Purpose

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member
for Communities seeking permission to reintroduce the Public Space
Protection Orders into 5 areas of the City after they had lapsed in
April 2025.

Decision

(i) 
To consider the representations received in relation to this matter
in response to the consultation carried out between 13/06/25–
11/07/25 as set out in Appendix 1.
(ii) 
To approve the new five Public Spaces Protection Orders to control
street drinking, drug taking and aggressive begging in the
localities shown in the maps at Appendix 1.
(iii) 
To note that police officers undertake the enforcement action
associated with the Public Space Protection Orders but the Council
may authorise other persons to undertake enforcement in addition to
the police.
(iv) 
To delegate authority to that the Service Manager – Stronger
Communities to authorise Council Officers to undertake enforcement
of the requirements of the PSPO (in addition to the police).
 

Reasons for the decision

The anti-social behaviour associated with
street drinking, drug use, use of psychoactive substances and
aggressive begging continues to cause problems in some parts of
Southampton and can have a detrimental impact on the quality of
life for those who live and work in or visit the city and generates
complaints to either the Council or the police.  The Safe city survey highlights the issues most
frequently mentioned and relevant to the PSPO discussions are:
(Appendix 2)
 
• 
Antisocial behaviour (69%)
• 
People using or dealing drugs (65%)
• 
Youth crime (59%)
• 
Aggressive begging (50%)
• 
Alcohol-related crime (50%)
• 
Residents were asked what would make them feel safer in
Southampton, the top responses were:
• 
Greater police presence (83%)
• 
Improved reporting and follow-up on incidents (65%)
• 
Increased help for people who are homeless (63%)
• 
The above suggests that the public support a balanced approach
combining enforcement and support.
 
 

Alternative options considered

To not reintroduce the PSPO’s –
this is not in line with key stakeholders’ expectations such
as the Police, GO! Southampton and 93% of people who completed the
30-day consultation for the PSPO’s being reintroduced. The
negative impact of this would be continued ASB with the potential
for street drinking, drug use and aggressive begging to increase in
the city, which is not in line with the corporate plan key
objective a safer Southampton.