Barking and Dagenham Council is looking to renew two Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) in the borough and wants to hear the thoughts of the borough’s residents.

 

PSPOs are used to deal with antisocial behaviour within a specified area which is having a harmful effect on people’s quality of life. PSPOs put conditions or restrictions on an area which apply to everyone.

 

The two PSPOs that are up for renewal are in Barking Town Centre and Broad Street, Dagenham and both prohibit activities, such as: 

1.    Consumption of alcohol in a public place

2.    Public urination

3.    Spitting

4.    Begging

5.    Groups engaging in behaviour which causes residents and other users of the area nuisance, annoyance, harassment, alarm, or distress.



Since the PSPOs were brought in, in 2018, there have been 5,478 PSPO breaches, including 450 alcohol seizures in Barking Town Centre and 115 PSPO breaches and 64 alcohol seizures in Broad Street.

 

Councillor Margaret Mullane, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “Anti-social behaviour is a key concern for residents, and PSPOs give us further powers to intervene whether it is people spitting, drinking alcohol or harassing others.

 

“Tackling anti-social behaviour remains a priority for us, so I would urge as many residents as possible to please take a few minutes to give us their views.”

 

These PSPOs will be enforced by council enforcement officers, and can be put in place for up to three years.

 

The consultation closes on Sunday 31 January and can be found through this link here, where there are two surveys to complete: https://oneboroughvoice.lbbd.gov.uk/