Public Space Protection Orders

What is a Public Space Protection Order?

A Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) is intended to deal with persistent anti-social behaviour in a local area that is detrimental to the community's quality of life. They do so by imposing conditions on the use of that area to ensure everyone can use and enjoy public spaces without experiencing nuisance and annoyance.

A PSPO is a legal measure that is enforceable under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. PSPOs are used to protect the public from behaviour that is having, or is likely to have, a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the area and the behaviour is persistent and unreasonable (or likely to be).

What does a PSPO do?

The PSPO can restrict activities in a certain area, e.g. restrict certain behaviour or allow alcohol, drugs and drug taking equipment to be confiscated. A breach of a PSPO is a criminal offence and can be enforced by a police officer, police community support officer and authorised Council officers. A Fixed Penalty Notice of up to £100 can be issued or a fine of up to £1,000 on prosecution.

Frequently asked question

Frequently asked questions and answers about the PSPO can be found here

Current PSPOs

Redditch Borough Council Public Space Protection Order 2023 - Redditch Town Centre

Redditch Borough Council Executive Committee authorised the making of the PSPO on 5 December 2023 following statutory public consultation carried out between 29^th September and 29^th October 2023.

The Order comes into force on the 1^st Jan 2024 and expires on the 31^st December 2027.

The effect of the Redditch Town Centre PSPO is to prohibit Alcohol Related Anti-Social Behaviour, Misuse of Intoxicating substances, Public Urination and Defecation and Threatening, Abusive, Obscene or Offensive Behaviour and Language  in the restricted area

The Order can be viewed here

A person who fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the PSPO will be committing an offence and will be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale or a fixed penalty notice of up to £100 (reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days).

Enforcement under the order will commence from the 1^st April 2024, following a period of education.