Swearing banned by one in five councils in England and Wales, finds report on ‘busybody’ fines

Campaigners saying public spaces protection orders also being used to criminalise wide range of everyday activities

One in five local councils have banned swearing under new “busybody” orders, up from one in 20 councils in 2022.

A new report by the Campaign for Freedom in Everyday Life has found that public spaces protection orders (PSPOs) – originally intended to tackle serious anti-social behaviour – are being used by councils in England and Wales to criminalise a wide range of everyday activities, including standing in groups, shouting and picking up stones.