A round-up of some of the Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) in England and Wales.
Kirklees
Kirklees Council, in west Yorkshire, like many other councils has a borough-wide PSPO against dog fouling. The council does not have a PSPO to cover loitering, nuisance behaviour, or anti–social behaviour (ASB) associated with having structures such as tents within the town centres. A report to councillors noted that given the housing crisis, ‘temporary’ tents in public space are an emerging issue within Kirklees and ‘becoming more prevalent as other local authorities across West and South Yorkshire and Greater Manchester put in place PSPOs to cover this activity’.
A PSPO against street drinking and urinating has already been covering the three towns and a ‘Real Ale Trail’. The report to councillors proposed a single new PSPO for Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Ravensthorpe and Batley, to prohibit feeding of pigeons, ‘an emerging issue with the town centres, which is leading to more calls for service to the council’s pest control team’; besides a re-worded, more flexible proposed street drinking PSPO to remove the need to prove a ‘detrimental effect’ and move to a PSPO that covers being in possession of’ an open vessel containing, or pertaining to contain, alcohol’.
Nearby, Bradford Council is consulting this month until September 26 on its proposed ‘alcohol consumption‘ PSPO. An order, dating from 2022, covers public spaces in Bradford, Keighley, Shipley and Bingley town centres. It allows council officers to confiscate alcohol from those drinking anti-socially and issue fixed penalty notices if they refuse to hand it over.
Kamran Hussain, Bradford’s Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety, said: “This order enables council officers to take direct action on anti-social street drinking in our city and town centres. This is a vital tool to make our city and town centres safer and more welcoming environments for everyone.”
St Helens
On Merseyside, police and St Helens Borough Council are hailing partnership work in the night-time economy. St Helens town centre has a PSPO to address alcohol-related ASB. Besides the Labour Government’s Safer Streets Summer initiative running until the end of September, the council has run its own ‘Safe Nights, Great Places’ scheme.
Insp Tara Smith of the St Helens Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “We are pleased to see a positive impact being made but we know there is more work to do. Whilst challenges exist, they are being addressed through close partnership working. The town offers great places and opportunities for a night out, and it is only a small minority who may spoil this positive experience.”
Background
Set up under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, PSPOs sit amongst a range of powers designed to address anti–social behaviour. An order lasts for a maximum of three years when they need to be extended (after public consultation), cancelled or varied. Failure to comply with an order can result in fines.
