Town introduces swearing fines in crackdown on anti-social behaviour

From: Andrew Johnson

Date: 2008-12-11 09:26:24

 By an UNNAMED reporter!   www.dailymail.co.uk/… By Daily Mail Reporter   Last updated at 10:59 PM on 09th December 2008 Comments (61) Add to My Stories Swearing on the streets has been banned by a council in an effort to reduce antisocial behaviour in the run-up to Christmas. Anyone caught uttering offensive language could be handed an on-the-spot fine of £80. The regulation has been imposed by Preston City Council to try to curb drunk and disorderly behaviour in its town centre during the party season. Sign of the times: Preston reminds people to be polite Revellers will be reminded of the ban with posters and banners with slogans such as ‘No Effin & Jeffin’ and ‘No Aggro’, which are being put up in the area. Officials are also clamping down on other forms of anti-social behaviour such as vomiting and urinating in the street. One poster depicts a person being sick with the slogan ‘No Pavement Pizza’, while another reads ‘Don’t pee anti-social’. Flyers have been put up in shops, restaurants and takeaways in the city centre and stickers will be used on beer mats in pubs and clubs. Later this week, 10ft banners will be displayed on the sides of buses, as part of the ‘Respect Our City’ campaign. Although brought in for the festive season, the council will retain the ban into the new year. Councillor Kate Calder, of Preston City Council’s community safety committee, said: ‘We want people to respect the city and each other when they are out and about. We want to put a stop to antisocial behaviour such as fighting, littering and swearing around town so that everyone can enjoy a happy, safe Christmas.’ Inspector Stuart Whittle from Lancashire Constabulary said: ‘We hope that the Respect Our City campaign will encourage people to think about their behaviour and take pride in our city.’ Preston has long had problems with binge-drinking in its town centre and last year it was revealed its police attended 1,000 alcohol-related incidents a week. It is thought to be the first time a council has introduced an anti-swearing policy in a town centre. In 2005, however, one local authority banned swearing on a council estate.

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