A new law which allows councils to ban activities in public spaces is leading to “bizarre new criminal offences”, campaigners claim.
Under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, local authorities can use public spaces protection orders (PSPOs) to ban certain activities.
But the Manifesto Club – which campaigns against heavy regulation – said the Act allowed authorities to “ban pretty much anything” and create a “patchwork of criminal law”.
PSPOs have been used to enforce the following new laws:
- In Colchester, it is now a crime to drive into a retail park after 6pm unless the motorist is using the facilities
- It is a crime to have an open container of alcohol in Cambridge
- In Poole, people are banned from begging in certain areas
- Lincoln City Council has banned the consumption of alcohol and legal highs in public spaces in the city centre
- Under-21s are banned from entering a tower block in Oxford unless they are a visitor or live there
Another four PSPOs are out for public consultation and 19 are under consideration across the country.
These include potential bans on: amplified music, unlicensed busking, begging, rough sleeping, pigeon feeding, drinking, loitering around cash machines and the sale of lucky charms and heather.
Josie Appleton, director of the Manifesto Club, said: “These orders will turn town and city centres into no-go zones for homeless people, buskers, old ladies feeding pigeons, or anyone else whom the council views as ‘messy’.
“It is astonishing that in the 21st century you could be punished for the crime of selling a lucky charm, ‘loitering’, or failing to leave a retail park within 20 minutes. This looks like a return to the meddling and moralism of 19th-century by-laws.”
These include potential bans on: amplified music, unlicensed busking, begging, rough sleeping, pigeon feeding, drinking, loitering around cash machines and the sale of lucky charms and heather.
Josie Appleton, director of the Manifesto Club, said: “These orders will turn town and city centres into no-go zones for homeless people, buskers, old ladies feeding pigeons, or anyone else whom the council views as ‘messy’.
“It is astonishing that in the 21st century you could be punished for the crime of selling a lucky charm, ‘loitering’, or failing to leave a retail park within 20 minutes. This looks like a return to the meddling and moralism of 19th-century by-laws.”
Authorities say the new laws – designed to restrict anti-social behaviour and improve quality of life for residents – appear to be working and were backed by
Colchester said the ban on driving into a retail park after 6pm was necessary to prevent anti-social car meets and nuisance motorists “having a detrimental impact on the quality of life for local residents”.
Oxford City Council said it banned people under the age of 21 from entering a tower block because the “unacceptable behaviour of a few has caused a great deal of misery”.
Lincoln Council leader Ric Metcalfe said the authority realised action needed to be taken to tackle the problem with street drinking and legal highs.
http://www.itv.com/news/2015-03-30/councils-creating-bizarre-new-criminal-offences/
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-You’d be surprised to learn what’s against the law in Canada. For example, recently a Toronto businessman found that to sell edible underwear in his ‘Adult Entertainment’ store, he’d need a food license. Who knew?
-According to the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act (which dates back to the time of prohibition and bootleggers), you can only legally move a bottle of booze from one province to another with the permission of the provincial liquor control board. The situation changed on May 28th, 2012, allowing you to legally move wine, but little else. Guess your moonshining days are over, eh boys?
Colchester said the ban on driving into a retail park after 6pm was necessary to prevent anti-social car meets and nuisance motorists “having a detrimental impact on the quality of life for local residents”.
Oxford City Council said it banned people under the age of 21 from entering a tower block because the “unacceptable behaviour of a few has caused a great deal of misery”.
Lincoln Council leader Ric Metcalfe said the authority realised action needed to be taken to tackle the problem with street drinking and legal highs.
http://www.itv.com/news/2015-03-30/councils-creating-bizarre-new-criminal-offences/
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O.K. that was England, (We are not even going to look at the stupid stuff in the United States) instead let’s see what Canadians have to contend with!
Our staff at the Naked News Department has compiled a list:
-You’d be surprised to learn what’s against the law in Canada. For example, recently a Toronto businessman found that to sell edible underwear in his ‘Adult Entertainment’ store, he’d need a food license. Who knew?
-Locally, a Petrolia city rep says this unusual law simply aims to limit excessive noise between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., but according to Article 3, 772.3.6 on the town’s website, “Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing is prohibited at all times.” Keep your enthusiasm to yourself, folks.
-According to the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act (which dates back to the time of prohibition and bootleggers), you can only legally move a bottle of booze from one province to another with the permission of the provincial liquor control board. The situation changed on May 28th, 2012, allowing you to legally move wine, but little else. Guess your moonshining days are over, eh boys?
-Since 1973, the only noise-makers Sudbury cyclists can attach to their bikes are bells and horns. Breaking noise bylaws in Sudbury can lead to fines up to $5,000. Who attaches a siren to their bike, anyways?
-It’s Illegal to Skinny Dip in Bancroft, Ont. Travel writer Melanie Chambers highlighted this unusual bylaw ban, and it may well still be on the books. Either way, be sure to get you skivvies on before you get your skinny on.
-Taxi Drivers Can’t Wear a T-Shirt in Halifax, N.S. According to Halifax’s Regional Municipality Bylaws for Taxis and Limousines, number 42 a) stipulates drivers must wear shoes and socks, keep their attire in neat and tidy condition at all times, and absolutely cannot wear a t-shirt. Looks like summer is a whole lot hotter for cabbies in Halifax.
-It’s Illegal to Build Big Snowmen in Souris, P.E.I. – Souris, P.E.I. is well-known to summer visitors for its curious ‘Singing Sands’ Beach, but few know of a local law that warns residents against building monstrous snowmen. If you live on a corner lot it’s against the law to built a snowman taller than 30-inches. Fear of Frosty’s revenge, much?
-You Can’t Just Jump in the Lake in Toront0. According to the Toronto Port Authority, you can’t swim anywhere in the harbour that has not been designated as a swimming area by the City of Toronto. So, if you’re out on a boat and want to cool off, keep this in mind. Historically, there was also a law that you couldn’t swim in Toronto Harbor in ‘less than-seemly’attire. Travel writer Mark Stevens pointed out this ruling: “When the nude beach at Hanlon’s opened Police were ticketing using this bylaw.” That law has been updated, and you can now officially swim naked IF you are at the nude beach.
-Clotheslines Were Banned Talk about being hung out to dry! Many Canadian communities long restricted the use of clotheslines because they just didn’t like the look of them. Now because of increased energy consciousness the provincial government has stepped in with a ruling that overrides neighbourhood regulations.
-It’s Illegal to Skinny Dip in Bancroft, Ont. Travel writer Melanie Chambers highlighted this unusual bylaw ban, and it may well still be on the books. Either way, be sure to get you skivvies on before you get your skinny on.
-Don’t Pay With too Much Change! While it won’t make you a law breaker, according to Canada’s Currency Act of 1985 there are limits to the number of coins you can use in a transaction. Now that we’ve put the kibosh on the old penny, are you accumulating nickels? If it’s nickels, vendors can say no to any purchase over $5, while the loonie limit is $25.
-Taxi Drivers Can’t Wear a T-Shirt in Halifax, N.S. According to Halifax’s Regional Municipality Bylaws for Taxis and Limousines, number 42 a) stipulates drivers must wear shoes and socks, keep their attire in neat and tidy condition at all times, and absolutely cannot wear a t-shirt. Looks like summer is a whole lot hotter for cabbies in Halifax.
It Was Illegal for Non-Dark Soft Drinks to Contain Caffeine Sprite, Mountain Dew and other non-dark soft drinks couldn’t contain caffeine, but that all changed in March 2010 with the advent of “energy drinks” like Redbull. Now you can have caffeine in soft drinks like orange and grape soda, however there is a limit, and it’s still lower than colas.
-It’s Illegal to Build Big Snowmen in Souris, P.E.I. – Souris, P.E.I. is well-known to summer visitors for its curious ‘Singing Sands’ Beach, but few know of a local law that warns residents against building monstrous snowmen. If you live on a corner lot it’s against the law to built a snowman taller than 30-inches. Fear of Frosty’s revenge, much?
-Get Your Margarine out of Here! Few may remember this, but thanks to lobbying by dairy farmers it was illegal to sell butter-coloured margarine in Ontario until 1995. In fact, margarine was altogether banned in Canada from 1886 to 1948 (there was a brief reprieve during WW1)
-You Can’t Just Jump in the Lake in Toront0. According to the Toronto Port Authority, you can’t swim anywhere in the harbour that has not been designated as a swimming area by the City of Toronto. So, if you’re out on a boat and want to cool off, keep this in mind. Historically, there was also a law that you couldn’t swim in Toronto Harbor in ‘less than-seemly’attire. Travel writer Mark Stevens pointed out this ruling: “When the nude beach at Hanlon’s opened Police were ticketing using this bylaw.” That law has been updated, and you can now officially swim naked IF you are at the nude beach.
-Our ‘Spidey Sense’ just started tingling! The way Canadian law currently stand, “Everyone commits an offence who… (b) makes, prints, publishes, distributes, sells or has in his possession for the purpose of publication, distribution or circulation a crime comic.”
-Clotheslines Were Banned Talk about being hung out to dry! Many Canadian communities long restricted the use of clotheslines because they just didn’t like the look of them. Now because of increased energy consciousness the provincial government has stepped in with a ruling that overrides neighbourhood regulations.
-Keep Your Kids at Home in St. Paul, Alta. St. Paul residents don’t have to worry about their kids sneaking out late at night. It’s against the law for anyone 15 or younger to loiter in a public place without supervision of a parent or guardian between 12:01 a.m. and 6 a.m. Take that, whippersnappers!
http://www.readersdigest.ca/travel/canada/13-strange-canadian-laws-you-never-knew-existed#B5Yv5r24g9k9rCxz.97
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