Councils defend town centre 'swearing ban'

Two Surrey councils have defended their use of orders clamping down on swearing, shouting and other anti-social behaviour.

Guildford and Waverley Borough Councils say their Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) in Godalming, Farncombe and Guildford "strike a balance" between individual freedoms and anti-social behaviour since they were introduced in 2021 and 2022.

Campaigners complained the PSPOs are "not really what you think criminal law should be for".

Josie Appleton, director of the Campaign for Freedom in Everyday Life group, said PSPOs should not be "enforced consistently" and called for them to be withdrawn, adding: "Anything that is a serious problem is already a crime."

PSPOs allow localised conditions to be put on certain areas, such as banning public drinking in town centres.

The orders allow police officers and local authorities to issue Community Protection Notices (CPNs) if rules are broken, and failure to abide by these can result in further action being taken. PSPOs last for three years and must then be renewed.

Waverley Borough Council introduced its PSPOs, tackling anti-social behaviour, in Godalming and Farncombe in 2021 and renewed the order in 2024.

Guildford Borough Council introduced its PSPO, which "aims to address specific behaviours that can cause alarm or distress, or deter people from using the town centre", in 2022 and extended it in 2025, it said.

So far one CPN has been issued in Guildford since 2025, for street drinking, while no notices have been given in Farncombe or Godalming since the order was renewed in 2024, the councils say.

David Hollingsworth, anti-social behaviour officer for Waverley Borough Council, said: "The PSPO is primarily used by Surrey Police as a preventative tool, allowing officers to engage with individuals and address behaviour at an early stage."

A Guildford spokesperson added: "The PSPO seeks to strike a careful balance between protecting individual freedoms and ensuring our town centre remains a safe, welcoming environment for everyone."

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