City Centre Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) Consultation

Colchester City Council intends to implement the City Centre Public Space Protection Order.

Any representations relating to the introduction should be directed via our online form or by emailing safer.colchester@colchester.gov.uk.

If approved, the PSPO would cover the restricted area and last for three years.

We are inviting the public to share their views on proposals to introduce a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) within the entire Colchester District (Restricted Area).

The consultation will run for 14 days from Monday 28 August until Monday 11 September 2023.

The proposed PSPO follows complaints to both the council and the police from residents and visitors about antisocial behaviour, including:

• urinating or defaecating anywhere other than a toilet, or depositing any human bodily fluids/excrement anywhere open to the air
• possession of (without a lawful or reasonable excuse), consume, inhale, inject or smoke any substance capable of stimulating or depressing the central nervous system including an open container of alcohol in a public place
• behaving in a way, considered by a constable, member of the emergency services or an authorised person, that is likely to cause intimidation, harassment, alarm, distress, nuisance, or annoyance due to alcohol or drugs
• sitting or loitering on the highway, or any pedestrian zone of the restricted area. Demanding or begging, or perceived to be begging by an authorised person for money or any other item, whether placing any item before them for receipt of money or otherwise
• using a skateboard, bicycle, scooter, skates, or any other self-propelled wheeled vehicle, including electric scooters, to cause intimidation, harassment, alarm, distress, nuisance, or annoyance
• unauthorised advertising using advertising boards (A-Frames), or other structures including any hoarding or similar structure used or adapted for use for advertisements including flyposting (including the unlawful affixing of any placard, notice or sign to street furniture) or anyone permitting or benefitting from flyposting

The PSPO, if adopted, will restrict:

1. a person engaging in any of the activities anywhere within the restricted area as shown on the attached map and marked 'restricted area’
2. a person shall surrender any open containers of alcohol, equipment or paraphernalia being used to consume of any psychoactive substance in that person's possession to an authorised person.

This order is to impose the prohibitions and requirements detailed on the page, always, expect where specified exemptions apply or where our express permission has been given on the use of the restricted area.

Failure without reasonable excuse to comply with the prohibitions or requirements imposed by the PSPO would qualify as a summary offence under Section 67 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014. A person guilty of an offence under Section 67 is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding Level 3 on the standard scale.

Restricted Area

The activities described above would be prohibited within the redistricted area, marked in red.

You must send all comments and feedback via our online form or by emailing safer.colchester@colchester.gov.uk by Monday 11 September 2023.

Complete the online form