After Enfield Council passed a byelaw banning spitting, other local authorities have been queuing up to do the same.

So far, Croydon, Doncaster, and Havering have said that they'll seek to outlaw the habit.

Hillingdon Council, meanwhile, has defined spitting as 'litter' and is fining offenders under littering powers.

Spitting is often rude - occasionally, in cases of exercise or illness, it is necessary. But should it be criminal? The historic ban on spitting was related to the clear public health hazard of TB, which no longer exists.

The objection against spitting is that it is 'anti-social'. Which no doubt it is, or can be. But the criminal law should not be used to enforce politeness or mores: it is there to regulate genuine harms.

Hackney Council is advising clubs and bars to instill ID checks, in the run-up to the Olympics. Manifesto Club steering committee member Manick Govinda reports:

"Last night Hoxton Bar and Kitchen refused to let me and a friend in because we didn't have official ID documents. Apparently it is on the advice of Hackney Council, in the run-up to the Olympics, with the aim to keep out troublemakers. The bouncer was very nice and thought it was daft."

Josie Appleton comments: "The Olympics has become an easy justification for any authoritarian measure officials fancy carrying out. In July we are welcoming the world's athletes and media - that doesn't mean we need to become a police state. East London residents should be able to go for a drink without producing their documents."

Kilburn is following other councils in banning leafleting in time for the Olympics.

Under these powers, people must buy a council licence if they want to hand out leaflets in public spaces.

In other places where these rules have been enacted, they have had a disastrous effect on local groups, particularly grassroots arts organisations, who cannot afford the licence fee.

Leafleting bans also represent an erosion of fundamental freedoms in public spaces. They mean that we can engage with each other only when we have official permission, and a badge on our shoulder.

Read on:

http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/brent_council_rubber_stamps_plans_to_...

I just received this email from a lady whose husband was fined whilst giving blood. This was the first day of the introduction of parking fines on a Sunday, and he unknowingly fell foul of the rules while doing his good deed.

"I was shocked that Derby City Council wouldn't cancel my husband's parking fine while he was in a centre donating blood. Even though the National Blood Service issued me with written proof to send to the council they wouldn't refund the penalty. It was on the first day that parking fees were introduced on a Sunday. My husband has always parked there when giving blood on a Sunday. In effect he had to pay to give blood when he's already 'paying' healthwise to do this and giving up his time and petrol money."

In a promising verdict, a court has acquitted a mother on the charge of dropping a cigarette butt. The fine was given out by the private company, XFOR, which is paid on commission by the council to fine people for littering offences.

This pay-as-they-punish justice is liable to create over-hasty and erratic punishment. So this aquittal is promising and a sign that the courts can act as a check on unjust fines. As the mother put it, "They should get proof before they go accusing people."

Read on:

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/gwentnews/9714867.Ebbw_Vale_mum___...

It is common knowledge that photographers in the City of London face constant hassle from private security guards (see a film and blogpost on this here).

The Manifesto Club's Peter Lloyd approached City authorities, asking whether they planned to do anything about these over-officious private security guards.

With the help of councilman Alex Deane, we received the following heartening response:

Given the City’s history, it is vital that we remain vigilant. However, there is a need to strike the balance between the rights of the individual and the need to ensure that the City is safe for all those who either live, work or come to the city as tourists.

Statement by Manick Govinda, on a cancelled tour by a US pianist

The Manifesto Club was informed of a cancelled recital by the US pianist Christopher Atzinger who was billed to perform in Woking on Saturday 14 April. The recital is promoted by the Breinton Recital Society a non-profit, member society passionate about hosting top class musicians to perform in an intimate, informal and enjoyable surrounding. Atzinger was forced to cancel his UK tour due to "a tightening of UK immigration rules."

A blog post by Sarah Boyes

I was recently asked for ID at the till of a large London supermarket after a weekly shop that included a few bottles of wine. The cashier explained that she had just finished her training and had been sternly warned to ask for identification from anybody looking under 25, or else face a potential fine and criminal record. She added that the standards agency regularly send around underage shoppers to check cashiers are complying with 'Think 25' legislation, so was sorry but had to be very careful.

Under the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act of 2010, free arts events will have to pay up to £7500 for an 'arts licence'.

This appears to be an even more draconian version of the UK Licensing Act 2003, which has had a devastating effect on the live music scene in England and Wales.

The idea that free, grassroots arts events need to buy a council licence before they can put on a show means the death of independent civic life. We need a licence before we can leaflet, sing, dance, or show art.

This sort of rule penalises the smaller and more vibrant arts events, which cannot cope with the costs and the bureaucracy.

There is uproar from artists in Glasgow - let's hope that something can be done to modify this draconian law.

This is Exeter finds that 1000 people have been fined for dropping cigarette butts - many of them were fined £100 or more.

Of course, people shouldn't drop cigarette butts. But fines on this level look less like a reasonable penalty, and more like a money-making venture.

Many councils are now making thousands of pounds from littering fines, and the tighter their finances become the more predatory wardens send out on the street to nick people.

In fact, the issue of littering is better dealt with through public provision of (cigarette-butt-friendly) litter bins - and public education, encouraging people to take pride in their local area.

Read on:

http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/pound-100-fines-dropping-butts/story-15109...