City Centre Public Space Protection Order

Overview

A safe and welcoming city centre is something everyone values, and the City of Wolverhampton Council is committed to ensuring it is the very best it can be so that residents and visitors alike enjoy positive experiences whenever they visit.

Ambitious and exciting developments are unfolding in the heart of Wolverhampton, enhancing the vibrant experience that visitors can look forward to when exploring the city.

As with many major towns and cities, Wolverhampton experiences some unacceptable behaviour in its city centre. The Council is seeking public views on whether a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) should be introduced to help tackle these issues.

Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) are intended to prevent individuals or groups from engaging in anti-social behaviour within public areas.

The aim of the proposed PSPO is to help address issues which can contribute to anti-social behaviour such as drinking alcohol in public places, using drugs, loitering, aggressive begging, urinating/defecating in public, loud music, and e-bikes/e-scooters

PSPOs can be enforced through Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN’s) issued to those who break the rules. The Council, however, will work with its partners to ensure a coordinated approach that is fair, proportionate, and reasonable, making use of all available options to tackle anti-social behaviour. This may include offering support and introducing positive requirements for individuals found in breach of the PSPO. There can also be more serious sanctions where people are persistently causing nuisance behaviour.

The PSPO will also be an opportunity to highlight the existing partnership work which takes place in Wolverhampton by organisations including City of Wolverhampton Council, West Midlands Police, Wolverhampton ASB Team, Recovery Near You, P3, The Good Shepherd, Offending 2 Recovery, Street Link, Alternative Giving, Wolverhampton BID. Support will be provided to individuals who breach the PSPO, with referrals made to agencies and programmes offering alternatives to their current behaviour.

Before introducing a PSPO, councils must consult with the public as well as relevant organisations and stakeholders—and we are keen to hear your views.

This consultation aims to gather views on:

a. Whether people have experienced anti-social behaviour in the city centre

b. Whether the Council should introduce a PSPO, and

c. Opinions on the PSPO proposals being considered.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.

For further details on how the information you provide will be used, please read our privacy notice.