's patronising. You've got private security people. 'But everyone wants more police.' Councillor Heather Keen, Cabinet Member for Community said: 'Antisocial behaviour can have a damaging effect on our local community. We've sadly seen situations in our public spaces recently which have escalated and we know that local people, visitors and businesses want more to be done to tackle this. 'The proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) aims to reduce antisocial behaviour and provide the vital tools which are needed to intervene. Without this, the ability of the police to respond to crime and disorder is impacted and crime, in the form of antisocial behaviour, increases. 'The specific behaviours referred to within the orders – including the reference to foul and abusive language – are all similar to the district's previous PSPO which was in place between 2018 and 2024. They mirror the same restrictions in place across many other districts and boroughs, including in other parts of Kent and the south east. 'To be clear, the restriction around language is not aimed at preventing free speech or swearing. Specifically the PSPO relates to 'using foul or abusive language within the hearing or sight of another person who is likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress by this'. This particular restriction is being proposed to address a significant issue in the areas covered by the PSPO. Evidence to support this has been provided by police, Ward Councillors and residents as well as business owners. 'The enforcement of this measure is not subjective. It involves an objective test and any antisocial behaviour will be judged against the impact on the reasonable person. 'We sought to implement a PSPO in similar terms to the one that it is currently proposed, in the summer of last year. Following a threat of legal challenge to that process, we decided to gather further evidence which indicates that the introduction of a restriction to address this issue is proportionate. We have also carried out a comprehensive consultation. The public and stakeholder response has again indicated overwhelming support for all of the proposed restrictions. 'As a result we will consider the proposed order when the Cabinet meets on Thursday 24 July to carefully consider the results of consultation and take a view. Subject to approval, we will seek to implement this as soon as possible.' Superintendent Dan Carter of Kent Police, said: 'The decision to continue the dispersal orders in Thanet has been made to ensure that our coastline remains a safe place, and they are one of the several tools we're using to deal swiftly with antisocial behaviour as we move further into summer 'Orders remain in constant review and will be utilised as needed. I am continually grateful to residents and businesses for their support and feedback. By working closely with the community to identify their concerns, it means we can tackle those issues head on. 'I would also urge parents to speak to their children about the impact that antisocial behaviour can have on others. Antisocial behaviour can have serious consequences not only for victims, but for young people themselves, who may face police action or prosecution.'
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Our benefits street is like a slum… people flog sex at all hours & I strung up wall of dead rats to deter druggies
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DODGING a squashed rat, a young man and woman race each other on mobility scooters, while the distinctive smell of weed momentarily interrupts the putrid stench of decaying rubbish. Meanwhile mountains of black bin liners are strewn across streets, many of which spew their contents onto the pavements, while piles of mattresses, fridge freezers and sofas congregate in back alleys. 17 Eastwood, an area of Rotherham in South Yorkshire, has been branded 'lawless' by desperate locals Credit: Glen Minikin 17 The issue of fly-tipped rubbish is so acute it's causing the rat population to soar Credit: Glen Minikin 17 One angry resident, granddad-of-11 Dave Russell, created a 'Wall of Rats' with some of his kills to demonstrate the scale of the problem to the council Credit: Glen Minikin This is Eastwood, an area of Rotherham in South Yorkshire branded 'lawless' by desperate locals, some of whom claim it's become a total no-go area at night due to escalating issues with anti-social behaviour, drugs and loud parties. The problem is so bad that a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) issued by the council in 2019 has now been extended to 2028 - with demands that residents refrain from street drinking and partying until the small hours, dumping rubbish on the streets, and bring in their wheelie bins to curb the ever-expanding rodent population. Locals say they have been battling for months to keep the vermin under control - with one desperate man stringing up a line of 20 carcasses on a fence to show the council the harrowing extent of the problem. Father-of-two Andrew Wilshaw, 45, tells The Sun when we visit: 'This used to be a great area but in the past 10 years it has gone downhill before my eyes. 'I am doing my best to help it. We didn't have much but we had standards. Now it's more like a third world country.' The main streets covered by the PSPO are Fitwilliam Road, the Doncaster Road corridor, Eldon Road and the stretch up to the Mushroom roundabout. South Yorkshire Police records showed anti-social behaviour incidents in the area had "increased steadily" since the order was last renewed, with 568 reports between 2021-2024. A total of 60 Fixed Penalty Notices have been issued since the order was introduced in 2019 - though we witnessed several violations on our visit alone. Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council does try to keep up with demand by making clear-up trips six days a week - but still the rubbish piles up. Andrew, who works in security, now patrols the area every Monday morning taking photos documenting the damage from the weekend in an attempt to help clean up his community. I live in UK's saddest council estate with 'carpet' of 800 vodka bottles… it makes Shameless look like The Borrowers He set up the Facebook group How Clean in Eastwood, which has 800 members. Andrew - who took us around the areas in our car fearing we'd be a target if we walked around with expensive camera equipment - says: 'I started posting the sights and rubbish I saw on my own Facebook page but it blew up, so I set up the dedicated page around a year ago. 'The idea is that we shame the council into action, because the PSPOs they have in place do nothing. 'A lot of people will get me to post their photos for them because they're too scared of reprisals to do it themselves. 'All the people who used to care have had enough and moved out. Most of those left living in this mayhem are the elderly. It's awful. 'I moved in with my ill parents a bit further up the road around 10 years ago and managed to sell my house in the thick of the problem area. 'I thank God that happened because I wouldn't get anything for it now.' 'Wall of Rats' 17 Father-of-two Andrew Wilshaw set up the Facebook group How Clean in Eastwood, which has 800 members, to try to shame the council into action Credit: Glen Minikin 17 Dave has started laying down poison, and has gone through two tubs in the past three months Credit: Glen Minikin 17 Dave hung up a string of rodent carcasses outside his house Credit: Glen Minikin 17 Some residents say they are too scared to let their kids play outside because there are so many rats and rodent faeces Credit: Glen Minikin Petty crime and the brazen dumping of rubbish - which is fuelling a surging population of rodents - is blighting the lives of many Eastwood residents we speak to. Granddad-of-11 Dave Russell, 74, created a 'Wall of Rats' with some of his kills. He explains: 'The rats used to be lined all across but the birds have been eating them. 'I did it to show the council how bad it is for us. This is what we live with. 'It also stops the local druggies coming here and using it as a place to hang about. 'My garden fence is topped with barbed wire to stop burglars after our shed was broken into a few years back. We also have CCTV. The rats used to be lined all across but the birds have been eating them. I did it to show the council how bad it is for us. This is what we live with Dave Russell 'You can't have your back door open for fear you'll get a rat in your house. You see them darting across your garden all the time. 'I catch three or four every day. I used to leave live traps and then kill them by drowning them - the snapper traps leave a bit of a mess. 'I have started laying down poison, it's £9 for a pack of 20 - in the past three months I've used two tubs. But still we have so many, it does nothing to keep the numbers down. 'Nobody should have to live like this, we are constantly bleaching and cleaning because rats are full of disease.' Father-of-one Mohammed Khan, 34, has had to replace his Mitsubishi Outlander 4x4 car three times after rats got inside and chewed wires. He says: 'They're rampant. I'd say I've spent around £25- £30,000 on cars over the last couple of years. 'Once they've got in and eaten the foam that's it, your car is done for. 'I spend around £80 a month on pest control to try and make my garden safe for my child but really you can't let your kid play outside in this. 'It's far too dangerous. Even if you don't see a rat, there is poo left behind.' 'Lawless' 17 Resident Kaz Gunn refuses to move from the estate even though she's had to get her door replaced twice from thugs constantly bashing it Credit: Glen Minikin 17 Petty crime and the brazen dumping of rubbish - which is fuelling a surging population of rodents - is blighting the lives of many Eastwood residents we speak to Credit: Glen Minikin 17 The council does extra clean-up operations in the area, but frustrated locals say it doesn't seem to make much difference Credit: Glen Minikin 17 Kaz says some residents have mobility scooters even though they're not disabled Credit: Glen Minikin Resident Kaz Gunn, 55, refuses to move from the estate even though she's had to get her door replaced twice from thugs constantly bashing it. Kaz, who suffers with osteoporosis, says: 'I always speak out and take photos of people throwing rubbish, but then I make myself a target. 'Anybody who passes my door will always make sure to give it a good thud on their way by. It's quite alarming and I am scared, but I refuse to budge. 'I may be small and skinny but I won't take any crap. 'To make it even worse the whole place floods when we get plenty of rain because the drains are all blocked. 'We are living in a hellhole. It's lawless, the number of rats is immense, the streets are covered with them at night, and the parties that go on until 6am on a weekend are a nightmare. We are living in a hellhole. It's lawless, the number of rats is immense, the streets are covered with them at night, and the parties that go on until 6am on a weekend are a nightmare Kaz Gunn 'The noise here is awful. We get noise abatement people out to take measurements every so often but nothing is ever done about it. 'It's also mobility scooter central. I'd love to have a mobility scooter but can't get one for love nor money, but loads of people have them round here.' Kaz points out a woman zipping by holding a bag of shopping in one hand while gripping the handlebar and a phone pressed to her ear in her other. 'She's not disabled,' Kaz says. 'She's a mum-of-two who lives over there. 'You also get people coming to your door trying to sell you stuff. I've had somebody try and sell my cat to me before, then a fella started breeding kittens to get money so now you see more cats than ever. 'Another fella was trying to sell a wheelie bin which he'd obviously nicked from somebody else's house. 'As much as I'm terrified, I also have a lot of friends here who look out for me. I have CCTV to protect me.' 'Heartbreaking' 17 Though pushchairs are a regular feature outside the dishevelled terraced houses, Andrew tells us they are primarily used to transport waste Credit: Glen Minikin 17 Andrew says you can't have anything in your garden or it will get nicked Credit: Glen Minikin Bar the odd corner shop and a new play park for kids, there is not much to do in the PSPO catchment, with cafes and pubs long gone. Despite it being the school summer holidays, the streets are void of children playing. Though pushchairs are a regular feature outside the dishevelled terraced houses, Andrew tells us they are primarily used to transport waste. 'You see so many prams outside the houses - they look innocent enough but they're actually for the people to pile high with rubbish and take it to be dumped. It's crazy,' he says. 'There are a couple of fellas around here who have vans and operate as the local skip. They take loads of rubbish and dump it. 'We know who these people are yet nothing is done. 'Somebody set fire to some rubbish piled outside an old fella's home just last week and it killed all 90 of his pigeons. Somebody set fire to some rubbish piled outside an old fella's home just last week and it killed all 90 of his pigeons Andrew Wilshaw 'And you certainly can't have anything in your garden or it will get nicked. It's heartbreaking. 'Every so often there will be a power cut because of all the power being used to grow cannabis in some houses. "It's not fair because Eastwood was already a working class area and we've now become a dumping ground for people and rubbish. 'Sometimes I wonder why I keep doing this but then somebody in their 80s will come to me with concerns and fears, and I keep going.' He adds: 'It's not great to walk around here during the day but you'd be insane to come here at night. 'Each night there will be around 40 Slovakian Roma people drinking in the park. 'The council stupidly put around a dozen benches there so it makes the problem worse, and even the police don't come here. If they did there'd be hell. 'You get accosted at all hours by people asking, 'Do you want anything?' This can be drugs or sex.' 'Getting worse' 17 Some residents say there's an issue with groups of people drinking in the park in broad daylight Credit: Glen Minikin 17 The main streets covered by the PSPO are Fitwilliam Road, the Doncaster Road corridor, Eldon Road and the stretch up to the Mushroom roundabout Credit: Glen Minikin 17 Andrew says Eastwood was already a working class area and it's now become 'a dumping ground for people and rubbish' Credit: Glen Minikin 17 A squashed rat lies decaying in the middle of the road in Eastwood Credit: Glen Minikin Eastwood is a melting pot of ethnicities, with a big Asian population who migrated in the 70s, and a large Slovakian Roma population that has increased over the past decade. Thirty-five languages are spoken at Eastwood's St Ann's Primary school. One Roma mum-of-four, 36, who did not wish to be named, tells us: 'We are always to blame for all the rubbish but people come from outside in big vans and dump it. It is not us. 'I do not see so much wrong with all being out together in the street. We like to be together.' Another resident who did not wish to be named says: 'It is easy to put some of the blame onto the Roma families but the real problem is the landlords. 'The homeowners who moved out are now the landlords and they allow their tenants to do what they want and let them live in horrendous conditions.' You get accosted at all hours by people asking, 'Do you want anything?' This can be drugs or sex Andrew Wilshaw Private landlords in Eastwood have to comply with Selective Licensing, a scheme put in place from 2020 to 2025 to make sure landlords maintain certain conditions and are subject to council checks. It is waiting to be renewed. 'On paper Selective Licensing and PSPOs are wonderful, but if nobody is enforcing them then they're not going to work,' the man continued. 'Something should have been done about Eastwood a long time ago. Instead it has been left to rack and ruin and it's getting worse. 'Private landlords hand over their properties with not so much as a tenancy agreement. 'Everybody here is on benefits. Apparently many houses have their meters rigged up for gas and electricity and nobody bats an eyelid. Everybody here is on benefits. Apparently many houses have their meters rigged up for gas and electricity and nobody bats an eyelid Local resident 'The amount of nice cars around here when nobody is working is phenomenal. They're all mobility cars. 'Drinking in the street is a major problem, and people chucking their furniture into the street is standard. 'But if you ring the council, they say you need to ring the police, and they tell you to ring the council, and you go round in circles. 'It's intolerable. We shouldn't be living like this. These are 100-year-old terraces and the best thing for them would be to knock them all down.'
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
Sheffield behaviour order breached 990 times but no fines issued
A ban on city centre street drinking, begging and other anti-social behaviour in Sheffield was breached nearly 1,000 times in three Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) imposed in April means people caught committing offences within a designated area, such as urinating publicly, using drugs or loitering, could be fined up to £ City Council said early results on the order showed that supporting individuals' welfare had been the priority, as no fines had been issued despite 990 breaches by 219 Renshaw, CEO of the Archer Project homeless charity, said it was important that people who were homeless and affected by the order were offered meaningful support. "People within street homeless communities often have a set of multiple barriers to address," he said."Maintaining long-term support is important if we are going to see people's lives change."The council said that in 350 cases, the individual was offered advice or directed to support and welfare services. Drugs or alcohol were confiscated 99 than 30 individuals were referred to the "ASB harm reduction enforcement pathway meeting", where multiple agencies meet monthly to focus on people with complex needs who are repeatedly breaching the order. Mr Renshaw added: "I've spoken to people who felt they have been approached when they have been sat on the grass drinking and other people haven't."But the larger picture was that anti-social behaviour in the city centre was problematic, and the PSPO is helping to address that."Sixty-two of the 219 people who breached the order received notices of intended action, which the council said "emphasised a preventative approach", and showed officers had "prioritised offering support" rather than issuing Crossthorn, chair of communities at the council, said: "Hopefully in time we will see these behaviours reduced and people feeling safer."The PSPO is there to keep people safe. It will only be enforced if behaviour is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to others."It is great to see that officers are using their powers to offer support and intervention to those who need it."A report to Sheffield City Council in 2024 suggested the PSPO was needed due to "continuous and unreasonable" anti-social behaviour in parts of the city over two thirds of people surveyed and 67 out of 77 organisations supported it being introduced. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
