A Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for the Millfield, New England, Eastfield and Embankment areas of Peterborough is to be extended for a further three years.
The decision has been confirmed following a public consultation carried out in the summer in which residents were invited to comment on the proposal and take part in an online survey which received overwhelming support for continuing the scheme.
The council also carried out a review of the PSPO and gathered significant evidence which supported continuing the order, as well as consulting with the Police and Crime Commissioner, Cambridgeshire Police Chief Constable, councillors and key interested parties.
Councillor Alison Jones, Peterborough City Council’s cabinet member for housing and communities, said: “We are fully committed to working with partners, including the police, to keep members of the public safe and develop strong and sustainable communities, which PSPOs are helping us to achieve.
“By continuing the Millfield, New England, Eastfield and Embankment PSPO this will directly enable the council and the Safer Peterborough Partnership achieve our key objectives of keeping our communities safe, cohesive and healthy and tackling anti-social behaviour.
“The PSPO also gives the council and police additional powers to utilise alongside other initiatives, policies and investments dedicated to tackling crime and improving the quality of life for communities within this area of the city.”
The PSPO includes several conditions aimed at preventing anti-social behaviour including no urination in a public place, no littering or spitting and orders street drinkers to surrender open alcohol cans or disperse from the area. Anyone caught breaching a condition can face fines of up to £1,000 or Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs).
It was originally implemented in October 2021 and between that date and March 2024, a total of 50 FPNs were issued for breaches, with the majority concerning urination, defecation and alcohol-related incidents.
Following the consultation, an additional condition is to be included in the PSPO. This stipulates that no begging should take place within 10 metres of a cash or payment machine or any begging in a manner which is aggressive or intimidating.
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