Councillor and Leader of the Council Richard Farnell has said "I make no apologies for trying to make Rochdale a more welcoming place for people to enjoy"
The human rights charity Liberty has criticised the council for clamping down on swearing and other anti-social behaviour in Rochdale town centre.
With all the horrific human rights abuses happening around the world right now, I would have thought Liberty had bigger things to worry about.
We are tackling a small minority of antisocial ne’er do wells who drunkenly shout and swear and harangue people in our town centre.
What about the human rights of shoppers and their children who have to put up with this disgusting behaviour?
I make no apologies for trying to make Rochdale a more welcoming place for people to enjoy. Traders support us because it's difficult enough to make a living nowadays without a few yobs turning shoppers away.
The council is spending £250 million transforming Rochdale Town Centre and we are not going to let a small number of drunken and abusive idiots spoil it for everyone else.
Offensive and abusive behaviour is already an offence, but police resources are stretched in dealing with this type of low level crime. We are working in partnership with them to use our powers to deal with this more effectively.
The policy has been criticised nationally by a few wishy-washy liberals and muddled thinkers. The huge response I have received from local residents is that 99% back the clampdown. And that's all that matters.
Yours,
Councillor Richard Farnell
Leader of the Council
14 Mar 2017