Stop Public Space Protection Orders

from being enforced in Brighton and

across the UK
We, the undersigned, do not want PSPOs enforced in our local community or anywhere in the UK
because they stop people from being able to engage in public spaces in a positive way and criminalise
outdoor activities. Brighton and Hove are surrounded by natural beauty with the Downs on one side
and the seafront on the other. These areas should be respected and the public should be able to
engage with them. Public spaces should be for the use of all members of the public and people
should have freedom of movement. Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) are broad powers which
allow councils to criminalise particular, non-criminal, activities taking place within a specified area.
Therefore, PSPOs could easily be misused with people using them to harass other park users for
activities they consider anti-social. They is huge potential for PSPOS to infringe on civil liberties, and
ultimately be too punitive. By their very nature, they discriminate against gypsies, travellers and
homeless people.

According to the Policy, Resources and Growth committee of Brighton and Hove council who are
making the decision on PSPOs: "The use of PSPOs in city parks and open spaces is likely to
disproportionately impact on some sections of society."

Many people in the community will be affected by PSPOs but people specifically targeted include so
called "ethnically defined Gypsies and Travellers" and "people who choose to sleep in tents rather
than rough sleep in the city centre". These sub-groups are human beings who should still be entitled
to civil liberties/human rights.

Under a PSPO the following would be prohibited, which would not only impact the most vulnerable
people in Brighton and Hove, including rough sleepers, but also the general public wishing to engage
with public spaces in a positive way in a community spirit. .

Prohibitions:
- Occupying any vehicle, caravan, tent or other structure
- Driving any vehicle on grass
- Littering or fly tipping (which already caries a 75 penalty)
- Lighting or maintaining a fire

Described as "positive requirements" people to be seen in breach of the "prohibitions" will be

punished by one or several of the following:
- Removing any vehicle, caravan, tent or other structure within 12 hours
- Disposing of items as directed
- Permitting a council, police or fire officer to extinguish a fire
- Providing name, address and date of birth when required to do so by a council or police officer

Breaching a PSPO is considered a criminal offence. A fixed penalty notice can be issued or a
summons can be served. It is likely that a fixed penalty notice will carry a fine of 75.00, this is the
same fine that is applied to a fixed penalty notice in relation to littering and flytipping. The amount of
the fine will be kept under review. If police are not satisfied regarding the identification or an address
given by an offender they can arrest under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. A breach of a
PSPO can be enforced by a council or police officer. This effectively criminalises being homeless and
having a fire on the beach with friends.

Areas that will be impacted by PSPOs are:

Greenway (adjacent to railway New England Quarter)

Hollingbury Park
Lawn Memorial Cemetery and adjacent land (Woodingdean)
Preston Park
Rottingdean Recreation Ground
The seafront including the A259 from Black Rock to Hove Lagoon
Sheepcote Valley and East Brighton Park
St Helens Green
Stanmer Park
Surrenden Field
Waterhall
Wild Park

For more information, please read: http://present.brighton-

hove.gov.uk/Published/C00000912/M00006397/AI00051965/$20160705104523_009163_0038556_M
anagingAntisocialBehaviourinCityParksandOpenSpacesv2.docxA.ps.pdf