The New Dark Age

 

CPNs are imposing restrictions that severely limit a person’s ability to live a normal life. These include bans on somebody drinking alcohol in their home, or on receiving visitors to their home aside from professional staff. Homeless people have received orders banning them from their town centre, or from accepting charitable donations from shops.

 

CPNs are often being issued on the basis of flimsy or incorrect evidence. The Manifesto Club has been working with several individuals who have received CPNs on the basis of accusation or hearsay, often after arguments with neighbours or a particular council officer.

 

Read the report, CPNs – The Anarchy of Arbitrary Power. The report was covered in the Mail on Sunday, Local Gov, Vice Magazine, and local media (see media here).

 

As well as offering legal and political support to individuals who receive unfair CPNs, we are also lobbying government to change the Statutory Guidance governing the use of these powers.

 

Rough sleepers hounded off Britain’s streets – Manifesto Club research on PSPOs was quoted in a Times feature about the crackdown on the homeless this winter. Also reported in the Mail.

Cafe owner banned from LOOKING at rival – A Norfolk cafe owner was issued with a CPN banning them from looking at a neighbouring cafe. See the report in the Norfolk press, and the Daily Mail.

Restrictions on the right to protest – An essay in Open Democracy, looking at the past and present of restrictions on the right to protest, including the recent PSPO targeting anti-abortion protesters in Ealing.

PSPO consultations: We are responding to council consultations on new PSPOs every week, and there is no sign that they are becoming more reasonable, in spite of the recent LGA guidance urging restraint. Do get in touch if there is a PSPO planned for your area.