New town centre Public Space Protection Order

Following a period of public consultation, South Derbyshire District Council is reinstating the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in Swadlincote Town Centre. The order began on Thursday, 13 July 2023 and will be in force for three years.

This order allows designated Council and police officers to take swifter action against those engaging in anti-social behaviour activities, by issuing advice, fines, and formal prosecutions as appropriate. The public consultation found that 100% of respondents were in favour of reintroducing the order which was previously in place between 2019 and 2022.

Leader of South Derbyshire District Council, Cllr Robert Pearson said: "We are pleased to be re-introducing the public space protection order (PSPO) for Swadlincote Town Centre. This PSPO is part of a range of measures underlining the Council's commitment to making community safety a priority. It is designed to help keep the Town Centre safer for the local shops and businesses and those visiting. “

PSPOs are intended to deal with a nuisance or problem in an area that is detrimental to the local community’s qualify of life and a breach of one is a criminal offence and subject to a fixed penalty notice.

Under the order the following specified things are prohibited in the restricted area:

• No person shall consume alcohol.
• No person shall have unsealed vessels containing alcohol in their possession.
• No person shall urinate or defecate in a public place, other than in a public toilet.
• No person shall loiter as an individual or in a group if they are causing or likely to cause anti-social behaviour (ASB). If asked to disperse on instruction of a Police Officer, Police Community Support Officer or authorised officer (from South Derbyshire District Council) individuals must not return to the area for a period of 24 hours.
• No person shall use a skateboard, scooter, pedal cycle, includes those power assisted, or any mechanically propelled vehicle in such a manner as to cause damage to property or that causes or is likely to cause intimidation, harassment, alarm, distress, nuisance, or annoyance to any person.

A PSPO will not restrict the consumption of alcohol where the premises or its curtilage is licensed for the supply of alcohol. The map shows area where the PSPO covers - Swadlincote Town Centre map ^{(pdf, 1.2mb)}. 

17 July 2023