Thanet District Council (TDC) has passed a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour in the area.
Part of the order, which also covers tourist hotspots such as Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs, makes it a fineable offence not to refrain from using foul and abusive language if requested by police or a council officer.
At a cabinet meeting in Margate on Thursday, councillors blasted recent media reports that the authority was trying to enforce a blanket swearing ban, calling them “a mountain of nonsense”.
Labour councillor Heather Keen called the reports “disingenuous, inaccurate and designed to grab attention”.
“Let me be clear, Thanet is not banning swearing or preventing free speech,” she said.
“The reference to foul and abusive language only applies if it is causing harassment, alarm or distress to another person – not if it is casual swearing.”
It was also stressed during the meeting that such a PSPO is not new, one having existed in the area since 2018.
Neither is it unique, with similar orders existing in places like Canterbury and Dartford, along with other parts of the country, the meeting heard.
However, in August 2024 TDC’s attempts to renew and reword their PSPO was met with threat of a legal challenge from campaign group The Free Speech Union, which cited concerns about potential human rights violations.
TDC then put the proposed amendments up for public consultation, and Keen described the measures of the new order as having received “overwhelming support” from local people and businesses.
“Every year our residents tell us feeling safe is a top priority and we’ve listened to that,” she said.
A TDC spokesperson added: “The PSPO will become into force following the required legal notice period and signs will be displayed at key locations to explain the rules.
“Enforcement officers will engage with anyone found to be committing antisocial behaviour in the first instance, with fines issued only if the behaviour continues.”