The number of people slapped with £100 fines for breaching “petty” council orders rocketed last year.
Councils raked in cash from 10,000 fines issued over Public Spaces Protection Order violations – up from 1,906 in 2016 and 470 in 2015.
Among actions punished were feeding birds, cycling or shouting in public spaces, moving stones and putting up A-frames.
Critics say the powers, to fight anti-social behaviour, they are being used to punish “innocuous actions”.
Peterborough, Bedford, Hillingdon and Waltham Forest councils, which pay private firms to issue fines, issued 6,010, or 61%, of all fines.
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And town halls in England and Wales are also accused of using the orders to target the homeless.
Freedom of Information requests by civil liberties group Manifesto Club revealed 22 banned begging, 10 loitering and three leaving belongings in public.
Director Josie Appleton said: “Thousands are being criminalised. PSPOs often target the homeless. These orders are illiberal, scary and a public joke.”
Liberty lawyer Rosie Brighouse added: “We worry it’s a form of social cleansing.”
And Lib Dem peer Lord Clement-Jones said: “The rise in petty PSPOs and fines means thousands are being punished for innocuous actions.”
The Home Office defended them, saying: “We are clear PSPOs should be used proportionately to tackle anti-social behaviour.”
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