Ellie Ames 09 December 2024

‘Busybody’ fines surged 42% last year

‘Busybody’ fines surged 42% last year image
Image: cornfield / Shutterstock.com

There was a 42% spike in the number of on-the-spot fines issued for offences like swearing, loitering, drinking alcohol and begging in England and Wales last year, new research has found.

According to the Manifesto Club, 298 local authorities issued 19,162 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) in 2023 to people breaching public spaces protection orders (PSPOs), which ban activities in a named area.

The group, which campaigns for freedom in public spaces, said councils had issued 13,443 FPNs the previous year, which was itself a record high.

The new research revealed that penalties were not distributed evenly among councils, with 145 authorities issuing none and 50 issuing fewer than six.

Meanwhile, three London borough councils each issued more than 3,000 fines: Harrow, Redbridge, and Hillingdon.

Campaigners said more fines were being issued due to the increased use of private enforcement officers, who are paid per fine and issue penalties ‘at a much higher rate than local authority staff’.

The group also said a growing number of penalties were issued for ‘vague or subjective’ offences, and argued that 'anyone could sometimes fall foul of broad PSPOs punishing "excessive noise", "nuisance", "reckless behaviour" or "gathering in a group"’.

Offences reported by councils included having dogs off leads, drinking alcohol in public, ‘untidy yards and gardens’, begging, spitting, loitering, gathering in a group, rough sleeping, and shouting.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Wandsworth NCIL Project Officer

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
£36,432 - £44,147
Wandsworth NCIL Project Officer
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Part Time Business Operations Assistant - ACL

Essex County Council
Up to £23344 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Business Operations Assistant - Adult Community LearningPermanent, Part Time£23,344 Per Annum, full time equivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Solent Mitigation Partnership Manager (permanent)

Fareham Borough Council
£61,635 - £70,765 per annum
Would you like to take on a challenging and exciting new role to lead an ambitious programme of environmental mitigation. Fareham, Hampshire / Solent Mitigation Partnership
Recuriter: Fareham Borough Council

Litigation and Court Officer

Mansfield District Council
£33,366 - £37,938 per annum
Are you looking to start 2025 with a new challenge? Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Mansfield District Council

Principal Cost / Framework Manager

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
£49,764 - £52,805
The Building Design Consultancy is an energetic and forward-thinking group of professionals Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Recuriter: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Linkedin Banner

Partner Content

Circular highways is a necessity not an aspiration – and it’s within our grasp

Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.

Support from Effective Energy Group for Local Authorities to Deliver £430m Sustainable Warmth Funded Energy Efficiency Projects

Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.

Pay.UK – the next step in Bacs’ evolution

Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.