We last featured Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) – the Conservative Government’s replacement of Labour’s anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) of the 2000s – in our April 2016 print issue. Here we provide an update. Typically – in all regions of the country, and rural and urban – the new orders, as brought in under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, cover the same sort of low-level crime as the old, such as drinking and misbehaviour in public places such as shopping streets, and dog fouling. Here’s a round-up of some orders around London.
In north London, Havering borough has PSPOs around some local primary schools against illegal parking when parents are dropping off and picking up children. Drivers who park illegally may be issued with a £100 fine or in the jargon of local government a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN). The enforcement includes CCTV and automatic number plate recognition software.
In Surrey, Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) wants to hear from local residents, businesses and users of the site about whether a PSPO should be introduced at Kingston Road Recreation Ground in Leatherhead. This follows reports from partner agencies and residents who identified an increase in anti-social drinking at the recreation ground. Visit www.molevalley.gov.uk/pspo.
In north London, Brent Council in November and December 2016 was consulting to extend a PSPO, until December 2017, which banned the practice of picking up workers for casual cash in hand labour within a specified area of NW9. Casual workers hired in this way are often exploited, earning less than the minimum wage and exposed to unsafe workplaces, according to the council. The congregation of people looking for casual work has long been causing problems, the borough says; harassing and intimidating passers-by and causing other anti-social behaviour in the area. For years residents and businesses have complained about groups of casual labourers congregating in Honeypot Lane and surrounding roads and car parks. A side-effect of this labour market is more rough sleeping in Brent’s parks, street drinking and a spike in offences such as criminal damage and burglary, says Brent. Small businesses or anyone caught picking up casual workers in the area will face an instant £75 fine or possible criminal prosecution.
Visit www.brent.gov.uk/pspo.
In south London, Wandsworth council is asking residents for their views on a proposed PSPO in Tooting; after the last 12 months there have seen an increase in street drinking and begging in Tooting town centre. Wandsworth says that the proposed PSPO would be used with the existing policy of sending drug and alcohol outreach workers into the community to engage with street drinkers and encourage them into treatment.
Community services spokesman, Wandsworth councillor Jonathan Cook said: “We have heard local people’s complaints about an increase in anti-social behaviour in this part of the borough. Imposing a PSPO will give our community safety team and the police more powers to do something about persistent bad behaviour that is damaging the quality of life of people living in the area.”
Likewise a PSPO came into force at the Broadway Bexleyheath shopping centre in suburban London on December 19, against youth anti-social behaviour and skateboarding, as harming local trade. Tony Garrett, Bexleyheath Business Improvement District (BID) manager added: “The business community and the BID are happy to work with the police and the Council to identify, engage and address the issues highlighted in the Order. We hope that clear rules and information on what is appropriate behaviour in our busy town centre – backed up with enforcement where necessary – will benefit everyone.”
Picture by Mark Rowe; Brixton.
