I'd be unnerved enough to call the police if someone stood on the opposite side of my street staring at my house. Even if I was a restaurant owner I'd call them for the same reason. But there are places that can arouse indignation over what goes on in them enough to protest them.
Thing is if someone wants to protest abortion clinics, go after the local authorities who passed the ordinances allowing them. Their police have to enforce PSPOs for them like they would for a home or restaurant. https://www.hambleton.gov.uk/anti-social-behaviour/public-space-protection-order-pspo
Now, the woman denies she's protesting, but the cop followed up with that terrible question, Are you praying? Was he going by some directive to interrogate someone about their private thoughts? Do authorities think they're God now? Or he misspoke himself. Interesting and likely helpful to her if it's a misspeak because his question becomes part of the official record of their interaction.
My guess is she was praying, but more so, hoping that by standing there she would prick the conscience of women going in for an abortion. But doing that's something that gets anyone in trouble. Doesn't matter if it's done in public or in private.
Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO)
In this section:Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) Consultation of PSPO, Jeyes Jetty
Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) replaced Gating Orders, Dog Control Orders and Designated Public Place Orders and can be used to control behaviours which are having, or are likely to have a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality.
Behaviours which can be controlled through restrictions or positive requirements within a PSPO can include:
Controlling access over public land. The consumption of alcohol Dogs roaming freely and/or fouling Storage of household items or waste Storage of wheelie bins Aggressive behaviours linked to begging, street peddling or preaching.
The above list is not exhaustive and restrictions or positive requirements will depend on the nature of the issue the PSPO is imposed to deal with.
Breaching a PSPO is an offence which can be dealt with through prosecution or by the issue of a Fixed Penalty Notice. The Fixed Penalty Notice value is £100.
Before making a Public Spaces Protection Order, the council must be satisfied on reasonable grounds that two conditions are met.
The first condition is that
activities carried on in a public place within the authority's area have had a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality, or it is likely that activities will be carried on in a public place within that area and that they will have such an effect The second condition is that the effect, or the likely effect, of the activities
is, or is likely to be, of a persistent or continuing nature is, or is likely to be, such as to make the activities unreasonable, and justifies the restrictions imposed by the order.
northampton.gov.uk |
