Public Spaces Protection Order renewal for Northampton 2023

Closed 12 Sep 2023

Opened 2 Aug 2023

Feedback updated 16 May 2024

We asked

In August 2023 we carried out a six-week consultation on the renewal of the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Northampton to help tackle nuisance or problem behaviour. 

An order was introduced in 2020 to help respond to issues of (or those that cause) anti-social behaviour, such as drug use, street drinking and urinating in public places. this order required renewing. 

There is a legal requirement to have evidence to show the need for PSPOs to be adopted, varied, or extended, we therefore asked for people’s views, evidence, and information to determine if the renewal was suitable, as well as general views to extend the PSPO.

You said

There were 186 responses to this consultation, 158 were full responses, 28 were not completed entirely. Most respondents were concerned with activities deemed to be anti-social within the defined area with 131 people personally experiencing some form of this nuisance behaviour. 33 per cent of respondents felt that the current PSPO helped address issues, 29 per cent disagreed, 18 per cent neither agreed or disagreed, the rest had no opinion or did not answer. 68 per cent of all respondents felt that the PSPO should be renewed with only 5 per cent disagreeing (the rest were unsure or had no opinion). 

We did

All responses were considered and presented to cabinet, with the decision to approve the PSPO for Northampton being made on 12 December 2023 (Item 94. Cabinet Meeting 12 December 2023, link will open in a new window).

The Order remains for a period of three years.  

For updates on this and other WNC PSPOs please visit our Public Spaces Protection Orders webpage. 

Overview

We are consulting on renewing the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Northampton to help tackle nuisance or problem behaviour.  

A PSPO can deal with persistent and unreasonable nuisances and anti-social behaviour that has a negative effect on the quality of life for the local community in a particular area and intend to help ensure that members of the public and local communities can use and enjoy open areas and public spaces, helping to make Northampton a safe place to live, work, and visit. 

Background 

A PSPO is a power that allows councils to impose restrictions on a defined area to tackle nuisance or problem behaviour under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. 

West Northamptonshire Council have a PSPO in place that covers the Northampton Town area (Northampton Borough Council Public Spaces Protection Order 2020), which was introduced in response to issues of, or that cause, anti-social behaviour, this PSPO needs renewing. Therefore, the PSPO has been reviewed and we are looking to extend this for a further 3 years up to September 2026. 

The following provides a summary of what the PSPO covers. The PSPO disallows: 

  • The use of intoxicating substances, this includes illegal or psychoactive substances 
  • Having an item in possession to use/take an intoxicating substance, this includes needles, smoking devices that are not e-cigarettes 
  • Consumption of alcohol in unauthorised or unlicensed open areas, for example on streets 
  • Urinating or defecating in public places, unless a toilet has been provided for that purpose 
  • Spitting 
  • Riding a bike or scooter when requested not to do so by the Police or a council authorised person 
  • Busking when requested not to do so by the Police or a council authorised person 

Failure to comply with the order is subject to a fine.

The current Order also has provision for the control of dogs; these have been removed from this renewal, as they are now covered under a separate Order.

View a full version of the PSPO: West Northamptonshire Council (Northampton) Public Spaces Protection Order 2023 

There is a legal requirement for the council to have evidence to show the need for orders to be adopted, varied, or extended. We are therefore using this consultation to gather your views, evidence, and information. 

How to provide your views 

We welcome views on the PSPO and invite comments through an online survey which can be accessed below. 

If you have difficulties accessing the consultation, or would like a copy of this questionnaire in another format (including large print or easy read) please contact us using the detail below:

Email - communitysafety@westnorthants.gov.uk

In writing - 

  • Northampton PSPO Consultation
  • Community Safety and Engagement 
  • West Northamptonshire Council
  • The Guildhall 
  • St Giles' Square
  • Northampton
  • NN1 1DE

This consultation closes at midnight on Tuesday 12 September 2023. 

For further detail of how we handle data please see the Community Safety and Engagement Privacy Notice

How the feedback will be used  

The responses to this consultation will be collated and analysed and will be used to help form the final Order which will then be taken to Cabinet for approval. Should the order be made by Cabinet, as with the current order, it will apply to the Northampton Town area with further communications and campaigns to support this.

What happens next

The responses to this consultation will be collated and analysed and will be used to help form the final Order which will then be taken to Cabinet for approval. Should the order be made by Cabinet, as with the current order, it will apply to the Northampton Town area with further communications and campaigns to support this.

Interests

  • Consultations
  • Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs)