Wandsworth will extend existing bans on alcohol-related antisocial behaviour, legal highs and certain behaviour from dog walkers
A South London borough is set to extend bans on antisocial behaviour caused by drinking booze, using legal highs and dogs in public spaces for another three years. Wandsworth Council’s Cabinet agreed the borough-wide plans, which include rolling out dog controls in more open spaces, on Monday night (September 22).
The council’s Cabinet agreed to extend restrictions concerning community safety in its Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which was introduced in 2023, for another three years. This includes bans on drinking booze and causing nuisance or disorder and using psychoactive substances, also known as legal highs, in all public spaces in Wandsworth.
The Cabinet also agreed to remove dog controls from the existing order and introduce them under a new three-year PSPO so they can apply to four more open spaces. The controls require owners to remove dog poo, put their dogs on a lead in certain places, keep their dogs out of specified areas and take no more than four dogs on a walk at any one time, unless they are licensed to do so.
The new open spaces covered by the order are:
- Oasis Green Space
- Swaffield Pocket Park
- Nine Elms Open Space
- Graveney Pocket Park
The existing dog control rules applied to all public spaces in the borough however these four areas were either created or came under the council’s management since the 2023 order was put in place, hence the need for a new dog-related PSPO. In the case of Swaffield Pocket Park in Earlsfield, that has not yet been built after being approved in May this year, but the PSPO will cover it when construction is complete.
The council will make a final decision on the plans on October 22. If the PSPOs are formally approved, they will come into force that month and last until October 2028. The authority will then be able to extend them for another three years, if it wishes.
A person caught breaching a PSPO faces a fine of up to £100, slashed to £75 if paid in 10 days. They may be prosecuted if they do not pay, which can lead to a fine of up to £1,000 or £500 if it concerns booze consumption.
A report by council officers said: “It is important to note a PSPO has a deterrent effect. An authorised person or the police will initially request that the individual complies with the order and/or disperses from the public space. If compliance is achieved voluntarily, then an FPN is not issued.
“If an individual does not comply with the order and/or follow the instructions of the authorised person or the police an FPN is issued. Accordingly, the benefits and effectiveness of a PSPO cannot be measured solely by the number of FPNs issued or enforcement action taken. The PSPO enables prevention and early intervention with the individual and provides an authorised person, the police with the necessary authority to instruct a person to comply with the PSPO.”
Labour councillor Kemi Akinola, the authority’s Deputy Leader, told the Cabinet she welcomed the plans as “community safety is paramount to creating our liveable, safe and thriving neighbourhoods”.
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