‘People are scared their neighbours will call the police on them’: how the hosepipe ban got caught up in the culture wars

While many people in the UK recognise the need to preserve water, others are furious and planning to flout the ban in their area. The target of their anger? Failing water companies and frighteningly thirsty data centres ‘Plants are like your babies,” says Harry. And accordingly, he argues, most people would do anything to keep them alive, including break the law. This is what he plans to do this week – defying a hosepipe ban in place across large parts of England, to ensure his shrubs maintain a steady pulse. He may not be alone. On Tuesday, Thames Water became the latest company to ban hosepi