Thanet District Council passes abusive language crackdown order

Thanet District Council (TDC) has passed a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour in the area.

Part of the order, which also covers tourist hotspots such as Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs, makes it a fineable offence not to refrain from using foul and abusive language if requested by police or a council officer.

At a cabinet meeting in Margate on Thursday, councillors blasted recent media reports that the authority was trying to enforce a blanket swearing ban, calling them “a mountain of nonsense”.

Labour councillor Heather Keen called the reports “disingenuous, inaccurate and designed to grab attention”.

“Let me be clear, Thanet is not banning swearing or preventing free speech,” she said.

“The reference to foul and abusive language only…