The Communities and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel of Doncaster Council met on Thursday 06 August 2026 to discuss the renewal of the Doncaster City Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO). The panel noted the consultation outcomes and gave consideration to the revised PSPO. They also noted the intention of the UK Government to increase the maximum Fixed Penalty Notice for breach of a PSPO. The panel was informed about the process for issuing notices to individuals without a fixed abode and how the renewed PSPO will be monitored, including data collection on breaches, warnings, FPNs, and enforcement outcomes, as well as feedback from businesses, residents, and visitors. The panel also discussed the new prohibition on amplified equipment, its rationale, and exemptions. The panel noted the recommendations regarding the PSPO review.

Doncaster City Centre Public Spaces Protection Order Review

The panel discussed the proposed renewal of the Doncaster City Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which was first introduced in 2017 and is due to expire on 6 November 2026. The renewal aims to continue tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the city centre, supporting the Council's wider ambitions for regeneration and creating a safer, cleaner, and more vibrant environment.

A comprehensive public consultation was undertaken, receiving 1,558 responses, including from 53 businesses. The results showed strong support for renewing the PSPO and its existing prohibitions, with a clear expectation for improved visibility, stronger enforcement, and clear consequences for breaches. Respondents acknowledged the complexity of issues such as homelessness, addiction, and mental ill-health, and supported a balanced approach combining enforcement with engagement and support services.

The current PSPO includes seven prohibitions: begging, loitering, no return within 24 hours if asked to leave, drinking alcohol in public areas, taking drugs or other banned substances, urination and defecation in public, and tampering with parking equipment. The proposal was to maintain these seven prohibitions with no changes.

A new, eighth prohibition was proposed to address the use of amplified equipment in the city centre. This aims to deter the use of such equipment in a manner that causes harassment, alarm, distress, nuisance, or annoyance, adversely affecting people's feelings of safety and the vibrancy of the city centre. Exemptions would apply for approved events with prior written council approval.

Key discussions and points raised included:

• Effectiveness of Prohibitions: The panel heard that the 24-hour no-return prohibition is a valuable operational tool for disrupting ASB and providing immediate relief. However, effectiveness is also demonstrated when a prohibition is no longer required, as seen in the removal of previous prohibitions relating to group gatherings, chugging, and camping.
• Enforcement Capacity: The panel was informed that authorised officers are primarily within the Safer Communities team, with some in regulation enforcement. There has been an increase in staffing supported by additional investment, bringing the total to 37 officers who can enforce the PSPO from a council perspective.
• Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) and Prosecutions: In the last three years, 400 FPNs were issued in response to 2,128 recorded breaches. It was cautioned that success should not be judged purely on fines, as a small number of individuals are responsible for a significant proportion of ASB, often with complex needs. The PSPO is seen as a wider intervention, with cases escalated to Community Protection Warnings (CPWs), Community Protection Notices (CPNs), and injunctions, including 12-month bans from the city centre. Unpaid FPNs are progressed through the legal process, with examples of court-imposed fines, victim surcharges, and costs provided.
• Necessity of the PSPO: Consultation feedback and enforcement data demonstrated that the PSPO remains necessary to address persistent ASB, is proportionate in its application, and is a justified measure to protect the rights of others to safely use the city centre. It is viewed as one component of a wider prevention, support, and place-based improvement programme.
• Consultation with Staff: While the public consultation was anonymous, day-to-day discussions with staff and partners consistently recognise the value of the PSPO. The principal concern raised by practitioners is not whether the PSPO should continue, but how to manage the relatively small number of individuals causing the most issues effectively.
• Issuing Notices to Individuals without Fixed Abode: Officers confirmed that notices can be issued to individuals without a fixed abode, and this is achieved by actively seeking out those individuals within the city centre.
• Monitoring of the Renewed PSPO: An ongoing monitoring process is in place, tracking all PSPO breaches, warnings, FPNs, and enforcement outcomes. ASB incidents reported by South Yorkshire Police and British Transport Police are received on a live basis. Repeat offender activity is monitored by individual and by location (hotspots). Feedback from businesses, residents, and visitors is also a crucial part of monitoring. Data is provided to partnership tasking meetings and Your Neighbourhood meetings for independent scrutiny.
• Use of Amplified Equipment: The new prohibition on amplified equipment arose from a volume of complaints, particularly regarding breaches causing significant concern and a spike in incidents in 2024. This prohibition is not intended to prohibit legitimate street entertainment or council-authorised events. Exceptions are in place for announcements or events with prior written council approval. It aims to manage behaviour and noise levels where they tip into anti-social behaviour, without prohibiting reasonable and encouraged activities.
• Recommendations: The panel noted the consultation outcomes and gave consideration to the revised PSPO. The panel also noted the intention of the UK Government to increase the maximum Fixed Penalty Notice for breach of a PSPO.

Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan and Council's Forward Plan of Key Decisions

Christine Rothwell provided a regular update on the council's forward plan of key decisions and the work plan. It was noted that the work plan was slightly out of date, with curbside waste collection now scheduled to be considered on 22 October. The panel noted the report.

The meeting concluded with thanks to the officers for their time and information.