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Fine decision? Council's plan to punish foul language gets mixed reaction 'Shut your filthy mouth': Rochdale reacts to council's proposed swearing ban
(35 minutes later)
Standing in the doorway of his cobblers on Rochdale’s high street, Colin Whitehead reflected on the swearing he hears outside the shop each day. “The language that comes out of their mouths is atrocious,” he tutted. Standing in the doorway of his cobblers on Rochdale’s high street, Colin Whitehead reflected on the swearing he hears outside the shop each day. “The language that comes out of their mouths is atrocious,” he said.
He did not want to demonise one group of people, he insisted, “but a lot of the time it’s single mums shouting at their kids: ‘Get here you little b-!” He didn’t want to say the b-word out loud, but it once damned children born out of wedlock. “I have had old dears in here listening to it, saying ‘that’s why I hardly ever come in to Rochdale any more.’” He did not want to demonise one group of people, he insisted, “but a lot of the time it’s single mums shouting at their kids: ‘Get here you little B-!” He didn’t want to say the B-word out loud, but it once damned children born out of wedlock. “I have had old dears in here listening to it, saying ‘that’s why I hardly ever come in to Rochdale any more.’”
If Rochdale’s leaders get their way, there will soon be an £80 fine handed to anyone turning the town’s air blue. As part of its £250m regeneration plans the Greater Manchester council wants to introduce a public spaces protection order, which could lead to anyone caught “using foul and abusive language” being warned, moved on or given an on-the-spot fine. If Rochdale’s leaders get their way, there will soon be an £80 fine handed to anyone turning the town’s air blue. As part of its £250m regeneration plans Greater Manchester council wants to introduce a public spaces protection order (pdf), which could lead to anyone caught “using foul and abusive language” being warned, moved on or given an on-the-spot fine.
Begging, “loitering”, antisocial parking, playing loud music, loudly revving car engines, street drinking, unauthorised charity collections and skateboarding could also be outlawed under the move, while under-18s could be barred from the town centre between 11pm and 6am. The measures, according to its proponents, would target the town’s “n’er-do-wells” and “wrong ‘uns”. Begging, “loitering”, antisocial parking, playing loud music, loudly revving car engines, street drinking, unauthorised charity collections and skateboarding could also be outlawed under the move, while under-18s could be barred from the town centre between 11pm and 6am. The measures, according to its proponents, would target the town’s “ne’er-do-wells” and “wrong ’uns”.
The bad language ban received a distinctly mixed reaction in Rochdale on Wednesday. Sitting on a bronze sheep outside the Exchange shopping centre, Matt Sefton was not impressed. “It’s a load of bullshit,” said the 23-year-old. “[The council] need to get their heads out of their arseholes.”The bad language ban received a distinctly mixed reaction in Rochdale on Wednesday. Sitting on a bronze sheep outside the Exchange shopping centre, Matt Sefton was not impressed. “It’s a load of bullshit,” said the 23-year-old. “[The council] need to get their heads out of their arseholes.”
His friend, a 17-year-old with blue hair and facial piercings, said she had grown up with swearing — “It’s just normal life.” Whatever next, she mused: “Are they going to fine people with brightly coloured hair just because some people don’t like it?” His friend, a 17-year-old with blue hair and facial piercings, said she had grown up with swearing. “It’s just normal life,” she said. Whatever next, she mused. “Are they going to fine people with brightly coloured hair just because some people don’t like it?”
Paul Brooks said the swearing ban was “totally ridiculous” and “just a crackdown on the homeless in Rochdale”. Brooks founded a homelessness charity in the town after spending three years sleeping rough when he came out of the armed forces, and said the council should put its energy into helping the homeless rather than punishing them. “Instead of fining them they need to look at housing, social care and mental health needs,” he said.Paul Brooks said the swearing ban was “totally ridiculous” and “just a crackdown on the homeless in Rochdale”. Brooks founded a homelessness charity in the town after spending three years sleeping rough when he came out of the armed forces, and said the council should put its energy into helping the homeless rather than punishing them. “Instead of fining them they need to look at housing, social care and mental health needs,” he said.
Liberty, the civil rights campaign group, has suggested the fine could contravene human rights. “These proposals would unjustifiably curb the rights and freedoms of Rochdale residents,” Lara ten Caten told the Manchester Evening News. “The swearing ban is so vaguely defined, it would prove impossible for anyone to know whether they were breaking the law or not, while a blanket ban on begging will criminalise some of the most vulnerable people in the town.”Liberty, the civil rights campaign group, has suggested the fine could contravene human rights. “These proposals would unjustifiably curb the rights and freedoms of Rochdale residents,” Lara ten Caten told the Manchester Evening News. “The swearing ban is so vaguely defined, it would prove impossible for anyone to know whether they were breaking the law or not, while a blanket ban on begging will criminalise some of the most vulnerable people in the town.”
Nonsense, said Richard Farnell, the council leader. “With all the horrific human rights abuses happening around the world right now, I would have thought Liberty had bigger things to worry about. We are clamping down on a small minority of antisocial ne’er-do-wells who drunkenly shout and swear and harangue shoppers in our town centre. “Nonsense,” said Richard Farnell, the council leader. “With all the horrific human rights abuses happening around the world right now, I would have thought Liberty had bigger things to worry about. We are clamping down on a small minority of antisocial ne’er-do-wells who drunkenly shout and swear and harangue shoppers in our town centre.
“I make no apologies for trying to make Rochdale a more welcoming place for people to enjoy and this is supported by the overwhelming majority of local residents. The council is spending £250m transforming Rochdale town centre and we are not going to let a small number of drunken and abusive idiots spoil it for everyone else.”“I make no apologies for trying to make Rochdale a more welcoming place for people to enjoy and this is supported by the overwhelming majority of local residents. The council is spending £250m transforming Rochdale town centre and we are not going to let a small number of drunken and abusive idiots spoil it for everyone else.”
Simon Danczuk, the local MP, agreed: “There are a number of wrong ‘uns in Rochdale who hang around the town centre getting drunk and using foul language. People have had enough of them and the council are right to sort them out.” Simon Danczuk, the local MP, agreed. He said: “There are a number of wrong ’uns in Rochdale who hang around the town centre getting drunk and using foul language. People have had enough of them and the council are right to sort them out.”
The idea appears to be going down particularly well among Rochdale’s older population. Gillian Duffy, who was famously described as “that bigoted woman” by Gordon Brown during the 2010 election, said she thought it was a good idea. “Do I think there are foul-mouthed people in Rochdale? Among certain sections of Rochdale, yes,” she said. The idea appears to be going down particularly well among Rochdale’s older population. Gillian Duffy, who was described as “that bigoted woman” by Gordon Brown during the 2010 election, said she thought it was a good idea. “Do I think there are foul-mouthed people in Rochdale? Among certain sections of Rochdale, yes,” she said.
“It is more common now. No one seems to bat an eyelid but I don’t like it. I never swear and I never heard my late husband swear once in all the time we were married.”“It is more common now. No one seems to bat an eyelid but I don’t like it. I never swear and I never heard my late husband swear once in all the time we were married.”
She is still cross that Brown thought she had sworn at him when she asked him about eastern European immigrants in Rochdale, insisting she had asked the then prime minister: “Where are they flocking from?” rather than “Where are they fucking from?” She is still cross that Brown thought she had sworn at him when she asked him about eastern European immigrants in Rochdale, insisting she had asked the then prime minister “Where are they flocking from?” rather than “Where are they fucking from?”
Duffy, 72, said she had once challenged a swearing schoolgirl on a bus going through the Falinge estate in Rochdale. “She was swearing her head off and there was this old lady – this was a while ago, I’m an old lady myself now – shaking her head and saying, ‘Oh dear, oh dear’. I said to this girl: ‘Shut your filthy mouth.’ It shocked her but she did.”Duffy, 72, said she had once challenged a swearing schoolgirl on a bus going through the Falinge estate in Rochdale. “She was swearing her head off and there was this old lady – this was a while ago, I’m an old lady myself now – shaking her head and saying, ‘Oh dear, oh dear’. I said to this girl: ‘Shut your filthy mouth.’ It shocked her but she did.”
What else have councils tried to ban?What else have councils tried to ban?
Tunbridge Wells borough council in Kent came under fire in 2008 for attempting to stop staff from using the word “brainstorming” and replace it with “thought showers” lest it demonise mentally ill people and those with with epilepsy.Tunbridge Wells borough council in Kent came under fire in 2008 for attempting to stop staff from using the word “brainstorming” and replace it with “thought showers” lest it demonise mentally ill people and those with with epilepsy.
Canterbury city council decided to turn its attention to the menace of helium balloons in 2014 by banning them on authority-owned or managed land during events. Councillors stopped short of imposing fines.Canterbury city council decided to turn its attention to the menace of helium balloons in 2014 by banning them on authority-owned or managed land during events. Councillors stopped short of imposing fines.
In Dublin last September the council came in for ridicule after they asked gardaí to help them stop young men having pull-up contests on overhead bars — a trend that was sweeping the Irish capital. In Dublin last September the council came in for ridicule after they asked gardaí to help them stop young men having pull-up contests on overhead bars – a trend that was sweeping the Irish capital.
North East Derbyshire council was also accused of abusing public space protection orders in 2016, when a crackdown on golf in public parks included a ban on carrying any gold equipment through the affected areas.North East Derbyshire council was also accused of abusing public space protection orders in 2016, when a crackdown on golf in public parks included a ban on carrying any gold equipment through the affected areas.