Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs)
We can use these to deal with a specific nuisance or persistent antisocial behaviour in public areas. They let us restrict or ban certain activities that affect people’s enjoyment of an area.
PSPOs in place in Royal Greenwich
There are 12 PSPOs that apply to the whole borough. These are known as borough-wide PSPOs.
Dog control
In public areas you must:
- pick up your dog’s poo
- keep your dog on a lead
- keep your dog out of enclosed outdoor children’s play areas
- only have up to 4 dogs on leads with you at a time
There are some exemptions for disabled people, guide dogs and working dogs.
Read more about the dog control PSPO.
Alcohol
If you’re drinking alcohol in a public area, you must:
- make sure your behaviour does not cause harassment, alarm or distress
- give up any alcohol you have if the council or the police ask you to
- leave the area and not return for 48 hours if the council or the police ask you to
Read about the Woolwich town centre alcohol PSPO.
Fireworks
You must not set off or throw fireworks in a public area.
You must give up your fireworks and leave the area for 48 hours if the council or the police ask you to.
Car Parks
In public car parks, you must not:
- take illegal or psychoactive substances
- ask people for money, sex or other things for personal gain
- take part in illegal or sexual activity
- gather or loiter in groups without a good reason
- engage in antisocial behaviour
Drugs
You must not take or use drugs that make you feel “high” in public.
You must give up your drugs and leave the area for 48 hours if the council or the police ask you to.
Language and behaviour
You must not shout, swear, or act in a way that scares or upsets people.
You must not make rude, obscene or sexist comments or gestures towards anyone.
Cash machines
You must not loiter within 10 metres of a cash machine unless you’re using it to get cash out.
You must leave and not come back for 48 hours if the council or the police ask you to.
Aggressive or persistent begging
You must not:
- beg for money or food in an aggressive or persistent way
- keep asking or following someone to ask for money or food after they’ve said no
- use false or misleading information to persuade people to give you money, food or other items
Vehicles on pavements or pedestrian areas
You must not ride or drive any vehicle in a way that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
You must stop and leave the area if the council or the police ask you to.
Loud music or sound
You must not use loud sound equipment in public areas unless you have permission.
You must turn it down or off and leave the area for 48 hours if the council or the police ask you to.
Antisocial behaviour alone or in a group
You must not behave in a way that is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to people.
You must stop the behaviour and leave the area for 48 hours if the council or the police ask you to.
Alcohol control priority areas
These are areas in the borough where you must not have an open container of alcohol on you. It does not apply to licenced premises in these areas.
You must give up the alcohol and leave the area for 48 hours if the council or the police ask you to.
There are alcohol control priority areas in:
- Abbey Wood
- Eltham
- Greenwich
- Greenwich Peninsula
- Plumstead
- Woolwich
Download the boroughwide PSPO
Read the detailed wording of the PSPOs and view maps of the alcohol priory areas: