Salford Swearing Ban
Order prohibits swearing in Salford Quays.
An order put in place to curb anti-social behaviour in Salford's posh Quays district is being slammed by leading human rights group Liberty.
Salford City Council introduced a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in and around the docklands development last summer after a number of complaints from residents.
But Liberty said it could have a chilling effect'' on freedom of expression because it claims the order fails to define clearly one of the prohibited activities -using foul and abusive language''. Anyone who breaches the condition, without reasonable excuse, faces a fine.
Rosie Brighouse, legal officer for Liberty, said: This is a staggering example of the misuse of a Public Space Protection Order - so vaguely worded it's impossible for anybody to know whether they're in danger of breaking the law.
The right to say what we want should not be restricted at the whim of council officials, able to issue fixed penalty notices on the basis of a poorly defined legal order. Without the freedom to offend, real freedom of expression cannot exist.''
A council spokesman said: We will discuss Liberty's concerns privately with them. They are fully aware that breach of a PSPO is only an offence if a person does a prohibited act without a reasonable excuse. That allows all the circumstances to be taken into account.
I appreciate Liberty want publicity for their campaign against these orders but Salford City Council is not going to apologise for using national legislation to help Salford residents when their lives are being made a misery by anti-social behaviour.
This order was introduced last summer after complaints from local residents about anti-social behaviour, including people throwing wheelie bins into the Quays and tampering with emergency life-saving equipment.Over 130 local residents responded to the consultation about whether to introduce this order. Of those, 76% were in favour of the order and 94% agreed with a ban on causing general disturbance including being abusive to other persons, using foul language, being rowdy and inconsiderate.''