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Public Spaces Protection Orders

Answer

The powers provided by the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 are deliberately local in nature, and it is for local agencies to determine whether their use is appropriate in the specific circumstances.

The Government is committed to supporting the effective use of ASB powers, while recognising that decisions on their use must reflect local circumstances. The Home Office publishes statutory guidance and works with policing and criminal justice partners to support their use. This includes encouraging early engagement between the police and prosecutors so that potential CBO applications can be identified at the earliest opportunity. The guidance also sets out the process for dispersal directions which allows uniformed officers to respond quickly to ASB, crime or disorder.

The Government has not made a specific assessment of the effectiveness of PSPOs in tackling persistent youth violence and intimidation in residential neighbourhoods. PSPOs provide local authorities with a flexible power to address persistent ASB in public spaces, where the statutory test is met. Decisions on their use are made locally by agencies that understand the challenges facing their communities.

The new ASB data-reporting requirements for local agencies will provide greater transparency and improve understanding of how ASB powers, including PSPOs, are being used.

We have also strengthened the ASB toolkit through the Crime and Policing Act 2026. This includes extending the maximum period of a dispersal direction from 48 to 72 hours, helping the police respond swiftly and effectively to ASB. We have also increased the maximum fixed penalty notice for breaching a PSPO from £100 to £500, introduced new ASB data-reporting requirements, and created Respect Orders to tackle the most persistent adult perpetrators.

More broadly, the Government is supporting police forces to tackle all forms of ASB, including drink-related ASB. Every police force in England and Wales now has an ASB lead working with local partners to deliver community-based responses through local ASB Action Plans. The ASB Action Plan for Leicestershire Police can be found here - https://www.leics.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/asb/asb/antisocial-behaviour/antisocial-behaviour-action-plan/

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

22409

Session

2026-27

Grouped for answer

Yes

Subjects

Anti-social behaviour Young offenders Public spaces protection orders

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk