Agenda item

The Director of Neighbourhood & Environmental Services submit a report to the Commission which provides an overview on the work of the Public Space Protection Order Zone 1. The report also provides an overview of the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order for Zone 2 and plans to implement. 

The Director of Neighbourhood & Environmental Services submitted a report to the Commission which provided an overview on the work of the Public Space Protection Order Zone 1. The report also provided an overview of the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order for Zone 2 and plans to implement.

The Head of Safer Communities attended the meeting to help present and assist with discussions.

Key points to note included:

• The Head of Safer Communities detailed the work carried out in quarter 1 of the PSPO. During the first quarter, 180 incidents had been managed, there had been 51 breaches, with the majority being committed by the street lifestyle community and with no means to issue penalty notices and 129 needed no further action.
• Additionally, 24 vulnerable people were supported, and 7 people were given immediate medical assistance in the street which included the lifesaving administration of Naloxone to prevent a drug overdose.
• The zonal work of the PSPO was highlighted in the presentation. The zones selected were high footfall areas, the main routes into the city such as London Road and transport hubs. Regular communication was had with the Police to reduce the overlap of resources so that more areas could be covered.
• Two key projects undertaken as part of PSPO 1 were highlighted, those being Cank Street and New Walk/Upper Nelson Street. On Cank Street, PSPO Officers consulted with local businesses to understand the issues and have since installed CCTV, gated off doorways and engaged in regular patrols. All of which has helped to reduce open drug use and rough sleeping on the street. On Upper New Walk/Nelson Street, the encampment on the Oval was moved on and work was carried out with businesses to make them more secure. It was noted that the work on both Cank Street and Upper New Walk/Nelson Street had received positive feedback from local businesses.
• While the work of PSPO 1 had focused on the city centre, PSPO 2 would target areas further afield.  To better understand the areas of focus for PSPO 2 a 6 week consultation period with the public was started on 1st May 2026.  Various forms of media were utilised to advertise the consultation period, this included Facebook posts, an appearance on Radio Leicester by the Head of Safer Communities and posters in LCC buildings.
• Following the consultation 1217 responses were received, including 12 from strategic partners. It was commented that many residents in the new PSPO 2 area welcomed the work to tackle anti-social behaviour however, there were strong concerns raised about the effectiveness of enforcement. 
• The key issues highlighted were widespread concern about open drug use and dealing, street drinking and related behaviour, littering and fly tipping, noise nuisance and feeling unsafe walking home, particularly in the evenings.  
• It was explained that the next step was to present the proposal for an executive decision.

In response to member discussion and questions, the following was noted: 

• Members praised the good objectives of the work and asked if they could see a higher resolution version of the map shown in the presentation. The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services advised that this would be provided after the meeting.   
• Members asked about the relationship between PSPO Officers and the Police and what powers PSPO Officers had. It was noted that local authorities must instate and lead on the implementation of PSPO's and that they can then delegate these powers to the Police, which the Council has done. It was noted that PSPO Officers could use the PSPO powers but did not have the powers of Police Officers.  Members further queried whether PSPO Officers would be patrolling alone and it was advised that Officers never patrolled alone.
•  Members asked if there was direct number that they could provide to their residents if they witnessed anti-social behaviour in progress. It was noted that a number and website will be available for the public to report issues in their local area. However, the Director of Neighbourhoods and Environmental Services stressed that PSPO Officers were not a blue light service. The PSPO Officers were focused on operational projects and constructive work rather than responding to active incidents, which was the domain of the Police.   
• The selection and funding of the PSPO areas was discussed, and members were keen to learn more about the processes. The fair funding settlement in the previous year allowed the Council to put more funding into the PSPO scheme and was used to increase the number of Officers in the team from 6 to 10. Additionally, it was explained that the areas were selected based upon reported data of incidents and that PSPO Officers shared a system with the Police to help better coordinate efforts.
• Members were interested to learn about the incidents which PSPO Officers had encountered during quarter 1 and what the escalation process was for cases that were progressed. The Director of Neighbourhoods and Environmental Services explained that in more involved cases a Joint Action Group (JAG) would be implemented with partner services such as the homelessness team, Police and homelessness charities. These groups helped to better coordinate effort on cases and address some of the route causes in individual cases.
• Members asked for greater clarity on how the PSPO 1 method would be implemented in zone 2. The Director of Neighbourhoods and Environmental Services outlined to the Commission that PSPO 2 would operate in a different manner to PSPO 1. As PSPO 1 covered a much smaller area, the Officers were able to patrol the area on foot but due to the size of PSPO 2 and the capacity restrictions of the team, PSPO 2 was planned as a targeted and data led project. Data collected regarding hotspots and areas of seasonal trouble, such as areas of Castle Ward during university fresher’s week were detailed as target areas.

AGREED: 

1)    That the report be noted. 

2)    That comments made by members of this commission to be taken into account by the lead officers.

3)    Officers to provide a high resolution map of the PSPO areas to members