City nuisance behaviour order breached 2,200 times

The Public Space Protection Order aims to make Sheffield city centre feel safer

A public space protection order (PSPO) aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour and aggressive begging in Sheffield city centre was breached over 2,200 times in its first six months, figures have revealed.

The PSPO covers the entire city centre and restricts drinking in an anti-social manner, aggressive begging, loitering, drug use and public urination or defecation.

A report to be considered by councillors shows there were 631 incidents recorded in July - the highest number in a month since the PSPO's launch in April.

Anyone caught breaching the PSPO can be issued with a £100 fixed penalty notice or face prosecution. They can also be ordered out of the area by police or council officers.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the report for Sheffield City Council's communities, parks and leisure policy committee showed that out of the 2,286 recorded breaches since the order came into force, 1,016 were for loitering, 681 were for begging, 327 for alcohol, 241 for drugs and 21 for urination/defecation.

'Deterrent effect'

According to the report, since the PSPO came into force there had been 827 occasions when people had been asked to leave the area.

Meanwhile, alcohol had been confiscated on 136 occasions, while drugs had been confiscated 31 times.

Although a £100 fixed penalty notice could be issued under the order, no one had yet been fined, the report said.

Sheffield Business Improvement District (BID) reported that it had seen several positive outcomes from the PSPO, particularly in terms of improving the city centre's atmosphere and reducing visible anti-social behaviour.

The increased visibility of patrols had been welcomed by businesses, contributing to a greater sense of safety and reassurance for staff and visitors, the report stated.

However, Sheffield BID also reported there were "concerns the deterrent effect of the PSPO is being undermined by a lack of enforcement".

"Where enforcement is lacking, the behaviours the PSPO seeks to address are beginning to re-emerge, which risks diminishing its overall effectiveness," the organisation said.

The report, to be discussed by the committee on Monday, stated: "Overall, the first six months of the PSPO seem to have been a success and have resulted in the city feeling safer."

But it added that "officers will need to adapt how the PSPO is policed and enforced to ensure lessons learned during this period result in further enhancing the city centre for everyone".

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