Southampton City Council consults on extending Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) in the city
As part of its efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour, Southampton City Council is consulting on proposals to extend controls on street drinking (the consumption of alcohol in a public place) for a further three years
Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) give police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) powers to tackle street drinking, including the ability to seize and dispose of alcohol being consumed within the designated area.
A PSPO can last for up to three years, after which it must be reviewed. If the review supports an extension and other requirements are satisfied, it may be extended for up to a further three years. There is no limit on the number of times an Order may be reviewed and renewed.
The consultation proposes that the current boundaries are to be extended for a further three years from 2022 in:
- Bitterne
- City centre
- Portswood
- Shirley
- Woolston
Councillor Spiros Vassiliou, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Heritage comments:
“We know from working with Hampshire Constabulary, and the feedback we receive from members of the public, that street drinking remains a problem in commercial centres and public parks. Anti-social behaviour is a complex issue, and the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) is one of the tools used by police officers and our community safety teams to tackle activities that adversely affects communities, the environment, and businesses in the city. Now is the time to have your say on whether to extend the controls on street drinking for a further three years.”
The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2013 allows a local authority to create Public Spaces Protection Orders to restrict activities which are carried on in a public place and which are detrimental to the quality of life of those in the locality.
The public spaces protection orders provide the police with additional powers to tackle street drinking. These include directing an individual to stop drinking alcohol in an area covered by a PSPO and to require the surrender of alcohol if the street drinking continues. (The controls applied by the PSPO’s do not apply in areas which are covered by a premises licence permitting the supply of alcohol.) It is also an offence to fail to comply with the requirements of a PSPO which may lead to the issuing of a £100 fixed penalty or a prosecution.
Please complete the questionnaire to read more information on the proposals and to give us your views.
We are interested to hear about any ways in which the proposals could affect you or others and any alternatives you feel we should consider.
The survey is open until Friday 18 February 2022.
