Survey on extension of PSPO in Chiltern area
Wednesday, July 6th, 2022
Buckinghamshire Council is asking for residents’ views on its proposal to extend an existing Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) covering areas of Amersham and Chesham.
PSPOs were introduced by the The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, allowing Councils to deal with a specific nuisance or problem in a defined area. These are problems that negatively affect the quality of life for local people. The order provides legal powers to deal with a particular nuisance or problem in a defined area.
The Council has a key role to play in helping make local places safe to live, visit and work in. It is proposing to extend the Chiltern Alcohol Restrictions Public Spaces Protection Order for a further three years. It is asking for views on how the PSPO is addressing anti-social behaviour in the area and whether you think the PSPO should be extended.
Some brief detail is below, but but a great deal more detail and explanation is available on https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/communities/chiltern-alcohol-pspo-2022/ which is also where you can take the survey.
The closing date for this consultation is midnight on 25th July.
Chiltern Alcohol Restrictions Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO)
The Chiltern Alcohol Restrictions PSPO was introduced on 31 October 2019 to address anti-social behaviour associated with the consumption of alcohol.
The PSPO prohibits consuming alcohol or having an open container for alcohol in the restricted areas at all times. Anyone continuing to carry out these activities in the restricted areas is committing an offence.
Maps and lists of the ‘restricted areas’ are available on the YourVoiceBucks survey page In short, they are concentrated on Old Amersham, Amersham-on-the-Hill, Chesham Town Centre and Chesham Cemetery.
What is a PSPO?
Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) are intended to deal with a particular nuisance or problem in a specific area that is detrimental to the local community’s quality of life. This is achieved by imposing conditions on the use of that area, which apply to everyone.
Councils can use PSPOs to prohibit specified activities, and / or require certain things to be done by people engaged in particular activities, within a defined public area.
A single PSPO can be used to target a range of different anti-social behaviour issues. A PSPO can last for up to three years, after which it must be reviewed.
What can PSPOs be used for?
PSPOs can be used to restrict a broad range of activities.
Under section 59 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, local authorities must be satisfied on reasonable grounds that the activity subject to an Order:
- has a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality (or it is likely that activities will take place and have such an effect)
- is (or is likely to be) persistent or continuing in nature
- is (or is likely to be) unreasonable;
- justifies the restrictions being imposed.
How are PSPOs enforced?
Authorised officers from Buckinghamshire Council and the Police will be able to enforce the restrictions and requirements of a PSPO. This can include issuing Fixed Penalty Notices.
The Fixed Penalty Notice for a breach of a PSPO is £60 if paid within 10 days, and £100 if paid within 14 days.
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