Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) Haverhill consultation
Audience: Business, residents, schools, community organisations, and residents associations
This consultation is now closed. It was open from 18 January 2021 to 22 February 2021.
Why we are consulting
West Suffolk Council recently conducted a review of the existing public space protection orders (PSPOs) and as part of that process received a further request to consider removing an area from the existing Haverhill PSPO.
Based on these requests, we are considering making removing the PSPO covering Tudor Close, Haverhill.
Before introducing, extending, varying or discharging a PSPO, the council is required to consult with the local chief officer of police, the police and crime commissioner, owners or occupiers of land within the affected area where reasonably practicable, and appropriate community representatives.
As such, it is the council’s responsibility to consult with local residence, businesses and community organisations to contribute key local knowledge to our evidence base through which a final decision can be reached.
Additional information
What is a Public Space Protection Order?
Public space protection orders (PSPOs) are used to help tackle antisocial behaviour, with the aim of ensuring public spaces can be enjoyed free from anti-social behaviour.
PSPOs are introduced under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which gives local authorities the power to restrict certain behaviours within a specified area.
Local authorities use public space protection orders to help deal with behaviour that is having or is likely to have a harmful effect on a local community’s quality of life.
What a Public Space Protection Order does
A single PSPO can be used to target a range of different antisocial behaviour issues.
Orders allow councils to introduce reasonable prohibitions and/or requirements regarding certain behaviours within the specified public area and may also include prescribed exemptions.
Where councils have identified that a PSPO may be a suitable response to a particular local issue, the authority must then consider how to ensure they meet the statutory criteria. This will include determining:
- the appropriate scope of the order
- the area covered by the restrictions
- the potential impact of the proposals
- how each of the restrictions meets the legal test.