Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in Gateshead Town Centre
Gateshead Council is consulting on a proposed Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for an area of Gateshead, which includes the main town centre. This will allow the Council to introduce a range of measures to address antisocial behaviour issues and help improve public spaces in this area.
PSPOs are a new provision, created by the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 intended to deal with any particular nuisances or problems in a defined area that can be detrimental to the local community's quality of life. They can help by giving local authorities and police additional powers to tackle anti-social behaviour. The aim is to stop individuals or groups committing anti-social behaviour in public spaces by introducing restrictions on the use of an area.
If anyone fails to meet the requirements of the PSPO or to comply with a request from a police officer, police community support officer (PCSO) or authorised council officer, they could be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) of up to £100 or prosecuted. However, these measures are designed to deal with extremes of anti-social behaviour and authorised officers will take a proportionate and common sense approach in their application.
The PSPO would seek to control a number of behaviours across the Town Centre (see PSPO boundary map below). This includes parks, streets, and other pulbic places, but not public houses or licensed beer gardens or pavement cafes.
You can view feedback from the consultation by clicking here