Public space protection orders

In PSPO areas, police officers, police community support officers (PCSOs), council officers and people we delegate can enforce restrictions and may issue fixed penalty notices.

On 9 July 2020, following public consultation, our Cabinet agreed to extend and vary the nd variation of the PSPO that covers Walthamstow, Leytonstone and Leyton.

The PSPO began on Saturday 5 September 2020 and is in place for two years.

PSPOs can be used to tackle issues such as

• street drinking
• drug taking
• aggressive begging
• use of threatening and insulting language or behaviour
• street prostitution.

In PSPO areas, police officers, PCSOs, council officers and people delegated by us can enforce the restrictions and may issue fixed penalty notices.

Breaching a PSPO restriction is a criminal offence. It can result in a £100 fixed penalty notice, or a fine of up to £1,000 if prosecuted.

More information on PSPOs

• Restrictions for PSPO areas (Word document)
• Areas covered by the order (PDF file)

On 9 July 2020, following public consultation, Cabinet agreed to extend and vary the PSPO that covers Walthamstow, Leytonstone and Leyton.

The PSPO began on Saturday 5 September 2020 and is in place for two years.

• PSPO orders in Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone 2020 (PDF file)

Background

The original PSPO was approved in 2017.

After public consultation, the order has now been extended for another two years, until 2022.

After 2 years the order will be reviewed.

Original PSPO (2017) covering Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone

We approved the introduction of a PSPO on 4 September 2017 in Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone.

PSPOs are used to tackle issues such as:

• street drinking
• drug taking
• aggressive begging
• use of threatening and insulting language or behaviour
• street prostitution.

In areas covered by the PSPO, police officers, police community support officers, council officers and others we delegate can enforce restrictions and may issue fixed penalty notices.

Breaching a PSPO restriction is a criminal offence. It can result in a £100 fixed penalty notice, or a fine of up to £1,000 if prosecuted.

PSPO (2020) extension: consulting with the public to extend the PSPO covering Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone until 2022.

Supporting documents

• Map of areas covered by PSPO in Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone (PDF file)
• PSPO orders in Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone (PDF file)

On Thursday 10 October 2019, we introduced a new PSPO in the northern wards of the borough (Highams Park and Chingford). It will run until 2022. We will then consider applying for an extension.

The PSPO gives police and council officers greater powers to tackle the following offences:

• failing to stop consuming alcohol or failing to surrender any unsealed containers which contain alcohol, when asked to do so by an authorised officer, This is to prevent public nuisance, anti-social behaviour or disorder
• begging in an aggressive or intimidating manner
• behaving in a manner that is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress
• urinating, defecating, spitting or littering in a public place
• parking or otherwise causing a motor vehicle to stop on zig zag marking outside school premises during operative hours

Breaching a PSPO restriction is a criminal offence. It can result in a £100 fixed penalty notice, or a fine of up to £1,000 if prosecuted.

Supporting documents

• Map of areas covered by PSPO in Highams Park and Chingford (PDF file)
• PSPO orders in Highams Park and Chingford (PDF file)
• Notice of Public Space Protection Order (PDF file)
• Consultation: Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) affecting northern wards in the borough (PDF file)