Liberty urges Rochdale Borough Council to abandon PSPO plans

Liberty has written to Rochdale Borough Council urging it to abandon proposals that could criminalise the town’s most vulnerable people and curb residents’ civil liberties – with no public consultation.

The Council is considering using a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to introduce 10 separate criminal offences. Liberty says PSPOs are "disturbingly broad powers that let local authorities ban a huge range of activities".

Liberty believes several of Rochdale’s proposed bans, if implemented, risk breaching residents’ fundamental rights, protected by the Human Rights Act. The Act requires the Council not to behave in a way which would disproportionately affect residents’ rights.

Lara ten Caten, Legal Officer for Liberty, said: “These proposals are a staggering misuse of power. The council is seeking to limit the rights and freedoms of Rochdale residents without providing any evidence of a need to do so – or even bothering to consult them in the first place.

“This PSPO would make criminals of the homeless and vulnerable, the young, the politically-engaged and businessmen and women alike.

“Criminalising those most in need is no answer to rising homelessness, while the swearing ban is so vague no one could possibly know whether they risk breaking the law or not.

“Rochdale deserves better. For the good of its residents, the Council must abandon these plans now.”

Councillor Richard Farnell, the leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said: “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 anti-social 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 £250 million transforming Rochdale town centre and we are not going to let a small number of drunken and abusive idiots spoil it for everyone else.

"Offensive and abusive behaviour is already an offence, but police resources are stretched in dealing with this low level crime. We are working in partnership with them to use our powers to deal with this more effectively.”