Redhill Public Space Protection Order (PSPO)
A PSPO can give local councils and police additional powers to tackle anti-social behaviour in specific locations to regulate activities that are having a detrimental effect on the local community. We also have Dogs Public Space Protection Orders in our parks and green spaces.
Redhill town centre and Memorial Park
A PSPO came into force in Redhill town centre in October 2017.
In the period leading up to the PSPO, there had been reports of anti-social behaviour in Redhill town centre and the council believes this anti-social behaviour is detrimental to the quality of life of the local community. There was also a Designated Public Place Order previously in place in Redhill to tackle alcohol related anti-social behaviour.
There was a very good response from residents and businesses to the public consultation in July 2017. 93% of respondents supported the introduction of a PSPO in Redhill town centre. In response to consultation feedback a number of changes were made to the proposed PSPO:
- the PSPO area was extended to include Memorial Park, and an area around the railway pedestrian underpass
- the wording was simplified to remove some duplication and in order to make the prohibited anti-social behaviours clearer while not prejudicing any particular group nor restricting rights of expression or assembly
91% of respondents also supported the inclusion of anti-social drinking in the PSPO. The inclusion of anti-social drinking enables alcohol related anti-social behaviour that has a detrimental impact to be tackled but it does not restrict legitimate consumption of alcohol, for example on licensed premises.
Summer 2020: Review of the PSPO
The first PSPO expired in the autumn of 2020 so the council consulted with residents, businesses, shoppers and other people interested in the town centre to find out their views on extending the order for up to a further three years. The council carried out a survey open to all from 6 July to 17 August and consulted direct with local community groups and partner agencies. A summary of the results of the consultation is available to read.
There was substantial support for the PSPO to be continued for a further three years. Participants raised concerns about the prohibiton of all cycling through the area covered by the PSPO so the order has been amended to prohibit dangerous or anti-social cycling.
Further information about the order and the prohibited behaviours it covers are provided below.
Prohibited behaviours
The list below outlines the prohibited behaviours that are addressed as part of the PSPO:
- Harassing or intimidating residents, businesses or members of the public
- Threatening any person with violence and / or being verbally abusive towards any person
- Urinating in an open public place
- Littering or spitting with the intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any person
- Wearing a piece of clothing with the intent to obscure or hide his/her identity for the purposes of committing crime and/or anti-social behaviour
- Dangerous or anti-social cycling. Skateboarding or hover-boarding in pedestrianised areas
- Acting, or inciting others to act, in an anti-social manner, that is to say a manner that is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any person
- Joining or remaining in a group of 2 or more people which is acting in a manner that is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any person
- Consumption of alcohol following a verbal warning by an authorised person to stop
The PSPO means that a person will commit an offence if they fail to comply with a request by an authorised officer to cease any of the controlled behaviours within the specified area (see map below). Breach of the Order could result in either a Fixed Penalty Notice being issued, or prosecution.
Downloads
Please see the links below for further information.