|
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
|
A BRIEF EXPLANATION |
||||||||||||
|
Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) is a powerful tool under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. When a local authority grants one, it provides West Midlands Police and Council enforcement officers with several tactical advantages to manage local issues. Here are the primary advantages for the police when a PSPO is in place: 1. Lower Threshold for Intervention Without a PSPO, police often need to prove that a specific crime (like assault or criminal damage) has occurred. The Advantage: A PSPO allows police to intervene before a situation escalates. They can stop activities that are not "crimes" in the traditional sense but cause "harassment, alarm, or distress" (e.g., street drinking, aggressive begging, or loitering in groups). 2. Immediate Enforcement Powers A PSPO turns a "nuisance" into an enforceable offence. Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs): Officers can issue an on-the-spot fine (usually up to £100). Power of Seizure: If the PSPO prohibits alcohol consumption in a certain area, officers have the immediate right to ask a person to stop drinking and to surrender the alcohol. Failure to comply is a criminal offence. 3. Clear Boundaries and Rules Vague laws can be hard to police. A PSPO provides a "code of conduct" for a specific geographic area (like a town centre or a park). Defined Zones: It creates a clear "red line" on a map where certain rules apply. Specific Prohibitions: It can ban very specific behaviours that are unique to that area, such as the use of "legal highs" (psychoactive substances), unauthorized busking, or face-coverings used to intimidate. 4. Simplified Prosecution If an individual breaches a PSPO and does not pay the FPN, the police/council can prosecute them in a Magistrates' Court. The Advantage: The prosecution is based on the breach of the order rather than the complexity of the original anti-social behaviour. This is often a faster and more cost-effective legal route than pursuing other criminal charges. 5. Displacement and Intelligence Because PSPOs are often advertised on WMnow and local signage, they act as a deterrent. Disrupting Patterns: It gives police the legal grounds to "move on" individuals who are known to cause trouble in a specific hotspot, disrupting their ability to gather or plan activities.
| ||||||||||||
Reply to this message | ||||||||||||
|
|
