Popular seaside towns could soon hand out £100 fines to people caught swearing in public.
Thanet District Council had tried to apply the so-called public space protection orders to cover Birchington, Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs last year, but it was banned.
It’s no secret Brits love to swear. The average Brit swears 10.5 times a day. Young adults (those aged between 16 and 24) clock in at around 14 swear words a day, while over-55s only do seven.
But now, a fresh bid has been made which could allow enforcement officers to hand out fines if a potty-mouthed person is heard disturbing the peace.
But it’s not just swearing – anti-social groups, ‘misuse’ of public space, urinating, defecating, spitting, using legal psychoactive substances, humiliating others and consuming alcohol will also be fined.
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Those fined must pay the £100 within 28 days – but the cost is reduced to just £60 if it’s paid within two weeks.
The council has said the order would stop ‘foul and abusive language’ from ruining the peaceful atmosphere in the seaside towns, but it was previously paused after the Free Speech Union threatened legal action.
The report from the council said that police officers found it a helpful tool and that they had struggled without it.
‘There is an ongoing issue of antisocial behaviour in the Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate areas. The causes of this are complex, and the PSPO is recognised by all of those working with such behaviour as being one of the effective tools for dealing with this,’ the report reads.
It added that since last year’s threat of legal action, police have experienced increased difficulties in managing the anti-social behaviour.
The report did add that certain exceptions will be made if people have a ‘reasonable excuse’ for having broken the rules.
The profanity rule, as stated by Thanet District Council
‘All persons are prohibited from using foul or abusive language in such a manner that is loud and can be heard by others and cause either alarm or distress to any other person in any public place.’
The council has stressed that the freedom of expression and assembly from the Human Rights Act are still very much in place.
Chief Inspector Ian Swallow from Kent Police wrote a letter of support, adding: ‘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 with suitable powers to deal with such behaviour.’
The proposed order will be discussed by the council chamber on July 24, and if approved, it will be in place for three years – so zip your lips.
If passed, it wouldn’t be the first crackdown by authorities on potty-mouthed residents.
Australia treats public profanity as a criminal offence in many states, with fines under ‘offensive language’ laws.
In Canada, swearing in public parks can lead to charges for causing a disturbance. And Russia goes even further, with fines or even short jail time for public swearing.
Even the UK used to be stricter: We had laws dating back to 1694 and 1745 that fined people for profane oaths, which were only scrapped in 1967.
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