For media enquiries, please contact Josie Appleton (josie.appleton@manifestoclub.com or 0779 1032740).
‘Busybody councils’ prosecuting residents who feed foxes and lackluster gardeners, Sunday Telegraph, 9 March
Hotel owner compares Blackpool to ‘living in China’ after being handed dog poo warning, Lancs Live, 9 March
Is this really how councils raise funds now?, Guardian, 22 February
, GB News, 3 January
Kids aged ten could be fined £500 for playing football under strict new law, Birmingham Mail, 3 January
Children as young as ten could be fined £500 for playing football under ‘busybody orders’, Sun, 3 January
Children as young as TEN years old could face £500 ‘Asbo’ fines for breaching ‘busybody orders’ that can be used to ban playing football, Daily Mail, 2 January
Feeding the birds is not ‘anti-social behaviour’, spiked, 1 December
The insidious powers lurking in the Criminal Justice Bill, Spectator, 28 November
The Manifesto Club report on CPNs was covered on 24 and 25 September by the Telegraph, Mail, MailOnline, Times, Sun, Express. It was also on Times Radio (2h31m)
The creeping criminalisation of everyday life, spiked, 26 September
Warwickshire hunt ordered to give police seven days notice if they want to cross the road, Daily Telegraph, 13 August
Record number of English and Welsh councils use private firms for litter fines, Guardian, 10 August
Welcome to ‘asbo Britain 2.0’ – the new Tory plan to turn voters against vulnerable people, Guardian, 1 August
The Manifesto Club report on PSPOs was covered on 20 July in the Guardian, Times, Telegraph, Daily Mail, MSN, LocalGov.com, ITV News, Independent, Totnes Today, Birmingham Live, Yahoo News, Yahoo Sport
Campaigners call for community protection notices to be scrapped as report warns of danger of ‘unchecked powers’, Daily Mail, 2 July
‘Cowboy’ laws ban model planes and bikinis in own garden, Sunday Telegraph, 1 July
Josie Appleton was on the Alan Miller show, 1 July
How picking UP litter can trigger fines as high as 1000 pounds, Daily Mail, 25 June
Sunak’s cruel war on the homeless, spiked, 29 March
The neo-feudal takeover of local councils, spiked, 1 February 2023
Walking dogs on beaches and accidental littering landing thousands in court, Sunday Telegraph, 28 January
LTNs and the policy of virtuous obstruction, Notes on Freedom, 19 January
Battle woman fined £400 for putting waste in bin, 11 January, BBC News
Josie Appleton was on BBC South East Today, on 10 January, to discuss fly tipping fines for a lady who cleaned up her street.
Manifesto Club research was discussed in the House of Lords, 27 October 2022
PayPal is acting like a feudal overlord, Notes on Freedom, 13 October
The dutiful citizens left feeling like criminals, Daily Mail, 30 August 2022
After Manifesto Club reports exposing incentivised enforcement, Defra minister wrote to councils reminding them of their responsibilities. The letter was published online on 26 August, on gov.uk.
Councils are becoming dependent on fines for revenue, says report, LBC News, 22 August 2022
Councils encouraging ‘cut throat’ market in enforcement, Local Gov, 22 August
We discussed private security guards fining on BBC Radio Sussex, 21 August 2022
Most councils employing private police forces pay them per fine, Daily Telegraph, 21 August
Woke police officers open ‘ hate incident’ file after boy, 11, is called ‘shorty’ and ‘leprechaun’, Daily Mail, 27 June
Woke police officers open ‘hate incident’ file after boy, 11, was called a ‘shorty’, The Sun, 26 June
Stop using rogue rubbish police to boost coffers, councils told, Telegraph, 15 June
Want to hold a Jubilee street party? You’ll have to fill in a counter-terrorism form first, Daily Telegraph, 13 May
20 safety officers axed in Croydon’s latest ‘cuts by stealth’, Inside Croydon, 25 April
Fined for dropping a thread, Daily Telegraph, 20 April
France’s ‘Freedom Convoy’ isn’t going away, Spectator, 15 February
The Ottowa ‘Freedom Convoy’ comes to France, Unherd, 11 Februrary
Locals fight back against ‘profiteering’ litter police in Llandudno, The Times, 29 January 2022
Councils lobby for right to fine speeding drivers, Daily Telegraph, 24 July
How councils became parallel police forces, spiked, 5 July
The Manifesto Club’s report on local authorities was covered on 21 June in the Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Local Government Lawyer, LocalGov.com, MSN News, The Times (Saturday), and local papers including the East London Guardian.
The Manifesto Club’s report on PSPOs and CPNs was covered in The Times, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Evening Standard, Standard’s Morning Briefing, Metro, Shropshire Star, Express and Star, and Kent Online, and dozens of local papers, on 18 September. We discussed the report on LBC, TalkRadio, and RTTV.
Covid marshals and the rise of the busybody state, Josie Appleton, spiked, 17 September
The Manifesto Club’s photo album ‘Coronavirus Park Police’ was covered in The Times, 9 May
The strange death of public space, spiked, 14 January
Extinction Rebellion targets key media sites including the BBC’s Broadcasting House and newspaper print works in war on free speech, Mail on Sunday, 28 December
‘Wanton’ cycling, swearing and putting golf balls are all on growing list of activities that could land you with a council fine, Daily Mail, 27 December
‘Wanton’ cycling and swearing among acts banned by councils, Guardian, 27 December
Councils tear down posters for church services and cancer charity boot sales, Wellston Journal, 30 November
Councils taking ‘zero tolerance’ approach to community posters, Local Gov, 25 November
Councils tear down posters for church services, cancer charity boot sales and hospice Christmas fairs amid fears over a ‘silencing of public spaces’, Mail on Sunday, 24 November
Council plan to take on aggressive begging and rough sleepers in Southend expected to be implemented before Christmas, Yellow Advertiser, 14 November
Neighbors Try for Restraining Order Over Yoga Move, LegalReader.com, 5 November 2019
Former magistrate barred from going into hospital to care for the dying, Daily Telegraph, 2 November
Private litter forces hand out more than 210,000 fines in a year…, Daily Mail, 17 August
Private firms issue 86% of councils’ 250,000 fines for dropping litter, Guardian, 17 August
Litter fines by private contractors employed by councils soar over 200,000 in just one year, Telegraph, 16 August
Polite society: why are British cities banning swearing?, Guardian, 7 August 2019
First they came for the smokers…, spiked, 5 August
Is blackfacing beyond the pale?, Manick Govinda, Index on Censorship, 2 July
The Manifesto Club’s report on CPNs (published on 20 June) featured in the Daily Mail, Telegraph, Mirror, Sun, The Times, i-news, Sunday Times, Saturday Mirror, Manchester Evening News, BBC News headlines, and many other local papers. We discussed the report on Sky News, Talk Radio, and BBC Radio Norfolk.
Birmingham considers PSPO to break up school demo, Local Government Chronicle, 21 May 2019
Only two dog control fines issued in South Tyneside in 2018, figures reveal, The Shields Gazette, 29 April
Eight people fined for begging by Barking and Dagenham Council, Barking and Dagenham Post, 29 April
Southend begging ban is ‘firmly targeted at the homeless’, Echo, 25 April
Kind-hearted woman starts appeal to help homeless man after he’s fined £100 for begging, i-news, 23 April
Councils accused of ‘social cleansing’ of homeless people by issuing fines, Daily Echo, 23 April
Councils issue nearly 10,000 fines for ‘anti-social’ behaviour, LocalGov, 23 April
Council spend on homeless ‘drops £1bn a year’, Public Finance, 24 April
People in Peterborough are fined more than anywhere else in the country for these things, Cambridgeshire Live, 23 April
Council jobsworths slap £100 fines for SWEARING in the street, Sun, 20 April
Councils accused of ‘social cleansing’ of homeless people, Central Fife Times, 19 April
63 people handed fines for urinating in the street in Colchester, Braintree and Witham Times, 19 April
Nearly 10,000 people slapped with petty fines such as SWEARING by councils, Daily Star, 19 April
Number of fines issued for violations of “petty” council orders soars, Mirror, 19 April
Kent councils issue 114 fines under Public Space Protection Orders, Kent Online, 19 April
We discussed PSPOs on Sky News TV, Sky News Radio, and TalkRadio
Huge rise in number of £100 fines being given to homeless people, Metro, 19 April
Councils criticised for using anti-social behaviour powers to fine people for feeding the birds, swearing and school drop-offs, Daily Telegraph, 19 April
Councils accused of ‘social cleansing’ as fines issued for rough sleeping in breach of government guidelines, Independent, 19 April
Huge increase in Public Spaces Protection Order fines, BBC News, 19 April
Fines for leaving belongings unattended and swearing in the street: On-the-spot £100 penalties rise fourfold in two years thanks to ‘busybody’ councils, Daily Mail, 19 April
Quarter of fines for breaching ‘petty’ council orders issues in Peterborough, Peterborough Telegraph, 19 April
Claims new council powers to tackle begging a ‘form of social cleansing’, Dorset Echo, 19 April
Bird lover hit with £50 ‘littering’ fine for feeding seagulls, Metro, 26 March
McDonald’s customer fined £50 for littering after throwing McMuffin to seagulls, Sun, 26 March
Wildlife lover is fined £50 for ‘littering’ after a warden spotted him throwing ‘tiny pieces’ of a McDonald’s McMuffin to seagulls from his car, Daily Mail, 26 March
Home dog boarders being forced out of business by ‘barking mad’ regulations, Daily Telegraph, 31 December
‘Unprecedented’ vetting and criminal records checks are putting parents off helping out at their children’s schools, say campaigners, Mail Online, 30 December
Thousands of parents who volunteer at schools are being subjected to ‘unprecedented levels of surveillance’, report finds, Sunday Telegraph, 29 December
Josie Appleton discussed fines for street drinking on BBC Radio Wales, 12 November
‘Woman, 81, banned from wearing a bikini’, Sunday Telegraph, 11 November
The Ludicrous Things Councils Are Outlawing with PSPOs, VICE Magazine, 3 October
Josie Appleton discussed private companies issuing fines, on BBC Radio Sussex, 13 September
Busybody Britain, The Sun, 26 July
Join the fight against PSPOs, spiked, 17 July
Councils rake in huge fines for golfing, busking and bird feeding, The Times, 1 July
Couple banned from looking next door, The Times, 29 June
Couple threatening legal action against cops after being banned from LOOKING at neighbour’s house, The London Economic, 28 June
Couple banned from LOOKING into their neighbours’ home, Mail Online, 28 June
The rise of the new ASBOs, BBC Victoria Derbyshire, 27 June
The couple banned from staring through neighbours’ windows, BBC News, 27 June
Homeless people are jailed and fined 1000 pounds, Carthage Standard, 19 June
Councils criticised for banning anti-abortion protests, Local Gov, 30 May
Homeless people are jailed and fined £1,000 as councils crack down on rough sleepers, Metro, 21 May
Why a growing number of homeless people are being fined and jailed, The Week, 21 May
Jailed for being homeless, RT, 21 May
Hundreds of homeless people fined and imprisoned in England and Wales, Guardian, 20 May
Abortion buffer zones breach freedom of speech, Christian Institute, 16 May
‘Freedom of Expression’, letter to The Times, 15 May
Josie Appleton discussed PSPOs on BBC Radio Oxford, 13 April
This is why you could be fined 2500 for crying in your own home, The Sun, 30 March
Householders threatened by the bin police, Daily Mail, 17 February
£100,000 fine threat over wood left for builder, Sunday Times, 4 February
Josie Appleton discussed on-spot fines on BBC radio Sussex, 1 February
Stop this war on the homeless, spiked, 24 January
‘Busybody’ orders are now unlawful, Press Association, 15 January
Councils That Ban Rough Sleeping Say Guidance Not To Target Homeless People Doesn’t Apply To Them, BuzzFeed, 9 January
Councils warned not to abuse anti-social behaviour powers, Local Gov, 2 January
Councils told not to fine rough sleepers, Sunday Times, 24 December
Josie Appleton discussed on-spot fines on BBC Radio Wales, 19 December
A Council Could Fine a Woman £20,000 for Looking Into a Cafe, Vice Magazine, 15 December
Council defends banning man from being ‘persistently naked’ in his front garden in Tonbridge, Kent Live, 14 December
Josie Appleton discussed on-spot fines on BBC Radio Kent, 13 December
People in Tonbridge can no longer sunbathe naked in their garden, Kent Live, 12 December
Councils issuing more than 4,000 CPNs a year, Local Gov, 11 December
Thousands of people are hit by Asbos for feeding birds, letting their dogs bark and failing to recycle properly, Mail on Sunday, 10 December
Public space orders ‘make innocent behaviour offences’, BBC News, 9 December
Council slammed for “dehumanising” homeless man by placing bright yellow warning signs around him, The London Economic, 8 December
Britain’s blitz on the homeless, Mail Online, 8 December
Rough sleepers hounded off Britain’s streets, The Times, 8 December
Encroachment of public space in the UK: how does it restrict our right to protest?, Open Democracy, 6 December
Storm in a teacup! Cafe boss will be hit with £20,000 fine if she even glances at rival tea shop next door in bitter village row, Daily Mail, 3 December
Council bans Salhouse café owner from looking at rival as tensions in village rise, Eastern Daily Press, 5 December
‘The limits of protest and free speech’, Legal Action, November 2017
Josie Appleton discussed on-spot fines on Channel 5, 25 October
Josie Appleton discussed PSPOs on BBC Radio Oxford, 25 October
The Age of the ASBO: How Britain Became a Police State, Vice Magazine, 10 October
We must barricade our homes against the state, Notes on Freedom, 7 September
Shropshire Council defends ‘busybody’ fines, Shropshire Star, 3 August
Simply Ravin’, Municipal Journal, 2 August
Nearly half of councils using powers to ban anti-social behaviour, Local Gov, 31 July
‘Busybody’ councils prohibit swearing, shouting and dog-walking, The Times, 31 July
Concern at ‘busybody’ council powers targeting swearing, dog walking and busking, AOL, 31 July
Failing to clean your windows and feeding birds could land you with a fine under new laws brought in by councils, Daily Mail, 31 July
‘Busybody’ councils ban swearing, lying down and playing music, Yahoo news, 31 July
Four fold increase in fines under ‘busybody charter’, Daily Telegraph, 31 July
How begging, bhangra music and bad driving have led to growing PSPO fines, Press Association, 31 July
Councils fining more people than ever for swearing, busking and dog walking, Metro, 31 July
Outrage after children’s author denied visa, Bookseller, 20 July
Josie Appleton discussed on-spot fines on Heart FM, 30 May
Call for ‘urgent’ action as Kent’s private litter police issue more than £1.3m of fines a year, Kent Live, 21 May
Litter wardens earn £1,000 bonuses if they hand out £75 on the spot fines for minor offences including dropping orange peel or pouring away coffee, Daily Mail, 16 May
‘Litter police’ given £1,000 bonuses for targeting public with £75 fines, Yahoo News, 16 May
Private litter wardens earn £1,000 bonuses for issuing fines, The Times, 16 May
‘Litter police’ get bonuses to target public, Panorama finds, BBC News, 15 May
Privately contracted ‘Litter Police’ awarded hefty bonuses for hitting ticketing targets, Daily Post, 16 May
‘Inside the Litter Police’, Panorama, BBC1, 15 May
Private sector litter enforcers earn up to £1,000 a MONTH in bonuses, Mail Online, 15 May
Litter ‘police’ paid bonuses to hand out fines to public, investigation finds, Daily Telegraph, 15 May
Litter ‘Stasi’ are handing out 380 spot fines a day as concerns grow over private wardens given police-style powers, Daily Mail, 15 May
Josie Appleton discussed the corruption of punishment on Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Kent, BBC Radio Coventry, BBC Radio West Midlands, BBC Radio Essex, LBC Radio, Radio 4’s You and Yours, BBC Radio Scotland, and BBC TV South-East, on 15 and 16 May
Josie Appleton discussed PSPOs on BBC Radio Northampton, 8 May
Josie Appleton was quoted on PSPOs in the Sunday Telegraph, 30 April
Josie Appleton discussed PSPOs on BBC Radio York, 13 April
More than 50,000 children cannot join the Scouts because a lack of free time and vetting rules are putting off adults from volunteering, Daily Mail, 11 April
Josie Appleton discussed litter fines on Radio Wales, 10 April
Here’s how you could be fined £2,500 for CRYING in your own home, the Sun, 9 April
UK immigration laws are stifling culture, spiked, 14 March
Josie Appleton discussed PSPOs banning swearing on BBC 3 Counties Radio, LBC, BBC Radio Dorset, 3 March
Josie Appleton discussed hyperregulation on RT TV, 24 February
The busybody state: when it’s a crime to sweep up leaves, politics.co.uk, 22 February 2017
Josie Appleton discussed on-spot fines on BBC Radio Kent, 16 February
Josie Appleton discussed ‘Officious’ on the Zero Books Podcast, 26 January
The “Weirding” of Sex, City Journal, 23 January
Josie Appleton discussed ‘Officious’ and anti-social behaviour on the spiked podcast, 14 January
England’s Creeping Nanny State, Reason Magazine, 12 January
Turning neighbour against neighbour, spiked, 11 January
Review of Officious, DickPuddlecoat.com, 9 January
The rise of the officious state, spiked, 9 November
The busybody state is on the rise – and it is ticking us all off, Open Democracy, 13 December
Homeless risk being criminalised with fines for accepting food donations, Care Appointments (Press Association), 9 December
The rise of the Busybody State, IoI podcast, 9 November
Busybody Public Officials Now Outnumber British Police by 5,000, Heatstreet, 6 December
Josie Appleton discussed ‘Officious’ on Newstalk, Dublin, 5 December
Josie Appleton discussed ‘Officious’ on the Alex Merced show, 25 December
Mayland’s ‘Nuisance Peacocks’ debated on BBC One, Maldon Standard, 12 November
Brits Fined and Prosecuted for Weeds, Weeping, and Whippoorwills, New American, 9 November
Newham Council issued thousands of warnings for messy gardens and rough sleeping, Newham Recorder, 8 November
Why this childhood prank could land your kids with a criminal record, Coventry Telegraph, 7 November
In Britain, Feeding Birds or Crying in Your Own Home Can Bring Fines in Crackdown on Anti-Social Behavior, CNS News, 3 November
Rough sleepers penalised via council loophole, group claims, Hackney Citizen (cover story), 3 November
Now people are getting criminal records for not cleaning their windows, Canary, 1 November
Criminal records handed to people who don’t clean their windows, Evening Standard, 1 November
Criminal record and a £100 fine for anyone heard crying too loudly at home, i-news, 1 November
Josie Appleton discussed CPNs on Daily Politics, BBC 2, 1 November
The council which banned crying in your own home, politics.co.uk, 31 October
Councils urged to limit use of Community Protection Notices, Localgov, 31 October
How failing to clean your windows or tidy your garden could leave you with a criminal record, Daily Mail, 31 October
Councils threaten legal action for messy gardens or loud TV, aol.com, 31 October
Dog parks and dog-free zones: the UK of the future?, Telegraph, 24 October
Dog walking banned in thousands of parks under ‘busybodies’ charter’, Telegraph, 21 October
Josie Appleton discussed PSPOs on BBC Three Counties Radio, 11 October
Josie Appleton discussed litter fines on BBC Radio West Midlands, 28 September
Josie Appleton discussed PSPOs on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, on 19 September
Josie Appleton discussed private companies issuing fines on BBC Radio Kent, 15 September
‘You’re going to kill off the sheep’, The Forest Review, 10 August
Council faces backlash over powers to ban gatherings of two people, Politics.co.uk, 8 August
Protest over council ‘blank cheque powers’, ITV news, 7 August
Street protest over new laws ‘violating public freedoms’, ITV news, 5 August
The council which banned sleeping, Politics.co.uk, 5 August
Council officials are using these new rules to ban pretty much everything, Architecture Foundation, 5 August
Banning orders in Oxford and Banbury among “worst in UK”, Oxford Mail, 5 August
Group plans protests against local councils’ anti-social behaviour powers, Daily Express, 4 August
Council “busybodies” challenged over Public Spaces Protection Orders, Conservative Home, 4 August
Ancient grazing rights threatened as controversial baaaaaaad behaviour orders used to criminalise sheep, Daily Telegraph, 4 August
Two of Oxfordshire’s proposed banning orders ranked in top 20 worst in UK, Oxford Mail, 4 August
Protest over village sheep ban, The Times, 4 August
Claims new powers behind Cambridge punt tout ban give councils ‘blank cheque’ to ban things, Cambridge News, 8 July
Josie Appleton discussed PSPOs on BBC Radio Devon, 15 June
Josie Appleton discussed outdoor smoking bans on Heart radio, 9 June
Our ‘Football Fans Not Criminals’ launch was written up on The Anfield Wrap, 8 June
PSPOs: the rise of the sneakiest law of modern times, Big Issue, 9 May
Scouting for controversy: why paedo panic is bad for everyone, spiked, 5 May
Let London be spontaneous, spiked, 4 May
Scouts waiting list reaches 35,000 as volunteers are ‘scared off by overboard child protection checks’, Daily Telegraph, 2 May
Waiting list to join Scouts hits 35,000 as abuse hysteria is blamed for shortage of leaders, Daily Mail, 1 May
Begging ban could increase problems with homelessness in Brighton, Argus, 8 April
Essex council forced to amend law banning ‘rough sleepers’, LocalGov, 8 April
A couple of bad decisions and we’re homeless, Argus, 8 April
On the spot fines for beggars slammed as “form of pest control”, Argus, 6 April
Labour police commissioner candidate pledges a ‘war on wasters’, Wales Online, 29 March
Stop targeting football fans with ‘draconian laws’, says campaign group, Guardian, 28 March
Bypassing the byelaws – councils serve public order of the day, LexisPSL, 22 March
Town hall chiefs hit back over claims they are ‘criminalising young people’ with controversial new powers, Bolton News, 17 March 2016
River Cam becomes battlefield for civil liberties as council seeks to ban punting touts, Daily Telegraph, 14 March
London council bans ‘standing in pairs’ in town centre – unless you’re at a bus stop, Metro, 29 February
Josie Appleton discussed the PSPOs report on media including: BBC Radio Sussex, Radio Hertfordshire and Worcester, BBC Points West TV, RT TV, Radio Wiltshire, Radio Coventry and Warwickshire, BBC Radio Northampton, Talk Talk Radio (Dublin), and BBC Three Counties Radio
It’s now illegal to be annoying, The Times, 29 February
‘Bizarre and draconian’ powers to ban everything but shopping in Swindon town centre enforced today, Western Daily Press, 29 February
More councils threatening homeless people with £1000 fines for begging and rough sleeping, Daily Mirror, 29 February
PSPOs: Councils using new powers to ban and punish legal activities, Independent, 29 February
London councils pass rules to ban people from standing in pairs, Evening Standard, 29 February
Lucky charms, chalk drawings and carrying a golf bag: litany of new ‘pseudo-crimes’, Daily Telegraph, 29 February
Golf bags and card tricks banned under ‘busybodies’ charter’, Mail Online, 29 February
Golf bags and remote-controlled cars banned under ‘busybodies charter’, Guardian, 29 February
How to criminalise virtually everyone, Liberal Democrat Voice, 29 February
Josie Appleton discussed ‘PSPOs: A Busybodies’ Charter’ on the Today Programme, BBC Radio Four. (Listen here)
Should a single council officer have the power to ban beggars?, Plymouth Herald, 29 February
Josie Appleton discussed PSPOs on BBC Radio Sussex, 29 February
Josie Appleton discussed PSPOs on BBC Radio Devon, 12 February
Shambles checking process means innocent people could be mistaken for paedophiles, inquiry warns, Daily Mail, 5 February
Josie Appleton discussed PSPOs on BBC Radio Wales, 3 February
Parents face £100 fines if they drop children at school gate, the Sun, 2 February
Parents face £100 fines if they drop their children at the school gate, Daily Mail, 2 February
Josie Appleton discussed PSPOs on BBC Radio Leicestershire, 27 January
Josie Appleton discussed DNA dog databases on BBC Radio London, 21 January
Josie Appleton discussed outdoor smoking bans on BBC Radio Kent, 19 January
Concerns expressed over impact of new Public Space Protection Order passed by Kettering Council, Northamptonshire Telegraph, 30 December
Feeding the ducks could land you with a fine for littering, The Sun, 27 December
Litter firm compared to the Stasi makes £2million profit as it issues 116 fines a DAY, Mail on Sunday, 27 December
Criminal records checks ‘highest in four years’, The Herald, 26 December
‘Pointless’ criminal checks still increasing: Choristers, flower arrangers and church bell ringers on the long list of people who had to have backgrounds looked into, Daily Mail, 26 December
Criminal records checks for choir members, bell ringers, flower arrangers at highest level for four years, Daily Telegraph, 26 December
Josie Appleton discussed litter fines on BBC Radio West Midlands, 24 November
French ‘state of emergency’: the irrationalities of arbitrary power, Notes on Freedom, 24 November
After Paris: the ultimate value of the free life, Notes on Freedom, 19 November
PSPOs: solving problems or ‘criminalising poverty’?, BitternePark.info, 21 November
Atheists and Christians unite to defend free speech, Evangelical Focus, 4 November
‘Big bill for smoke patrol‘, Times (Scotland), 31 October
‘Smoked Out’ was reviewed on Velvet Glove, Iron Fist; and Action on Consumer Choice
The £1200 ciggie, Sun (Scotland), 30 October
400k bill to scold hospital smokers, Sunday Express (Scotland), 25 October
Up in smoke, The Times, 21 October
Smoked out of the public square, spiked, 21 October
Josie Appleton discussed PSPOs on BBC Radio Kent on 20 October
Campaigners warn new antisocial behaviour powers could be used to target the homeless, Independent on Sunday, 17 October
Birmingham busker ban proposals are scrapped, Birmingham Mail, 17 September
PSPOs: the new control orders threatening our public spaces, Guardian, 8 September
Street skaters may find their latest moves land them in court – but they are fighting back, Independent on Sunday, 1 August
Could We Ban Smoking In London’s Parks?, Londonist, 24 July
Cheshire council uses new laws to tackle anti-social behaviour, BBC News, 21 July
No place for the young: the towns where childhood is being criminalised, Open Democracy, 20 July
Swansea Council is looking at new laws which could ban people from public spaces, South Wales Evening Post, 17 July
Freedom of speech, assembly, protest? All are nixed by new police powers, Ecologist, 26 June
Move along now: the law barring thousands of people from public spaces, Open Democracy, 26 June
Norfolk police use new power to disperse people 194 times, Eastern Daily Press, 23 June
It’s not time to celebrate yet – the Magna Carta is under attack, Ipswich Star, 23 June
Police powers used to tackle disorder in Suffolk and Essex face criticism, East Anglian Daily Times, 20 June
New powers let police ban bonfire night, The Times, 17 June
Burglars and drug users issued with dispersal notices rather than arrested, Daily Telegraph, 17 June
Josie Appleton discussed dispersal powers on BBC Radio Devon, 17 June
There’s a fine for that: how we face more penalties than ever before, Guardian, 6 June
Why does this feel like an income-generating scam to punish us law-abiding pet owners?, Belfast Telegraph, 27 May
Hackney’s ban on rough sleeping will ‘criminalise homeless’, Hackney Citizen, 15 May 2015
DNA-testing dog poo? You’d have to be Barking!, Guardian, 28 April
Feeding pigeons could be banned in Hillingdon under ‘bird-brained’ law, Get West London, 28 April
Josie Appleton discussed vetting on BBC Radio Oxford, on 20 April
The Manifesto Club’s campaign against PSPOs was in Claire Fox’s column, Municipal Journal, April
Josie Appleton discussed PSPOs on BBC Radio Humberside, 14 April
Coalition creates 1,000 laws in just four years, Daily Mail, 13 April
We discussed the Oxford ban on rough sleeping on RTTV, 10 April
Josie Appleton gave a viewpoint ‘In Defence of Choice’ on the Human Zoo Election Special, Radio 4, 8 April
We discussed outdoor smoking bans on BBC Radio Kent, 8 April
Josie Appleton discussed PSPOs on BBC Radio Oxford, 8 April
Why are councils banning pigeon feeding?, Notes on Freedom, 2 April
Lincoln legal high ban comes into force, BBC News, 1 April
Bizarre rules slammed by campaigners, Daily Gazette (Colchester), 1 April
Banned from feeding pigeons — if you live in the wrong street, The Times, 31 March
City council told new on-the-spot fines infringe human rights, Oxford Times, 31 March
Where driving into a retail park after 6pm is now illegal: New ‘Victorian by-laws’ blighting modern UK, Daily Mail, 30 March
Council ban legislation creating ‘bizarre’ laws, campaigners say, BBC News, 30 March
Birdbrained new law could make feeding pigeons a criminal offence, Independent, 30 March
Crazy laws are being introduced to stop people drinking in the streets, Metro, 30 March
Law behind ‘Mill Road drinking ban’ under fire nationally, Cambridge News, 30 March
Councils hit back after new public space laws branded ‘bizarre’, Localgov, 30 March
Oxford City Council proposes a ban on rough sleeping, Oxford Student, 30 March
Public spaces are under attack – from a law that can ban anyone doing anything, Guardian CIF, 30 March
Councils creating ‘bizarre new criminal offences’, ITV and PA, 30 March
Group criticises council bans law, Express and Star, 30 March
Lincoln City Council criticised by campaigners for legal high ban, Lincolnshire Echo, 30 March
Our briefing on PSPOs was discussed on radios including the Today Programme, LBC, BBC Radios London, Coventry, Essex, Oxford, York and Somerset, and on RTTV, on 30 March.
Oxford’s illiberal campaign to control everyday city life, spiked, 26 March
Josie Appleton discussed PSPOs, on BBC Radio Oxford, 22 March
Billy Boys: The rampant subjectivity of the criminal law, Notes on Freedom, 20 March
George Osborne’s plans to make criminal checks ‘digital by default’ could put off elderly volunteers, Telegraph, 19 March
Row breaks out in Cambridge over move to ban street drinking in Mill Road, Cambridge News, 18 March
Gay/bi/top/bottom…fake identities and the structuring of public life, Notes on Freedom, 12 March
Chelsea fans: The return of the show trial, Notes on Freedom, 2 March
Landlords should not be the scapegoats for uninventive politicians, Josie Appleton, City AM, 9 February
The censorious student and the corrosion of character, Notes on Freedom, 6 February
Josie Appleton discussed on-spot fines on BBC Three Counties Radio, 1 February
Weeding out the rational basis of criminal law, spiked, 30 January
Teachers suspended after crime checks on relatives, The Times, 30 January
Josie Appleton will be giving a lecture ‘In defence of choice’, at the London Philosophy Club, 18 February
Modern censorship and the return of taboo, Notes on Freedom, 28 January
Josie Appleton discussed vetting on BBC Radio Oxford on 19 January
Branded RACIST at five: A little girl who said her friend was ‘brown’. A boy who asked a black child if he was from Africa. How teachers are reporting primary school pupils as bigots in official records, Daily Mail, 15 January
Charlie Hebdo: The crisis of the public sphere, Josie Appleton, Notes on Freedom, 12 January
‘Fat bucket’ isn’t the worst thing you can call a child. ‘Bigot’ is, Sarah Oliver, Daily Mail, 4 January
Is your five-year-old a bigot and a racist?, 4 January, Guardian
School pupils blacklisted for hate crimes in the playground, 2 January, Gloucestershire Echo
Are Brighton children being labelled bigots over playground taunts?, Brighton and Hove News, 2 January
Branded bigots at the age of THREE, Daily Mail, 2 January
Turning all adults into panto villains, Josie Appleton, spiked, 3 December
Josie Appleton discussed litter fines on BBC Radio Kent, 27 November
The ASB Act: all power to the state, Josie Appleton, spiked, 19 November
Cautions replaced by new police powers to levy fines, Independent, 31 October
Josie Appleton discussed public spaces protection orders on BBC Radio Lincolnshire, 29 October
Grimsby introduces rules to control street drinking, BBC News, 29 October
Josie Appleton discussed public spaces protection orders on BBC TV News (north east), 29 October
Blackpool Council considers ‘mankini’ outfit ban, BBC News, 21 October
Do what your council says – or pay £100 fine, Channel 4 News, 20 October
Stag and hen weekends face clampdown after officials rule to ban ‘inappropriate dress’… in BLACKPOOL, Daily Mail, 20 October
Stags left in tight spot as Blackpool plans to ban mankinis, Independent, 20 October
Mankini-free zone: Blackpool clamps down on stag and hen misbehaviour, Metro, 20 October
Josie Appleton discussed PSPOs on local and national radio, on 20 October
Josie Appleton discussed CRB checks on Radio Five Live, and local radios including BBC Cambridgeshire, 17 October
Police ‘are too busy with CRB checks to track sex offenders’, Daily Mail, 17 October
Josie Appleton discussed bans on smoking in parks on LBC Radio, on 15 October
Cambridge gets new weapon in fight against antisocial behaviour – but fears PSPOs create “grey areas”, Cambridge News, 8 October
Artists must have the right to shock, Manick Govinda, spiked, 25 September
Schools censor children’s achievements due to ‘irrational fears’ over paedophiles, Daily Telegraph, 24 September
Photographic ID card now needed to buy hair bleach under European anti-terror laws, Mail on Sunday, 21 September
Parents could be banned from parking outside Gloucestershire schools, Gloucester Citizen, 10 September
An end to boozy parties?, The Blackpool Gazette, 10 September
Poll: Should councils be able to punish parents for parking outside schools, Express and Star, 6 September
The bossy station announcer I’d like to throttle and the madness of letting jobsworths hand out fines, Tom Utley, Daily Mail, 5 September
New powers mean parents could be fined £100 for parking near schools, Daily Mirror, 4 September
Now drivers face £100 fine if they park too near to a school, Daily Mail, 4 September
Parents could be banned from parking near their children’s school, claims think tank, Bristol Post, 4 September
Josie Appleton discussed PSPOs on BBC radios Huddersfield and West Midlands, 4 September
Clydebank grandad receives litter fine after drying bench, Clydebank Post, 3 September
Josie Appleton discussed no-drinking zones on BBC Radio Leicester, 14 July
May the pamphleteers return!, Open Democracy, 4 July
Burqa ban: when legalism trumps liberty, Josie Appleton, spiked, 4 July
Named persons: spies in the family home, Josie Appleton, spiked, 25 June
Josie Appleton discussed fines for messy gardens on BBC Radio Sussex, 16 June
Josie Appleton discussed litter fines on BBC Radio Kent, 10 June
Cultural boycotts won’t help the fight for gay rights in Russia, spiked, 5 June
Pleas to free John Wilkinson, the Asbo birdman of Morecambe, Independent, 1 June
Josie Appleton discussed the banning of political demonstrations on BBC Radio Sheffield Breakfast, 16 May
Josie Appleton will be speaking about the regulation of public space, at the Architectural Review summer school, 18 July
Croydon Council Imposes New Dispersal Areas, East London Lines, 3 May
Josie Appleton discussed fines by private companies on BBC Radio Kent, 3 May
Leafleting restrictions and litter: call for evidence, Defra Consultation, 1 May
Woman fined £75 for littering after binning cigarette butt in Conwy, North Wales Pioneer, 24 April
Dog walkers protesting against no-dog zones were on the Jeremy Vine Show, 18 April
Josie Appleton was on the PM Programme talking about dog control orders, 27 March (starts 29mins)
The battle against the dog police, Spectator, 15 March
Keep the streets free for music, spiked, 13 March
A police state is no answer, Claire Fox, Municipal Journal, March
Everyone’s equal in the eyes of the law – unless you are a football fan, New Statesman, 17 February
Support for move to limit protests outside Westminster Abbey, Christian Today, 22 January
Public space – we must defend our freedoms!, 21 January, Ecologist
The end of public space: one law to ban them all, Open Democracy, 20 January
The end of public space: one law to ban them all, 15 January,
Architectural Review
Josie Appleton debated the ASB Bill on BBC Three Counties, 9 January
James Panton debated twitter trolls on Jeremy Vine Show, 8 January
Josie Appleton debated the ASB Bill on Radio 5 Live, 8 January
‘Overzealous’ Church vets 58,000 workers in a year, Daily Telegraph, 27 December
The year of anti-protest laws, El Diario (Spanish), 16 December
Josie Appleton debated spitting bans on Radio 5 Live, 9 December
Super-ASBOs will make it super-easy to ban just about anything, Independent, 4 December
Josie Appleton debated bin fines on Radio Leeds, 3 December
Locking artists out of the UK, spiked, 18 November
Councils could be handed power to ban peaceful protests under new bill, Guardian, 16 November
Crime Bill could let councils stamp out protest, freedom activists warn, Localgov.co.uk, 15 November
UK local councils to be given power to ban peaceful protests – report, Russia Today, 15 November
Ramblers ‘could face walking ban’ under controversial government plans, Daily Telegraph, 15 November
Councils to be given powers to ban peaceful protests that might disturb local residents, Independent, 15 November
The Manifesto Club’s Banned in London map was on the architectural map, Floodplain London
Debating public art, a-n magazine, 4 November
Josie Appleton discussed tougher fines for littering on BBC Radio London, 4 November
Josie Appleton discussed obligatory courses for smokers on Radio Wales, 16 October
The Manifesto Club report on on-spot fines is discussed on Radio 4’s ‘Unreliable Evidence’, 2 October
Up to 40 people a day fined for littering by Croydon Council, Croydon Guardian, 2 October
Josie Appleton discussed spitting bans on the Voice of Russia, 30 September and 1 October
The councils spitting out bad laws, spiked, 26 September
We may as well take people to court for barging into other people or swearing at them, Josie Appleton, Daily Mirror, 25 September
Josie Appleton discussed spitting bans on BBC Radio London, 25 September
Viewpoints: Should full-face veils be banned in some public places?, Dolan Cummings, BBC News, 16 September
Family living arrangements could be stored on chip in children’s passports in EU tug-of-love crackdown, Telegraph, 25 August
Why leafleting is a fundamental freedom, Peter Lloyd, Free Society, 29 July
Illiberalism’s spitting image, Josie Appleton, spiked, 26 July
Spitting: Civil Liberty or Dirty Habit? Eric Pickles Backs Enfield Ban, IBT, 24 July
Opinion: Antisocial behaviour bill set to restrict public protest, Lib Dem Voice, 15 July
Josie Appleton debated CRB checks and child protection on BBC Radio Sheffield and BBC Radio Wales on 25 July
Josie Appleton debated spitting bans on BBC Radio London and BBC Radio Suffolk on 25 July
Debate in the House of Lords on Bill to change leafleting laws, 5 July (starts 11.09)
My Bill to free grassroots arts from draconian leafleting licences, Tim Clement-Jones, Lords of the Blog, 3 July
Josie Appleton discussed litter fines on BBC Radio Kent on 1 July
Government stops “barmy” bin fines, AOL, 21 June
Schools told: vet sports day volunteers to root out abusers, 29 May
Doubling in innocent people branded criminals by Criminal Records Bureau, Telegraph, 21 May
New laws ‘open to abuse of power’, Belfast Telegraph, 20 May
New laws ‘open to abuse of power’, Daily Express, 20 May
Homelessness Could Be A Crime Under Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill Warns Think Tank, Huffington Post, 20 May
Is homelessness about to become a crime?, Left Foot Forward, 20 May
New Asbo laws could infringe freedom, think tank warns, Telegraph, 19 May
New laws ‘open to abuse of power’, Press Association, 19 May
The Queen’s Speech and the blanket bans, spiked, 13 May
Pavement Justice: On-the-spot fines and the Rule of Law, The Justice Gap, 8 May
Cowboy practices are not the way to achieve cleaner streets, LocalGov.co.uk, 7 May
Freedom for history? The case against memory laws, Liberte Pour L’Histoire, 1 May
Don’t make fresh laws — just enforce the ones we have, Dominic Raab, Evening Standard, 15 April
Freedom for history? The case against memory laws, Free Speech Debate, 3 April
Interview with Manick Govinda, Resonance FM, 30 March
A twenty-first century folk devil, spiked, 28 March
Paul Craig Roberts on the loss of liberty, Global Research, 27 March
Like cattle in a kettle, Free Society, 25 March
Councils accused of misusing on-the-spot fines, LocalGov, 14 March
Josie Appleton discussed on-the-spot fines on Daily Politics, 14 March
Public being ‘milked’ by councils that use on-the-spot fines, The Times, 14 March
‘Justice on the street’ raises £132 million for councils, Daily Express, 14 March
Rise in petty fines ‘treats public like cash cows’, Metro, 14 March
Innocent people ‘should not be used as cash cows’ by councils, minister warns, Telegraph, 14 March
Massive rise in on-the-spot fines for petty offences, Channel 4 News, 14 March
Council on-the-spot fines exploit residents, Eric Pickles warns, Guardian, 14 March
Councils using their spot fines to milk the public, says Pickles, as the number handed out increases five-fold, Daily Mail, 14 March
An unspoken war on the Common Law, spiked, 11 March
Parents ‘treated like felons on remand’ by school CRB checks, Daily Telegraph, 24 February
Cough up, sir, you’ve left something nasty in the street, Sunday Times, 17 February
Josie Appleton was on BBC radio London, 13 February, discussing Waltham Forest’s ban on spitting
Croydon Council calls in ex-soldiers to fight dog poo and littering, Croydon Guardian, 9 February
Litter squads make millions: Fines soar as councils enlist ex-soldiers to patrol streets, Daily Mail, 29 January
Number of litter fines rises 90-fold in 15 years, Daily Telegraph, 29 January
Josie Appleton discussed on-spot fines on Inside Out (BBC 1), 28 January
Josie Appleton was on BBC Radio London on 28 January, discussing litter fines
Litter fines ‘cash cow’ for London councils, BBC News, 28 January
The lives blighted by CRB checks, Telegraph, 25 January
Josie Appleton was on BBC Radio Kent on 21 January, discussing litter fines
Lord Clement Jones discussed the leafleting ban campaign, in the House Magazine
Proposed system to detect child abuse could deter parents from seeking treatment, pressure group says, BMJ, 28 December
Database safeguards needed ‘to make sure parents are not unfairly accused’, The Times, 27 December
Why everyday life is tied up in red tape, spiked, 18 December
Flyering, the importance of hand-to-hand inviting, spiked, 6 December
Festival boss calls for change to leaflet laws, This is Leicestershire, 28 November
Eric Pickles warns councils over fag-butt police, This is Kent, 23 November
Shropshire’s litter louts pay £7,500 in fines, Shropshire Star, 21 November
Come to Britain (but only if you’re already famous), Art Newspaper (cover story), December 2012
Campaign Against Leafleting Bans – Lord Clement-Jones, Live Music Exchange, 15 November
Flyering is a vital part of grassroots live music promotion, Live Music Exchange, 15 November
Leaflet laws are killing comedy, say campaigners, Daily Telegraph, 14 November
Letter: Change leafleting laws, Daily Telegraph, 14 November
Josie Appleton discussed on-spot fines on BBC London News, 12 November
Josie Appleton discussed on-spot fines on You and Yours, 12 November
Josie Appleton discussed on-spot fines on BBC Radio London, 12 November
The private litter firm dishing out 700 fines a week, Daily Mail, 12 November
More than 73,000 penalties for dropping litter issued last year, Sunday Times, 11 November
Josie Appleton discussed on-spot fines on LBC radio, 11 November
Litter fines earn town halls over £665,000 as 200 people pay a charge every day, Mail on Sunday, 11 November
Police cautions lead to a 100-year criminal record that can wreck prospects of getting a job or going to university, Mail on Sunday, 3 November
Josie Appleton discussed on-spot fines on BBC Radio Teeside, 22 October
The Campaign Against Vetting was on the World Tonight, Radio 4, 22 October
Josie Appleton was on LBC radio, discussing Section 5 and free speech, on 18 October
Licensed leafleting means lost liberties in Britain, Free Speech Debate 17 October
Leafleting bans, Watford Flea, 10 October
‘Free speech in sentences’, Big Issue (North), 15 October
Josie Appleton was on Russia Today, on 5 October, discussing the ‘Banned in London’ map
Red tape: blunt scissors, The Economist, 22 September
Thousands hit by bin fines despite Coalition pledges, Daily Telegraph, 14 September
Olympic police state lingers in UK, Press TV, 13 September
Banned in London: The ‘hidden’ rules which forbid you from walking dogs or standing with a friend, Evening Standard, 12 September
The Legal Activities Banned in London, The Atlantic Cities, 12 September
Croydon has the most police dispersal zones, East London Lines, 12 September
Mapped: London’s Banned Zones, Londonist, 11 September
Banned in London: the capital’s 435 prohibition zones mapped, Guardian online, 11 September
How drinking a glass of wine in the park during a family picnic is now a crime, Daily Mail, 11 September
Dog-walking banned in 219 places across London, Daily Telegraph, 11 September
The unfree streets of London, Josie Appleton, spiked, 11 September
‘Freedom is not delivered, but won’, interview with Josie Appleton, spiked, 11 July
‘Fines by civilian’ appear on CRB checks, Public Service, 10 July
Ministers rule out rethink on ancient leafleting rights, BBC, 9 July
Civilian officials ‘given further crime powers’, Daily Telegraph, 9 July
Jacqui’s ‘civilian snoopers given yet MORE power’: Warning as ‘busybody’ numbers surge, Daily Mail, 9 July
Give us back ancient leafleting rights, says Lib Dem peer, BBC News, 4 July
Why do schools really stop parents taking photographs of their children?, Guardian, 23 June
London’s ‘Capital clean-up’, Open Democracy, 13 June
Josie Appleton discussed litter fines on BBC Radio Kent, 8 June
What makes a successful campaign?, AIR News, June
Don’t turn London into a ghost town, Sarah Boyes, spiked, 7 June
Josie Appleton discussed police powers for private security guards on BBC Radio Kent, 25 May
88,000 children branded racists: Pupils as young as three reported over name-calling, Daily Mail, 23 May
88,000 ‘racist incidents’ reported in schools, study finds, Daily Telegraph, 24 May
Ice cream sellers may face crime records check, Yorkshire Post, 24 May
Josie Appleton discussed hate-speech reporting on LBC Radio, 23 May
Civil liberties group slams Blaenau Gwent litter police, South Wales Argus, 22 May
Josie Appleton discussed fines for messy gardens on BBC Radio Wales, 22 May
These petty laws are an insult to the public, Josie Appleton, spiked, 17 May
‘Heavy-handed’ litter fines handed out by private firm in Blaenau Gwent criticised, Gwent Gazette, 17 May
Litter law enforcers cleaning up in Blaenau Gwent, Guardian 14 May
Warning over ‘busybodies’ given legal right to fine and demand information as numbers surge, Daily Mail, 8 May
Thousands reported to vetting agency but only 4% barred, Daily Telegraph, 8 May
Brent Council rubber stamps plans to licence leafleting in the borough, Brent and Kilburn Times, 24 April
Britse pedo-paranoia gevaar voor kinderen, De Volkskrant, 25 April
Josie Appleton discussed CRBs on Radio Five Live lunchtime show, 23 April
CRB checks top 30million but create ‘atmosphere of mistrust’, Daily Telegraph, 23 April
Josie Appleton discussed binge drinking on BBC Radio Wales, 17 April
Josie Appleton discussed hate speech reporting, on BBC Radio Surrey, 16 April
Pavement injustice, Pavement Magazine, 10 April
It is time we burst this ‘bubbling’, spiked, 10 April
42 Cardiff City fixtures designated ‘bubble’ games in past decade, Wales Online, 7 April
Group criticises Hampshire police’s ‘bubble’ plan for south coast derby, Portsmouth News, 6 April
Victory for Visiting Artists Campaign, AIR news, March
Josie Appleton was on BBC Radio wales on 28 March, discussing convictions for racist tweets
‘A minimum price clobbers sensible drinkers like us’, The Sun, 26 March
UK loosens visa restrictions for non-European Union artists, Art Newspaper, 22 March
Pledge to scale back checks on school volunteers has been fudged, says rights campaigner, The Times, 10 March
“Kettling” on the road, Free Society, 8 March
Opening a new route for visiting artists, Manick Govinda, Migrants’ Rights Network, 5 March
Josie Appleton discussed the citizenship test on BBC Radio Sheffield, 5 March
Free Movement, Free Expression, Free Association and Freedom from Bureaucracy and Big Government, Manick Govinda, Nowhere Island, 3 March
YouTube videos of speeches by Valerie Hartwich and Josie Appleton at the ISIL conference in Italy
What Big Society? Volunteering is a bureaucratic nightmare, Telegraph (blog), 1 March
Protect our infants from scary lift engineers, Camilla Canvendish, The Times, 1 March
Josie Appleton discussed CRB checks on BBC Radio Kent, 1 March
Josie Appleton discussed man detained at Gatwick for burqa joke, on LBC radio, 27 February
Brighton and Hove’s tough stance on mess, Brighton Argus, 25 February
Should there be fewer CRB checks?, Josie Appleton, The Times, 24 February
Street Photography – ethics, etiquette or free expression?, Pauline Hadaway, 22 February
Josie Appleton discussing CCTVs on BBC Radio London, 21 February
Josie Appleton discussed ‘racist kids’ on LBC radio, 20 February
‘Political campaigning in a new age’, Josie Appleton at OpenAIR, YouTube video
Are tree surgeons really a threat to children?, spiked, 20 February
CRB Checks Reach Record High, i-volunteer, 17 February
Britain under the microscope – vetting still out of control, The Free Society, 17 February
CRB checks on burger van owners defended, The York Press, 17 February
Devon County Council defends criminal background checks, BBC News, 16 February
Why do tree surgeons need to be CRB checked?, Conservative Home, 16 February
The Manifesto Club report, ‘Vetting Tree Surgeons’, was on Radio Five Live, IRN, 3 Counties Radio, BBC Radio Coventry and Warwickshire, BBC Radio Birmingham, BBC Radio Devon, BBC Radio Newcastle
‘Councils waste £45m a year on CRB checks’, Public Service, 16 February
Criminal records checks on volunteers double in six years, campaign group says, Third Sector, 16 February
Councils targeting burger vendors and tree surgeons with ‘unnecessary’ CRB checks, Daily Telegraph, 16 February
Crime checks for a million community volunteers as vetting spirals out of control, say critics, Daily Mail, 16 February
CRB vetting is completely out of control – and if you don’t believe me, ask Kate Middleton, Daily Mail, Steve Doughty, 16 February
The Manifesto Club report ‘Vetting Tree Surgeons’ was on the Today Programme, BBC Radio 4, 16 February
Josie Appleton was on BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine Show, on 13 February, discussing Enfield Council’s ban on spitting
Artists are their own agents of change, Guardian, 9 February 2012
Pavement injustice: the tyranny of on-the-spot fines, Open Democracy, 9 February
Sussex Police introduces more power for PCSOs, Brighton Argus, 9 February
Big Brother is watching: the CCTV that talks back, Independent, 6 February
Josie Appleton was on BBC London, 2 February, on Brighton council’s ban on bus drivers saying ‘love’ and ‘darling’
Are you one of the 20,000 people wrongly branded a criminal?, Daily Mail, 2 February
Thousands wrongly labelled as criminals, Daily Telegraph 2 February 2012
Nanny state makes a meal of child food advice with 80-page guide, The Times, 17 January
Islington set for massive CCTV upgrade, Islington Gazette, 16 January
Licensed to censor performance art, Manick Govinda, spiked, 16 January
Even Kate has to be vetted so she can go camping with the Scouts, Daily Mail, 6 January 2012
Lights, camera, points, 5 January 2010
Question on leafleting bans, Lords Hansard, 7 December
Great British pubs, but is UK Plc no place for the public house?, Reuters, 2 December
Nearly 200 innocent people branded criminals by Government, Daily Telegraph, 17 November
Volunteers aged just ten checked for criminal past, despite Coalition pledges to scale back vetting, Daily Mail, 16 November
Josie Appleton discussed on-spot fines for littering on BBC Radio Wales, 16 November
Scout leaders ‘routinely’ run criminal record checks on parent volunteers, Daily Telegraph, 12 November
Don’t police anti-gay ‘hate’ speech, Diva, 11 November
Josie Appleton discussed calls to ban Halloween on BBC Radio London, 31 October
Beware your public square, No CCTV, 22 October
Leafleting: A Liberty Lost? – Review, Culture Vulture, 5 October
Media misses the point, again: Student Visa Checks, Migration Pulse, 3 October
UK: Universities ‘over-report’ on foreign students, University World News, 2 October
UK row over teachers as spies – Varsities chafe at visa police role, The Telegraph (India), 1 October
Thousands of Pakistani students at risk in UK, The News (Pakistan), 30 September
Visa alert on thousands of students, Guardian, 29 September
Are UK lecturers spying on Indian students?, Press Trust of India, 29 September
Foreign students reported for UK visa breaches by the thousands, Visa Bureau, 29 September
Valerie Hartwich discussed her visa report on Sunrise Radiom and Josie Appleton discussed the issue on Russia Today, on 29 September
Universities report 1,500 concerns over foreign students every month, Daily Telegraph, 29 September
Visa alert on thousands of students, Evening Standard, 29 September
Thousands of foreign students reported over visas, BBC News, 29 September
Visa alert on thousands of students, Daily Mirror, 29 September
Beware your public square: Britain is under attack from ‘talking’ CCTV cameras, Open Democracy 24 September
UK Govt. Labels School Kids Racists, Homophobes, New American, 19 September
Hertfordshire children reported for racist and homophobic incidents, Hertfordshire Mercury, 19 September
Minette Marrin’s column, Sunday Times, 18 September
Birmingham schoolkids labelled most racist in country, Birmingham Mercury, 18 September
Op-Ed: Nursery school children reported for racist language in UK, Digital Journal, 15 September
3-Year-Olds Branded “Racist,” “Homophobic” Put In Government Database, Infowars, 15 September
Should schools report kids for bad or racist language?, BBC News, 14 September
Nursery school ‘bigots’, Evening Standard, 14 September
Adrian Hart discussed his report on racist incident reporting on Radio 5 Live and Radio Hull; Josie Appleton discussed it on LBC radio.
4-year-olds branded racist over innocent playground names, Daily Express, 14 September
‘Racists’ aged three: Toddlers among thousands of children accused of bigotry after name-calling, Daily Mail, 14 September
Children as young as four reprimanded for racist behaviour, Daily Telegraph, 14 September
Thousands of primary school pupils reported for homophobia, Pink News, 4 September
Thousands of under-11s branded homophobic, Sunday Times, 4 September
Policing the innocent, ignoring the riotous, spiked, 16 August
Public letter calls for a new visa system for leading performers, FreeMuse, 1 August
Council should scrap leafleting costs, Arts in Leicestershire, 29 July
The Manifesto Club leafleting report is on You and Yours, Radio 4, 29 July
UK Border Agency tells foreign writers to naff off, MobyLives, 14 July
Josie Appleton discussed leafleting bans on JackFM Hertfordshire, 5 July
Anti-bullying rule that brands children racist, Daily Express, 4 July
Campaigners call for relaxation of council rules on flyers, Brighton Argus, 4 July
Almost 2,000 children are reported for ‘hate crimes’, Scotsman, 4 July
Eleanor Mills: Putting a match to our civil liberties, Sunday Times, 3 July
Anger over leafleting crackdown, Buxton Advertiser, 30 June
Josie Appleton discussed leafleting bans on Three Counties Radio, 30 June
Leafleting: Public menace or good for business, BBC News, 30 June
Is your council restricting your free speech?, Mark Wallace, 30 June
Anger over leafleting crackdown, Bearsden Herald, 30 June
Bill Stickers is innocent ok!, Claire Fox, Municipal Journal, 30 June
Taking liberties with poster ban, Municipal Journal, 30 June
Josie Appleton discussed leafleting bans on BBC Radio Leicester, on 30 June
Anger over leafleting crackdown, MSN News, 30 June
The right to leaflet is a basic liberty, Josie Appleton, Open Democracy, 30 June
Local councils’ regulation of public leafleting an affront to our historic liberties, Josie Appleton, Conservative Home, 30 June
Lost cat? The licence fee you will have to pay to leaflet your neighbours, Daily Mail, 30 June
Councils’ crackdown on leafleting is ‘a blow to liberty’, says campaign group, Guardian, 30 June
Councils’ crackdown on leafleting is ‘a blow to liberty’, says campaign group, UTV, 30 June
Josie Appleton discussed footballers sacked for sex allegations, on the BBC Radio 2 Jeremy Vine Show, 29 June
Visiting Artists Visas – Open Letter to Home Secretary, epolitix, 28 June
How Britain persecutes visiting artists, Kamila Shamsie, Guardian, 27 June
World-class artists ‘put off coming to Britain by intrusive’ points-based immigration system’, Daily Telegraph, 27 June
Hur burkan blev en frihetssymbol, Josie Appleton, Voltaire Magazine (Swe)
Josie Appleton was on BBC Radio London, discussing plans to ban smoking in private cars, 22 June
Fun in the sun – when it’s not a battle to the death, Sunday Telegraph, 18 June
Dan Travis was on Sky News on 17 June, discussing his Manifesto Club thinkpiece on competitive sport
Wie die Burka zu einem Symbol der Freiheit wurde, Novo Mazagine (Germany), 27 May
Josie Appleton was on BBC Radio Tees, 27 May, criticising no-booze rules on trains
Dolan Cummings was on Radio 5 Live, 26 May discussing ‘responsible drinking’ regulations
How the burqa became a symbol of freedom, Josie Appleton, spiked, 19 May
Don’t touch — paranoia endangers children on sport courses, Sunday Times, 22 May
The Visiting Artists Campaign is on a WorldWrite video
Visa fiasco, Independent arts diary, 22 April
Josie Appleton on hyperregulation, Counterpoint, ABC Radio (Australia), 11 April
Police want booze snatch powers on every Islington street, Islington Gazette, 7 April
Annabel Hayter wins an Oldie Award for her opposition against CRB checks
House of Lords debate rocks points-based visa restrictions for visiting artists and academics, Manick Govinda, Migrants Rights Network blog, 25 March
We don’t need to be saved from the ‘demon drink’, Josie Appleton, 23 March, spiked
London mayor warns of damage to arts sector from new visa regulations, The Stage, 21 March
Government faces calls to overhaul visa rules for foreign performers, Guardian, 21 March
Visa Restrictions – the story so far, Manick Govinda, ArtsAdmin, 21 March
Textbooks don’t make terrorists, Nick Thorne, spiked, 17 March
Guilty until proven innocent: Volunteers forced to have a million criminal record checks a year, Daily Mail, 14 March
House of Lords debate on points-based visa system, 10 March
Freedom Bill: good news and bad news, Josie Appleton, spiked, 14 February
The Points Based System is spreading a culture of controls across the education and arts sectors, Valerie Hartwich, Migrant Rights Network, 15 February
The state of civil liberties in modern Britain, Dick Puddlecote, 6 February
The liberal tradition of the leafleteer is under threat, Josie Appleton, Open Democracy, 2 February
Child protection – a creepy cautionary tale, The Times, 31 January
Thousands could sue Government over unlawful ‘child protection’ sackings, Sunday Telegraph, 30 January
Kids put on ‘hate crimes’ list for schoolyard taunts, World Net Daily, 22 January 2011
Josie Appleton was on BBC Radio Birmingham on 22 January 2011, discussing racist incident reporting
Adrian Hart was on LBC, Five Live and Talksport on 17 January discussing his work on The Myth of Racist Kids
30,000 pupils branded as bigots: Teachers log ‘racist’ and ‘homophobic’ jibes in playground squabbles, even at nursery, Daily Mail, 17 January 2011
Thousands of schoolchildren branded ‘racist’ and ‘homophobic’ during playground squabbles, Daily Telegraph, 17 January 2011
Valerie Hartwich was on Ben TV (Africa), discussing UK visa regulations
Josie Appleton was on BBC Radio Wales, 11 January 2010, discussing the teacher sacked for taking his pupils sledging
The Manifesto Club’s visa campaign is on Radio Suisse Romande, 29 December 2010 (Royaume-Uni: des visas pour les artistes)
The hyperregulation of everyday life, Big Brother Watch, 7 January 2011
Send in the clowns: Britain’s bizarre new laws, Josie Appleton, spiked, 29 December 2010
The proposed cap on international students is discriminatory and a danger to British education, Valerie Hartwich, Open Democracy, 31 December 2010
Fury of music teachers over ‘no touching’ diktat, Daily Mail, 29 December 2010
The Manifesto Club’s Campaign Against Vetting is in the blog of the Swedish Daily, SvD, on 22 December 2010
Do I REALLY look like a paedophile, asks flower arranger sacked for fighting criminal vetting checks, Daily Mail, 11 December
Headstrong Gloucester florist loses church job for refusing “insulting” CRB checks, Sunday Mercury 12 December
Don’t touch pupils’ fingers, music teachers are told, Sunday Telegraph 12 December
Cathedral flower ladies quitting over criminal record checks, Sunday Telegraph 12 December
Cathedral florist ousted for refusing CRB check, Christian institute, 13 December
The revolt of the British flower ladies, 10 December, National Post (Canada)
Josie Appleton was on BBC Bristol and BBC Radio Sussex, talking about CRB checks, on 8 December
Annabel is blooming furious with CRB checks, Daily Telegraph, 7 December 2010
Rebellious Gloucester Cathedral flower arranger “forced” to resign, This is Gloucestershire, 7 December 2010
Gloucester Cathedral flower arranger who said no to vetting is forced to resign, Daily Mail, 7 December 2010
Nativity blackout: Parents banned from taking photos and pupils’ eyes covered up…all in the name of child protection, Daily Mail, 27 November 2010
Lord Vinson on CRB checks, House of Lords, 25 November 2010
A very middle class revolt! The flower arrangers and bell ringers fighting crazy criminal vetting of anyone who works near children, Josie Appleton, Daily Mail, 26 November 2010
‘The volunteers’ revolt’, Josie Appleton, Spectator (cover story), 25 November 2010
Refusing visas to artists will kill London’s arts, Munira Mirza, Evening Standard, 23 November 2010
Warning: cellos, paintbrushes, sketchpads and cameras on UK Borders Agency’s list of suspicious items,
Manick Govinda, Open Democracy 20 November 2010
A ban on the burka is really offensive, Ode Magazine
Millions “wasted” on CRB vetting checks, 1 November
Josie Appleton discussed the regulation of alcohol on Radio 5 live, BBC Radio Merseyside and BBC Radio Leicestershire, on 1 November
Josie Appleton discussed CRB checks on Three Counties Radio on 28 October
Review of Myth of Racist Kids, Francis Bennion
Prohibido prohibir – Ban the bans, Bruno Waterfield, EUObserver, 22 October 2010
Meet the Spaniards fighting to stub out authoritarianism, Josie Appleton, spiked, 21 October
Mum ticked off for feeding the wrong bread to ducks, Daily Express, 21 October
Manick Govinda, interviewed on Creative Choices about international artists
Woman told off for giving ducks wrong kind of bread, Guardian, 20 October
How the immigration cap damages higher education in the UK, Valerie Hartwich, Open Democracy, 5 October
Quarter of a million students reported for ‘racism’ by UK teachers in a decade , One India, 24 September
More Than 250,000 British Toddlers Labeled Racists, Fox News 23 September
Quarter of a million students reported for ‘racism’ by UK teachers in a decade, Sify News, 24 September
Deepening the Divide, Munira Mirza, Prospect, 23 September
Three-year-olds being labelled bigots by teachers as 250,000 children accused of racism, Daily Mail, 23 September
Adrian Hart was on LBC radio, 23 September, discussing kids reported for racism
Sarkozy’s tough and toothless war, Josie Appleton, Presseurop, 15 September
Why Sarkozy has declared war on his own population, Josie Appleton, spiked, 13 September
Proving you’re an adult turns you into a child, Dolan Cummings, spiked, 6 September
A licence to interfere in our everyday lives, Josie Appleton, spiked, 6 September
Access denied: how Fortress Britain is blocking cultural exchange, Guardian, 6 September
‘Alcohol ID checks ‘infantilising’ young adults, says survey’, The Publican, 3 September 2010
Dolan Cummings discussed the age checks report on BBC Radio 5 Live, Thursday 2 September 2010
ID checks ‘out of control’, Public Service, 2 September 2010
ACS slams Manifesto Club over age verification attack, Talking Retail, 3 September 2010
Adults ‘punished’ by alcohol checks, Press Association, 2 September 2010; and also in:
– Daily Mirror
– AOL News
– Daily Express
– Press Association Video
– Wales Online
– Evening Standard
– Belfast Telegraph
Alcohol ID checks ‘infantilising’ young adults, says survey, Guardian, 2 September 2010
Constant Age Checks are Infantilising Adults, Big Brother Watch blog, 2 September 2010
Red tape campaigners criticise stores for ID checks on alcohol, Yorkshire Post, 2 September 2010
Let’s call time on this flood of useless booze rules, Josie Appleton, The Times, 13 August 2010
Josie Appleton was on BBC Radio Wales discussing on the spot fines for littering, on 10 August 2010.
Manifesto Club’s visiting artist campaign was discussed in the House of Lords, 22 July 2010
Strangled and stifled by red tape, by Boyd Tonkin, Independent, 23 July 2010
Visa system – ‘damaging to culture’, by Lord Clement-Jones, ePolitix.com, 22 July 2010
The dangers of a burqa ban, Valerie Hartwich, Open Democracy, 19 July 2010
What’s criminal about a drink in the park?, Nicholas Thorne, spiked, 15 July 2010
Limiting the damage of binge drinking, Morning Advertiser 14 July 2010
Josie Appleton is interviewed on the burqa ban in Ode magazine (Dutch), August 2010
Josie Appleton was on BBC Radio Wales, discussing booze bans, on 14 July 2010
James Panton was on BBC Radio Scotland, discussing the regulation of alcohol, on 12 July 2010
Don’t tinker with the vetting rules: scrap them, Josie Appleton, spiked, 8 July 2010
Against the hyperregulation of alcohol, Josie Appleton’s speech to Westminster Food & Nutrition Forum, 8 July 2010
Vetting scheme ‘would not protect children as paedophiles operate online’, Daily Telegraph, 29 June 2010
Ditched vetting scheme ‘gave a boost to child safety’, Yorkshire Post, 29 June 2010
Society Daily, Guardian, 25 June 2010
CRB checks have cost sector £220m in eight years, study claims, Third Sector, 24 June 2010
Volunteer cathedral flower arrangers threaten strike action over CRB checks, SWNS, 25 June 2010
http://www.bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/home/2010/06/crb-checks-rob-charities-of-350-million.html, Big Brother Watch blog, 24 June 2010
Blooming daft: Gloucester Cathedral flower volunteers face criminal checks, This is Gloucestershire, 25 June 2010
Josie Appleton was on BBC Radio Sussex and Radio Oxford on 24 June 2010, discussing the vetting and volunteering report
Charities’ £350m bill for criminal record checks on helpers and volunteers, Daily Mail, 24 June 2010
4million volunteers forced to undergo Criminal Records Bureau checks, Teegraph, 24 June 2010
Enough with pavement justice from badged busybodies, Liberty Central, 15 June 2010
Mayor calls for overhaul of visas to stop harm to capital’s culture, Evening Standard, 7 June 2010
Recording and Reporting Incidents of Bullying Between Pupils, and Incidents of Abuse
against School Staff, Runnymede Trust, 4 March 2010
So far, so good – but there is more to come for ID cards, Open Democracy, 27 May 2010
Senior Arts Figures Warn Visa Rules are Threatening the Arts in Britain, Visual Arts and Galleries Association newsletter
I’m off, but the struggle for civil liberties must go on, Henry Porter, Guardian, 21 May 2010
Aged 36 and can’t get served, BBC News, 20 May 2010
Defend the Republic! Ban the burqa!, Josie Appleton, spiked, 19 May 2010
Points-based visa system alienates visitors to UK, The Times, 19 May 2010
Got any ID? These checks are out of hand, Josie Appleton, 14 May, Guardian Liberty Central
Josie Appleton discussed the Campaign Against Vetting on BBC Radio Sheffield, 12 May 2010
Hung Out to Dry – Britain’s Limp Result, Huffington Post, 7 May 2010
My ideal Queen’s speech, Henry Porter, Guardian, 5 May 2010
Boy, nine, put in isolation for calling classmate ‘chocolate’, Sunday Telegraph, 25 April
Iraqi artists denied entry to Britain for own exhibition, New Zealand Herald, 3 April
“Debatte”: Was ist so großartig am Wohlfahrtsstaat?’, Die Presse (Austria), Sunday 25 April 2010
‘What’s so great about the welfare state?’, James Panton, spiked, Wednesday 21 April 2010
James Panton reviewed the newspapers on Sky News, Friday 23 April 2010 at 20.10 and 23.10
James Panton was interviewed for Sky News on the implications of a hung parliament for UK politics, Saturday 24 April
Iraqi artists denied entry to Britain for their own exhibition, Independent, 3 April 2010
- For pre-2009 press coverage, see here.