Teenager fined £80 for swear word

mkpdavies · 22-02-2006, 03:54 PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4734350.stm

Quote:

Kurt Walker said he would challenge the swearing fine in court
A teenager is refusing to pay an £80 on-the-spot fine imposed by a police officer who overheard him swearing in a private conversation with friends.
Kurt Walker, 18, from Deal, Kent, said he would go to court rather than pay the fine handed out in a town park.

He said he received the fixed-penalty notice after he used the F-word to a group of friends he met in the park.

Kent Police said fixed penalty notices were just one tool to help them to tackle anti-social behaviour.

In my eyes I have not committed any crime whatsoever

Student Mr Walker was on his way to a youth centre where he works as a volunteer when he stopped to talk to friends.

"One of my mates said, 'What have you been up to', and I swore when I replied," he said.

"I was shocked when the female police officer gave me the fine, very shocked.

"It is not every day you swear and you get an £80 fine. It is just absurd, really."

Mr Walker is adamant he will not pay the fine and will challenge the penalty notice in court next month.

'Not normal'

"In my eyes I have not committed any crime whatsoever," he said, adding that swearing was a normal part of the language he and his friends use.

Dover District Council's anti-social behaviour unit works closely with Kent Police to tackle bad behaviour.

"Swearing and abusive behaviour certainly is not normal behaviour and I feel it should never be used in a public place," said councillor Julie Rook.

A Kent Police spokeswoman said: "The public expect us to tackle anti-social behaviour.

"If Mr Walker is not happy he can have his case decided by a court."

Do the police not have anything better to do with their time?

If he was using it in a threatening manner against someone, then fine, but in this case surely as mind your langauge comment would have been sufficient.

Free speech it would seem is truly dead. Remember the film Demolition man, where people were issued automatic fines for swearing? It was meant to be a joke then.

smooveOp · 22-02-2006, 04:00 PM

**** that!

Anthony Butcher · 22-02-2006, 04:06 PM

I don't get it. It is perfectly legal for people to swear on television in front of millions of people.

smooveOp · 22-02-2006, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthony Butcher

It is perfectly legal for people to swear on television in front of millions of people.

I wonder if it's ever been tested in law though?

It must have been... surely... ?

John Carter · 22-02-2006, 04:10 PM

<shakes head incredulously>

WTF??

Westcountryman · 22-02-2006, 04:55 PM

It's actually a crime to use the 'F' word in a public place. Good on the Police for issuing it. I believe it comes under S5. POA 1986.

smooveOp · 22-02-2006, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ModernTory

It's actually a crime to use the 'F' word in a public place. Good on the Police for issuing it. I believe it comes under S5. POA 1986.

That's what I was wondering.

Could national television or radio be considered 'a public place'?

Westcountryman · 22-02-2006, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smooveOp

Quote:

Originally Posted by ModernTory

It's actually a crime to use the 'F' word in a public place. Good on the Police for issuing it. I believe it comes under S5. POA 1986.

That's what I was wondering.

Could national television or radio be considered 'a public place'?

On checking it, it can actually be in a private or public place: http://www.police-law.co.uk/law/policelaw.nsf/62e6e9cb6e1ab98580256ba9003653ec/72a2059b83f7f74280256baa0058b007!OpenDocument

I suppose the difference is, that a TV you can change the channel, whereas in 'real life' you can't - you have no choice whether you hear it or not.

smooveOp · 22-02-2006, 05:17 PM

Not sure about that.

There are similarities. You could walk away in the same way that you could change channel but you could argue that in both cases it's already too late if you've heard the offending words...

Anyway- I'd be the last person to have an axe to grind here (

) but I found Anthony's comment interesting.

Westcountryman · 22-02-2006, 05:19 PM

Problem is, who would you prosecute from the TV? The actor/script writer?

I suppose TV is covered by watchdogs and a watershed for a reason...

22-02-2006, 04:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
Westcountryman Uber Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The Westcountry. Posts: 5,922 Party: None	It's actually a crime to use the 'F' word in a public place. Good on the Police for issuing it. I believe it comes under S5. POA 1986. __________________ Manus haec inimica tyrannis ense petit placidam sub libertate quietam - "This hand of mine, which is hostile to tyrants, seeks by the sword quiet peace under liberty."

22-02-2006, 05:19 PM	#10 (permalink)
Westcountryman Uber Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The Westcountry. Posts: 5,922 Party: None	Problem is, who would you prosecute from the TV? The actor/script writer? I suppose TV is covered by watchdogs and a watershed for a reason... __________________ Manus haec inimica tyrannis ense petit placidam sub libertate quietam - "This hand of mine, which is hostile to tyrants, seeks by the sword quiet peace under liberty."

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22-02-2006, 04:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
smooveOp Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Middlesex Posts: 571	**** that!

22-02-2006, 04:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
Anthony Butcher Administrator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Long Ashton, Bristol Posts: 10,193 Party: None	I don't get it. It is perfectly legal for people to swear on television in front of millions of people.

22-02-2006, 04:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
John Carter Uber Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: On Sabbatical Posts: 5,110	<shakes head incredulously> WTF??

22-02-2006, 05:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
smooveOp Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Middlesex Posts: 571	Not sure about that. There are similarities. You could walk away in the same way that you could change channel but you could argue that in both cases it's already too late if you've heard the offending words... Anyway- I'd be the last person to have an axe to grind here ( ) but I found Anthony's comment interesting.