HUMAN rights group Liberty hit out yesterday at a local authority’s “staggering misuse” of legislation to try to outlaw swearing in public.

Last summer, Salford City Council introduced a controversial public spaces protection order (PSPO) in parts of the affluent Quays docklands development in an attempt to curb anti-social behaviour.

But Liberty said that enforcement of the order could have a “chilling effect” on freedom of expression because, it claims, the order fails to define clearly one of the prohibited activities — “using foul and abusive language.”