Our Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) have been renewed for another three years following feedback from our public consultation.
PSPOs help us manage anti-social behaviour in public spaces by providing the council and police with extra powers to act if someone’s behaviour is causing a problem for other members of the public. These powers include issuing a £100 on-the-spot fine, as well as Community Protection Warnings, Community Protection Notices and targeted patrols in hotspot areas.
Residents supported the renewal of all 12 of the PSPO behaviours. The highest level of support was for restrictions addressing threatening or intimidating behaviour (85%), alcohol-related anti-social behaviour (84%) and public urination or defecation (83%).
Councillor Joshua Ayodele, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Integrated Enforcement, said: “Your feedback told us that you think our PSPOs help protect children and vulnerable residents, reduce intimidation, act against repeat offenders, as well as improve the safety, cleanliness and accessibility of the borough’s public spaces. Your feedback told us we not only the need to maintain the PSPOs but ensure they are enforced effectively and consistently.
“In the last 9 months we have issued 576 Fixed Penalty Notices and carried out 1,507 interventions, dispersals and alcohol surrenders to individuals breaching our PSPOs. This further confirms that our PSPO programme is an invaluable tool which helps us crack down on crime and anti-social behaviour. We are committed to standing alongside our residents, protecting our public spaces and ensuring that everyone feels safe and welcome in their neighbourhoods and town centres, day and night.”
The PSPOs address the following types of behaviours:
- Aggressive or persistent begging.
- Anti-social behaviour linked to alcohol consumption.
- Anti-social loitering within 10 metres of a cashpoint.
- Anti-social use of amplification (amplified sound in public space).
- Anti-social use of vehicles on pavements/pedestrian areas.
- Public drug usage.
- Dogs needing to be under control, on a lead and their mess cleaned up.
- Foul or abusive language / threatening or intimidating behaviour.
- Making comments of a sexual or gender-based nature.
- Misuse of car parks.
- Misuse of fireworks (October to November only).
- Restriction on significant anti-social behaviour, individually or as a group.
In response to anti-social behaviour concerns, additional alcohol restrictions apply in Woolwich, Greenwich, Greenwich Peninsula, Plumstead, Eltham and Abbey Wood. Open alcohol containers are not allowed in public in these priority areas, except within licensed premises.