Walsall Town Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO)

Walsall Town Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO)

Walsall Council first implemented a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) covering part of Walsall Town Centre on 28 September 2017. This was put in place as a means to tackle on going anti-social behaviour that was having a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those who live, work in and visit the locality. The Order is there to ensure the law-abiding majority can use and enjoy public spaces safely, free from anti-social behaviour and places restrictions and requirements on the way people behave within the area covered by the Order.

The Order was extended in 2020 and again extended and amended in 2023. As it has been in place for a further 3-year period, it cannot remain in force unless extended by the council. The council is therefore consulting on whether it would be appropriate to extend or vary the Order to prevent the occurrence or reoccurrence of the behaviour it specifically prohibits. If the Order is extended or varied it will be for a further 3-year period.

Details of the current PSPO Order

Under the order the following specified things are prohibited in the restricted area:

No person shall remain in a shop, betting office, or food outlet so as, without reasonable excuse, to cause harassment, alarm, or distress.

No person shall remain at Walsall Market, shown hatched in blue on the map so as, without reasonable excuse, to cause harassment, alarm, or distress.

No person without reasonable excuse shall in a public place use a hypodermic needle to inject themselves or another.

No person shall, in a public place other than the carriageway of a highway which does not form part of Walsall Market, use a mechanically propelled scooter other than one designed or adapted for use as an invalid carriage.

No person shall, without reasonable excuse, throw down, drop or otherwise deposit and leave in any public place a hypodermic needle or other drug paraphernalia.

No person shall beg in a manner so as to cause harassment alarm or distress.

No person shall remain in a bus station, a bus shelter, at the cenotaph or in the doorway of any building so as, without reasonable excuse, to cause harassment, alarm, or distress.

No person shall consume alcohol.

No person shall consume any psychoactive substances.

No person shall, except in a lavatory, urinate or defecate in a public place.

It is also ordered that the following specified things are done by persons carrying on specified activities in the restricted area.

Any person in charge of a dog in a public place must keep the dog on a lead or otherwise under physical control at all times. The provisions of this Order relating to the control of dogs do not apply to any person who is registered blind in accordance with section 29 of the National Assistance Act 1948, to any person who is deaf and in charge of a dog trained by Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and to any person suffering a disability and in charge of a dog trained by a charity to assist with them.

Walsall town centre PSPO area

The order applies to all public spaces within the area restricted area and for 24 hours a day. Public spaces include the highway, public footpaths and public areas of land including communal car parks or grassed areas.

The PSPO area boundary map is shown at the top of this page.

Under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 Walsall Council are required to consult before an Order can be made (and held again when an Order is extended, varied or discharged).

After the consultation has been concluded and all responses and other supporting information has been considered, the decision will be made as to whether the Order is extended in its current form or varied for a further three period. A decision could also be taken that the Order is no longer required.

Please e-mail your response to consultations@walsall.gov.uk.

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Nick Peachy 9191
(West Midlands Police - Walsall LPA, Police Sergeant, Walsall - St Matthew's - Team 3)