Students object to expansion of anti-social order

Revised plans to extend Guildford's PSPO go before council on 27 March

A proposal to extend a scheme targeting rowdy behaviour in a Surrey town centre has been criticised by students at the local university.

Aimed at tackling persistent anti-social behaviour, Guildford has had a public spaces protection order (PSPO) in place since 2022 which is up for review.

Students at the University of Surrey have described the draft regulations as "vague" and have said that they can be "misinterpreted in a way that can be harmful to students".

A spokesperson for Guildford Borough Council said: "In response to our partners and consultees, including the students' union, we have adapted the proposed restrictions."

The council is seeking to extend the order for an additional three years and to widen the geographical area it covers in the town centre, and to include Stoke Park and some neighbouring residential roads.

It has also proposed amending the prohibited behaviours, including restricting alcohol in public spaces and adding extra restrictions to rowdy and inconsiderate behaviour.

The revised draft restrictions will be presented to the council executive on 27 March.

Liam White, president of the Surrey Students' Union, said: "We are concerned by the overly conditional phrasing of 'acting in a manner that is likely to cause' and the vague nature of 'distress'.

"This feels like an extremely broad scope to enforce, given that members of the public may potentially be 'distressed' when encountering young adults socialising in public, even if it is not disorderly or anti-social."

Mr White claimed it was "unreasonable" to potentially penalise members of the public, including students, in the town centre.

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