Pub quizzes, beekeeping and birdfeeding banned as councils crack down on inoffensive hobbies

18 November 2024, 21:59

Seemingly inoffensive activities have been hit with banning orders by local councils
Seemingly inoffensive activities have been hit with banning orders by local councils. Picture: Alamy

By Kit Heren

Beekeeping, bird feeding and even pub quizzes have been restricted by some councils under powers afforded to local officials.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Local authorities have used community protection warnings (CPWs) and community protection notices (CPNs) to restrict activities that many would find harmless.

Council officials have curbed other activities such as cockerel crowing - as well as disputes between neighbours, radio noise and messy gardens.

Some 20,700 CPWs were issued by local authorities to their residents last year, as well as 6,100 CPNs.

A CPW is a preliminary step, and is followed by a CPN. If the person under the CPN does not comply, they can be hit with a breach of Community Protection Notice.

Read more: Mould, leaks and collapsing roofs: Inside Britain’s ‘best council estate’

Read more: Council tax bills to soar by more than £100 next year, Downing Street confirms

A man feeds gulls next to the River Thames as fog descends on the City of London
A man feeds gulls next to the River Thames as fog descends on the City of London. Picture: Alamy

This is a criminal offence, which can entail a large fine or other remedial act.

These powers were given to councils under a 2014 law aimed at cracking down on anti-social behaviour.

They do not have to be approved by a court, unlike non-conviction anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs). Many more CPNs have been issued than ASBOs.

But the Manifesto Club, which carried out the research, said the CPNs had become "all-purpose".

The civil liberties group's report, shared with the Times, said: "A wide range of behaviours are being targeted with CPNs.

Cockerel-crowing has been banned by one local authority
Cockerel-crowing has been banned by one local authority. Picture: Alamy

"Because the CPN is such a broad power with a low benchmark of issue, and minimal evidence or procedural requirements, it functions as an all-purpose power that can be used for almost any incident or problem".

Thanet District Council issued an order prohibiting “excessive bee hives", while East Cambridgeshire District Council slapped residents with a CPW for “noise from [a] quiz night". East Devon District Council issued a curb on cockerel crowing.

The majority of community notices issued last year were for rubbish, noise and anti-social behaviour.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Court artist sketch b of Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court, London.

Man accused of killing boy, 14, and injuring four in 'rampage with Japanese swords' denies murder

Kaliyah Coa had been playing near Barge House Causeway when she was swept away.

Girl, 11, pulled from River Thames ‘likely to have died from effect of cold water’, inquest hears

Liverpool's Argentinian midfielder #10 Alexis Mac Allister (R)  celebrates his title-winning goal

Liverpool's Premier League-winning goal caused tremor on Richter scale, scientists reveal

Marks & Spencer's boss has apologised after a cyber attack.

Marks & Spencer boss 'really sorry' for 'letting down customers' after major cyber attack

The cyclist, who appears to be a woman, was racing south down Shoreditch High Street at 7.45pm on Tuesday when she clipped the side of a route 47 bus

Moment Lime bike rider miraculously avoids serious injury after clipping bus and 'face planting' on road

The three children were rescued from the "house of horrors"

Inside 'house of horrors' where parents kept children in self-imposed 'Covid lockdown' since 2021

Jill Sobule at the 34th GLAAD Media Awards.

Singer-songwriter famous for 90s hit ‘I Kissed a Girl’ dies in house fire aged 66

Victoria Beckham says husband David "completes her" as she wishes himhappy birthday in special video

Victoria Beckham celebrates 'endlessly loving' husband David as she wishes him happy 50th birthday

Exclusive
Cleo Lambert, from Tring in Hertfordshire, had been unknowingly living with a cancerous tumour growing behind her liver for years

TikTok Saved My Life: Student discovers life-threatening tumour after self-diagnosing rare condition

Jade Daramell died instantly during a dive near Durham.

Veteran skydiver who died during jump 'wrote suicide note' and 'left home to live in digs at skydiving club'

Russell Brand arriving at Westminster Magistrates' Court, London, where he is charged with with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault, relating to four separate women.

Russell Brand accused of raping woman at Labour Party conference as he appears in court for first time

The Gold Movie Awards 2020 - VIP Arrivals

Biscuit firm boss sacked after slapping Emmerdale actress on the backside at awards do

Noel Johansen, whose wife Jenifer Darbellay died after a person drove into a crowd and killed multiple people during a Filipino heritage festival

Brit actor shares ‘incredible sadness’ after wife killed when car ploughed into crowd at Vancouver street festival

Sketch of Erin Patterson at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court in Morwell, Victoria, Tuesday,

Details of alleged Beef Wellington killer's 'mental illness' emerge - as court shown texts from row with ex

Weight loss jabs could be made available on the NHS

Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro could be made available over the counter

The mother-of-four, who was the owner and manager of two guest houses in the small rural commune, was found by a friend lying near her vehicle with five stab wounds

Woman, 69, arrested over murder of British mum-of-four found dead outside French home ‘covered in stab wounds’