Report: Extension of Romford Town Centre Public Space Protection Order

The Cabinet, approved:

·        The Extension of the Romford Town Centre, Public Space Protection Order with the proposed publication and notification of the Public Space Protection Order and the associated conditions below:

o   Persons must not be in possession of an open container of alcohol in a public place within the Alcohol Control Area (except on licensed premises);

o   Persons must not consume alcohol in a public place within the Alcohol Control Area (except on licensed premises);

·        the procurement, replacement and display of appropriate signage

Report: Extension of Romford Town Centre Public Space Protection Order

The report was presented by Councillor Barry Mugglestone, Cabinet Member - Environment

Romford Town Centre has a vibrant and busy daytime/night-time economy with many licenced premises within the town centre selling alcohol and alcohol related products to local residents, businesses, members of the public and visitors.

Previously, alcohol related nuisance was dealt with under the Romford Town Centre Drinks Banning Order (DPPO), which covers a smaller area of the town centre. The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 required that this was converted into a Public Space Protection Order - PSPO.

With the introduction of the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) legislation, Police and partners of the Local Authority wished to introduced a method of enforcement against alcohol related nuisance. The existence of the legislation and introduction of the PSPO specifically in this area means the Police now have the power to approach, advise, warn and seize alcohol, or otherwise disperse offenders which in turn removes the related congregation and subsequent nuisance. As a last resort the Police and authorised officers can issue a fixed penalty notice or even instigate a prosecution for breach of the PSPO, however, the threat of this usually sees compliance and as a result no FPNs have needed to be issued.

The Current PSPO was introduced in September 2017 and extended in October 2020. Romford Town Centre remains a hotspot for Crime and Disorder and continues to require the additional powers provided by the PSPO to tackle alcohol related offending.

Romford Town has a dedicated Town Centre team who are very proactive in tackling crime and disorder such as offences of knife crime during the day and disorder associated with the night-time economy but can only do so much and resources are at times stretched. If the PSPO was lifted this would without doubt place an even bigger burden on the team and the emergency services as a whole including an increase in call volumes.

With the above in mind, Community Safety is seeking to continue a PSPO for Romford Town Centre for an additional 3 years (October 2026), to provide continued methods of controlling alcohol related nuisance.

The Cabinet, approved:

·        The Extension of the Romford Town Centre, Public Space Protection Order with the proposed publication and notification of the Public Space Protection Order and the associated conditions below:

o   Persons must not be in possession of an open container of alcohol in a public place within the Alcohol Control Area (except on licensed premises);

o   Persons must not consume alcohol in a public place within the Alcohol Control Area (except on licensed premises);

·        the procurement, replacement and display of appropriate signage