The weekend of 6–7 August will be a national weekend of protest against 'public spaces protection orders' (PSPOs), blank-cheque powers which allow local authorities to ban all kinds of activities in public spaces.
We will be carrying out protest actions – big and small – to sound the alarm about these unaccountable and draconian powers, which are leading to absurd new criminal offences across the country.
These include:If you would like to carry out an action on the weekend of 6–7 August, do get in touch – we can register it as part of the day of action and publicise it on this site.
(If you aren't free on the weekend of 6–7 August, you can carry out an action on any day in August)
Activities banned by local authorities in England and Wales
Number in brackets indicates number of PSPOs issued.
This map shows PSPOs passed by 346 district and borough councils in England and Wales, grouped by county council area. Source: Manifesto Club FOI request, February 2016
Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) are broad powers which allow councils ban any activity in public spaces which they judge to have a 'detrimental effect' on the 'quality of life'. There are very few checks and balances; a PSPO can be introduced by a single officer after minimal public consultation.
The power to impose PSPOs was created under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act and enacted in October 2014. The Manifesto Club has opposed PSPOs since their inception, and has dubbed the power a 'busybodies' charter'. We are seeking to get these powers scrapped or dramatically curtailed.
See our report investigating the use of PSPOs. See our other campaigning work and briefing documents.
PSPOs represent a serious ramping up of the control of public spaceAnna Minton
130 PSPOs have been issued by 79 local authorities
Sale of lucky charms, loitering around cash machines, selling unauthorised publications, engaging in card tricksActivities banned by Blackpool Council's PSPO