Purpose

To seek the agreement of Cabinet to endorse the renewal of the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in Clacton town centre and its peripheral areas which expires August 2026.

Decision

To extend the Public Spaces Protection Order for Clacton Town Centre for a period of three years until September 1st, 2029, which will see this order through Local Government Reorganisation.

Reasons for the decision

To enable the Portfolio Holder for Assets and Community Safety to consider the renewal.

There has been a Public Spaces Protection Notice since 2007 in Clacton Town Centre and then in 2023 for Clacton Town Centre and surrounding Areas.

This enables Essex Police and Tendring District Council Enforcement team and the Community Safety Accredited Officers to remove alcohol from street drinkers, disperse groups and tackle Anti-Social Behaviour.

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 enacted powers to create Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO).  The purpose of a PSPO is to stop individuals or groups committing anti-social behaviour in a public space.

Alternative options considered

The aim is to improve areas in Tendring that have been subjected to Anti-Social behaviour where street drinkers and people congregate and where criminal activity takes place.

Essex Police rely on the PSPO to respond to Anti-Social Behaviour in the Town Centre.

To not support this work would be out of line with the Council’s Crime Reduction and Disorder Strategy and the Community Safety Partnership Priorities.

Essex Police have confirmed that they use the PSPO on a daily basis in Clacton Town Centre. This ensures enforcement activities can take place, alongside crime prevention. The PSPO provides a tool to ensure the swift resolution of Anti-Social Behaviour. If the extension is not agreed, it would also impact on tourism with reduced powers to tackle street drinking and would potentially see a rise in Anti-Social Behaviour.