More than 13,400 on-the-spot fines handed out by jobsworth officials

Rise of the council busy-bodies: More than 13,400 on-the-spot fines are handed out by jobsworth officials in a year as town halls rake in cash cracking down on ‘crimes’ including kite flying, tree-climbing, skateboarding and swearing

• An audit has found that 13,443 on-the-spot penalties were issued in 2022

Councils issued a record number of on-the-spot fines last year, after banning everything from feeding birds to climbing trees, according to a new report.

An audit has found that 13,443 on-the-spot penalties were issued in 2022 for violations of controversial Public Spaces Protection Orders.

It represents a 30 per cent rise on the previous high of 10,413 in 2019, according to the civil liberties group that carried out the research.

The Manifesto Club warned that local authorities have used powers intended to tackle serious anti-social behaviour to impose restrictions on activities as innocent as climbing trees, picking up stones, gathering on beaches or having a nap in a park.

In total some 303 councils have 2,003 active PSPOs with more than half – 178 – imposing orders against drinking alcohol while 53 have restrictions on begging and 22 on ‘loitering’.

Councils issued a record number of on-the-spot fines last year, after banning everything from feeding birds to climbing trees, according to a new report (File image)

Six outlawed feeding birds under the law dubbed a Busybody’s Charter

Traditional children’s activities were also curtailed, with Rugby council banning climbing trees or flying kites

Local authorities have used powers intended to tackle serious anti-social behaviour to impose restrictions on activities as innocent as climbing trees, picking up stones, gathering on beaches (File image)

Another 11 have tried to curb swearing or abusive language, eight have banned skateboarding and six outlawed feeding birds under the law dubbed a Busybody’s Charter.

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Traditional children’s activities were also curtailed, with Rugby council banning climbing trees or flying kites and Wiltshire outlawing possession of catapults and stones.

North Somerset issued the most fines – 1,904 – mainly for litter and failure to pick up dog mess but also five for swimming.

Josie Appleton, director of the Manifesto Club and author of the report, said: ‘This legislation is so badly drafted that it has led to a free-for-all for any council official who wants to ban anything.

‘There are now thousands of petty restrictions on almost any conceivable activity in public spaces. These powers need to be scrapped or severely reformed, before more innocent people are punished and our public spaces become the private spaces of officialdom.’

Liberal Democrat peer Lord Clement-Jones said: ‘The Government needs to go back to the drawing board and bring through a properly regulated byelaw power that is not open to such abuse.’

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