2 October 2013 — Manifesto Club

 Public Spaces Protection Orders as contained in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill would provide local authorities with unprecedentedly wide-ranging powers over public spaces.

As currently drafted, they could be used by councils for actions including: banning spitting, banning homeless or young people from parks, banning begging or rough sleeping, banning smoking in outdoor public places.

We are calling for more checks to be placed in law, or failing that in guidance, to limit the potential for abuse of powers and interference in public liberties.