The Public Health and Communities Policy Committee are scheduled to meet to discuss a proposed Public Space Protection Order for Fishponds, and to note the annual reports from Environmental Health and Trading Standards.

Public Space Protection Order in Fishponds

The committee will consider a report about the introduction of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in Fishponds, following the expiration of a previous order in 2023. The proposed PSPO would last for three years, and would prohibit being in possession of an opened or unsealed container of alcohol in a specified area.

According to the report pack, there has been an increase in anti-social behaviour (ASB) incidents and offences in the area since the previous PSPO expired. The report states that this is supported by police and Bristol City Council statistics, as well as reports from local stakeholders. The report also suggests that 95% of community stakeholders support the introduction of a new PSPO.

The proposed PSPO would give Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), and authorised council officers the power to:

• Require individuals to stop consuming alcohol in public.
• Confiscate alcohol and alcohol containers.

Failure to comply would be an offence.

The report pack includes Appendix A PSPO Report, which provides further background information and detail on the proposal, including a map of the proposed area. It also includes Appendix F -Stakeholder Engagement PSPO, which details the consultation carried out with stakeholders.

The report also includes an Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA). The EqIA notes that the PSPO could have a disproportionate impact on young people, older people, and people with disabilities. However, it also states that the PSPO is intended to protect all members of the public, and that it will be implemented in a way that is sensitive to the needs of vulnerable people. The EqIA states:

Introducing boundaries for those causing or likely to cause ASB can also be a positive thing for the individual. Enforcement measures to tackle ASB are always used in conjunction with offering support, and therefore the introduction of a PSPO would allow agencies more opportunity to encourage individuals to access available help, such as addiction or housing related support.

The officer recommendation is that the committee approves the introduction of the PSPO in the mapped area of Fishponds.

Environmental Health Annual Report

The committee will note the Environmental Health Annual Report. The report provides an account of the main activities undertaken by the Public Protection Environmental Health Service over the last year.

The Public Protection Environmental Health Service is made up of 5 key statutory functions:

• Food Safety
• Port Health
• Pollution Control and Pest Control
• Infectious Disease Control
• Health and Safety

The report pack includes Appendix A Public Protection Environmental Health Annual Report 24-25, which provides a breakdown of the activities undertaken in each of these areas.

The report also includes an Equality Impact Assessment, which concludes that the report does not propose or introduce any new measures, and that there are no identified impacts of the report.

Trading Standards Annual Report

The committee will note the Annual Report of the Trading Standards Service during 2024/25.

The Trading Standards Service enforces over 1200 pieces of legislation that protect consumers and legitimate businesses. Key areas of work are the sale of illicit tobacco & illegal vapes, doorstep crime and scams consumer safety, animal health, food and feed standards and the regulation of weights and measures.

The report pack includes Appendix A2 ACCESSIBLE VERSION Appendix A ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRADING STANDARDS SERVICE DURING, which provides a detailed overview of the activity undertaken by the Trading Standards Service during 2024/25.

The report also includes an Equality Impact Assessment, which concludes that the report does not propose or introduce any new measures, and that there are no identified impacts of the report.

The report notes that the Service utilises the Management of Risk in Law Enforcement (MoRiLE) model for strategic threat assessment¹.

The report also notes that the Service works closely with the Public Health Service on both illicit tobacco and illegal vapes to protect the health of communities and address health inequalities. The report states that illicit tobacco finds its biggest market in deprived communities, and that the Service actively works to enforce regulations on the sale of tobacco and vaping products, focusing on preventing underage sales and ensuring compliance with product standards.

The report highlights a case where Karwan Asad, who ran Church Road Mini Market, was sentenced to a community order and ordered to pay costs after Trading Standards Officers found over £28,000 worth of illegal tobacco hidden behind a false wall.

The report also highlights a case involving Zring Mustafa, who ran In and Out, a shop in Union Street, Broadmead. Officers seized illegal vapes and illegal cigarettes from the shop, and Mr Mustafa was sentenced to a community order. The Service engaged with the landlord of the property, who terminated their contract with the tenant.

The report also mentions Abdul Oryakhel, who died in a fire caused by a lithium-ion e-bike battery pack overheating in his flat on Stapleton Road. The report states that Trading Standards are currently investigating a premises that was supplying and fitting illegal lithium-ion battery packs/conversion kits to bikes.

The report also mentions Atilla Kovacs, of Two Mile Hill Road, Kingswood, who was convicted of animal welfare offences and fraud.