‘Cowboy’ laws that have criminalised wearing a bikini in a private garden and flying a model aeroplane: Campaigners call for community protection notices to be scrapped as report warns of danger of ‘unchecked powers’

• The number of CPNs issued surged from 9,546 in 2014-15 to 24,733 in 2019-20 
• The so-called ‘cowboy laws’ can be issued on the spot by police or local councils

‘Cowboy’ laws that have banned people wearing bikinis or flying model aeroplanes have been slammed by campaigners as examples of ‘unchecked power’. 

Community Protection Notices (CPN) were handed out by police forces and local councils to dictate how people could prune their hedges, how to close their front doors and even ban them from wearing bikinis in their own front garden. 

Campaigners are calling for CPNs to be scrapped, after a report revealed how the orders, which can result in a fine of up to £2500, have left people feeling ‘powerless’ 

The so-called ‘cowboy laws’ can be issued on the spot by police or council officials for ‘detrimental behaviour’ – often without investigation. 

The number of CPNs skyrocketed from 9,546 in 2014-15 to 24,733 in 2019-20, according to the latest data. 

The so-called ‘cowboy laws’ can be issued on the spot by police or council officials for ‘detrimental behaviour – often without investigation

One police officer told The Sunday Telegraph that his colleagues were ‘giving them out like confetti’, while a council consultant said officials were determined to hand out as many as possible. 

Campaign group, Manifesto Club, released a report which showed that those who’d been slapped with an order were left feeling ‘powerless’ with some saying it had ‘ruined their lives’.

Malcolm Edwards, 68, was banned from flying his model aeroplane in the two-acre field behind his Kidderminster home, despite complying with all the laws set out by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Mr Edwards told The Telegraph that he believes he was given the order by a ‘vindictive’ police officer who took a local complaint on face value.

The 68-year-old model plane enthusiast, who has been diagnosed with cancer, which he belives to be related to the stress of the ordeal, added:  

‘You feel violated when you know you have done nothing wrong and helpless knowing everything you are doing to rectify the situation falls on deaf ears,’ he said.

‘When I was diagnosed with cancer, I thought I could be dead, and the last three years of my life wouldn’t be happy memories all because of this pettiness.’

The CPN was withdrawn after Mr Edwards proved he had not breached a warning by flying a plane on the day that he was accused. 

A community Protection Notice (CPN) was handed out to ban an 81-yeard-old former model from wearing a bikini in her own front garden

81-year-old former model Kay Crane was banned from wearing her bikini in her own garden or anywhere near windows in her home.

The former model, who was also banned from ‘watching, staring’ at the neighboring property, said: ‘The council acts as judge and jury while the accused is not allowed to speak.

‘It was just awful, I felt intimidated and bullied and there is nothing that you can do.

‘They shouldn’t be allowed to do banning orders. We need a justice system that looks at the evidence and considers all sides, not just something that is decided by the council. 

‘They didn’t ask for anyone else’s point of view.’

One family in Kent with two autistic children described how they were forced to sell their home after being warned on Christmas Eve that they would be issued with an order banning them from ‘slamming doors’.

CPNs, which replaced ASBOs, can be given to anyone aged 16 or over for persistent antisocial behaviours and can be effective with no maximum period of time.

Antisocial behaviour, according to the government website, includes drunken or threatening behaviour, vandalism and graffiti and playing loud music at night. 

CPNs, which replaced ASBOs, can be given to anyone aged 16 or over for persistent antisocial behaviours and if effective with no maximum period of time

Police and local authorities have been able to use the power to prevent people feeding foxes in their garden and prevent Portuguese people from entering a town shopping centre.  

Josie Appleton, founder of the Manifesto Club, told The Sunday Telegraph: ‘Officers should not be able to write out a legal order on your doorstep, or send one through the post without talking to you first.

‘These powers were supposed to help victims, but actually they are victimising thousands of innocent members of the public who have been unfairly targeted.

‘CPNs give council and police officers an open licence to bully people and to act on malicious or unfounded accusations.

‘We are calling for these powers to be scrapped, or at the very least subject to basic due process. We have worked with CPN recipients on guidance to introduce some checks into this cowboy area of law.’

A Home Office spokesman said: ‘We are committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and Community Protection Notices are an important tool in helping us to do that.

‘It’s crucial these powers are used proportionately, which is why there are clear legal tests that must be met before they can be issued and anyone who receives one has an opportunity to appeal.

‘His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services collects this data for the purpose of inspection including to assess whether a range of anti-social behaviour orders are used proportionately.’

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