This year has seen a growing number of councils proposing PSPOs – a version of asbos that could restrict people’s freedoms in urban spaces
A new form of spatial control order is being introduced throughout England and Wales that severely limits citizens’ freedoms within the city.
Public Space Protection Orders, or PSPOs, came into existence last year under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Similar to the much-derided anti-social behaviour orders (asbos), PSPOs allow for broad powers to criminalise behaviour that is not normally criminal. But where asbos were directed at individuals, PSPOs are geographically defined, making predefined activities within a mapped area prosecutable.
Following on from my recent piece about growing concern over privately owned public spaces (Pops) in towns and cities, this is an important and related issue because PSPOs are being applied primarily to public spaces – and because, as Josie Appleton of the Manifesto Club writes, the 2014 guidance “places minimal restrictions on the uses of PSPOs, leaving it open for these powers to be targeted against public activities that are merely considered unusual or unpopular, or with which the council disagrees”.
This year has already seen one PSPO battle in Hackney, where the council attempted to make rough sleeping a criminal offence within a designated area. Under pressure from local groups, and served with an 80,000-signature petition, the council withdrew the proposal in June. However, the Manifesto Club outlines dozens of other PSPOs that have gone into effect or are currently undergoing consultation.
Dover District Council created a PSPO in July requiring that dogs be kept on leadsunder threat of criminal prosecution. In Kensington and Chelsea, consultation is ongoing on an order that would make driving loud cars an offence, targeted at rich foreigners cruising the area in Maseratis and Lamborghinis. In Oxford, the council passed a PSPO that prohibits people under the age of 21 from entering a specific tower block, Foresters Tower. Bassetlaw District Council has created a PSPO that prohibits “under 16 year olds … gathering in groups of three or more”. Although PSPOs are often broad in spatial scope, they can be targeted directly at particular groups or activities...