'Free speech threatened' as one in five councils ban shouting or swearing in public

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One in five local councils have banned shouting or swearing in public, sparking fears of yet another free speech crackdown in Britain.

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Research by the Campaign for Freedom in Everyday Life found that out of nearly 300 councils, 61 had introduced bans, a fourfold increase on the 16 that had in 2022.The restrictions are imposed through the public spaces protection orders (PSPOs), which are designed to tackle antisocial behaviour with fines of up to £1,000 for breaches.However, free speech campaigners have warned the powers leave too much discretion to local officials.

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TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Josie Appleton, who serves as director of the Campaign for Freedom in Everyday Life, told The Telegraph: "It is incredible that you could now be handed a fine for swearing in the street, shouting across a road, or staring at someone.

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Council officers have been given the power to criminalise behaviour that has never before been a matter for the law."This isn't tackling antisocial behaviour,...

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