Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) enable Local Authorities to deal with a particular issue in a particular area that is having a detrimental effect on the quality of life for those in the local community.
In Peterborough there are currently two area PSPOs; one in the City Centre, one in Millfield, New England, Eastfield and Embankment area. There are also six PSPOs which are for the gating of alleyways that have previously experienced significant anti-social behaviour which has had a detrimental impact on communities.
The PSPOs will directly enable the Local Authority and the Safer Peterborough Partnership achieve their objectives to ‘Keep our communities safe, cohesive and healthy’ and to ‘Tackle anti-social behaviour’.
City Centre PSPO consultation 2023
We are carrying out a public consultation from 20 January to 17 February 2023 for you to have your say on:
- The Peterborough City Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO)
- The proposal to extend the order for a further three years up to May 2026
Visit the City Centre PSPO consultation 2023 page for further information and to have your say.
City Centre PSPO
The conditions of the City Centre PSPO are as follows:
- Persons within the area, on the request of a Police Constable, Police Community Support Officer or an authorised Council Officer are to comply with the request to dispose of or surrender any containers of alcohol in their possession or disperse from the order area and not return within 6 hours, unless for a lawful reason.
- No urination and/or defecation in a public place other than within designated public toilets.
- No begging within 10 metres of a cash or payment machine or begging in a manner which is aggressive or intimidating or is likely to cause someone to feel harassed, alarmed or distressed.
- No unauthorised cycling (i.e. in Bridge Street).
- Cyclists to dismount if requested to do so by an authorised officer if they are of the opinion that the cyclist is riding in an unsafe manner which is causing or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
- It is an offence under this order for any individual(s) to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any individual(s) by committing anti-social behaviour. Examples may include: use of offensive or abusive language, acting in an aggressive manner.
- Any individual is to disperse from the designated order area and not return within 6 hours, unless for a lawful reason, if requested to do so by an authorised officer if the officer is of the opinion that the individual is causing harassment, alarm or distress.
- No littering or spitting. It is an offence to throw down, drop or otherwise deposit and then leave, litter in any place in the open air in the defined area.
Millfield, New England, Eastfield and Embankment PSPO
The conditions of the Millfield, New England, Eastfield and Embankment PSPO are as follows:
- Persons within the designated area, on the request of a Police Constable, Police Community Support Officer or an authorised Council Officer are to comply with the request to dispose of or surrender any open containers of alcohol in their possession or disperse from the immediate location and not return within 6 hrs, unless for a lawful reason. Persons dispersed from the immediate location may remain within the designated area for lawful purposes.
- No urination and/or defecation in a public place other than within designated public toilets.
- Any individual is to disperse from the immediate location and not return within 6 hrs, unless for a lawful reason, if requested to do so by a Police Constable, Police Community Support Officer or an authorised Council Officer if the officer is of the opinion that the individual is causing harassment, alarm or distress. Persons dispersed from the immediate location may remain within the designated area for lawful purposes.
- No littering or spitting. It is an offence to throw down, drop or otherwise deposit and then leave, litter in any place in the open air in the defined area.
- It is an offence under this order for any individual(s) to commit anti social behaviour, as defined by Section 2 of the 2014 Act by conduct that has caused, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to any person(s) . Examples may include: use of offensive or abusive language, acting in an aggressive manner.
- Persons within Stanley Recreation Ground, Stanley Road, Crawthorne Road, Brook Street car park, Broadway (from its junction with Northminster and up to Crawthorne Rd and Burghley Square junction), Fitzwilliam Street, Church Walk (from Stanley Recreation Ground up to junction with Park Road) and Park Road (from Junction with Fitzwilliam Street and up to an including junction with Burghley Square) as defined in the map outlined in red are prohibited to consume alcohol or be in possession of an open vessel containing alcohol, other than on licensed premises, where a Temporary Event Notice is in operation in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003, or where there are any other authorisation i.e. Pavement Licence.
- Adults are prohibited from being present in a designated children's playground area unless they are accompanying a child of 14 or under, unless the person using the play equipment/park requires the attention of a recognised carer or they are present in an official capacity or with lawful excuse.
Gating Orders with Public Space Protection Orders
The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policy Act 2014 replaced Gating Orders with Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs). You can view the current PSPOs for the gating of alleyways below.
Breaching a PSPO
If someone is caught breaching a PSPO, authorised council officers from our Prevention and Enforcement Service, Police Constables and Police Community Support Officers can enforce resulting in fines of up to £1,000 or Fixed Penalty Notices.
If you see someone breaching the PSPO conditions, you can report it to the Prevention and Enforcement Service (PES) by calling 101 or 01733 747474 (999 should only be used in an emergency). Alternatively, you can tweet PES with any questions you may have via Twitter @PeterboroughPES.
