Public spaces protection orders (PSPOs)

The current public space protection orders (PSPOs) came into force on 15 November 2024 for a duration of three years. The new orders supersede the previous orders held by the legacy district councils and have been implemented to assist the council and police address anti-social behaviour and environmental issues across Westmorland and Furness.

The order provides additional powers under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to take positive action and act as a deterrent to prevent nuisance behaviour in public spaces. Police, public spaces coordinating officers and officers authorised by the council will be the designated officers enforcing this order.

What is covered by the orders

Designated officers can act under the PSPOs if a person is considered to have breached any of the orders. These PSPOs are divided into three separate sections, which cover four activities, summarised below. Full details and copies of the orders can be found at the bottom of this page.

Dogs

This section covers dog fouling, dogs on leads within restricted areas, dog exclusion zones, and a limit to the number of dogs, walked by one person, to six. Designated officers can also instruct that a dog be kept/placed on a lead.

Alcohol consumption

If a person who is drinking alcohol is behaving, or likely to behave in a manner to cause nuisance and annoyance, an officer can request that person, to surrender their alcohol or dispose of it appropriately.

Anti-social behaviour

Behaviour by groups or individuals that in the opinion of the designated officer is causing or likely to cause harassment alarm or distress to a person or persons, or otherwise disturb the peace or prevent the peaceful enjoyment of the area can commit an offence.

Unauthorised fires and barbeques

Unauthorised fires or barbeques are prohibited on parks and open spaces owned and controlled by the council.

Vehicles and structures

A person is guilty of an offence if at any time they drive or permit a vehicle to be used in a manner that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm, distress, or danger to persons on any land owned by the council. This includes car parks, verges, laybys, highways, and streets maintained at the public expense.

A person commits an offence if they position a vehicle, campervan, motorhome, caravan, tent, or any other temporary structure designed or intended to provide shelter or accommodation for the purpose of an overnight stay or stays on any land owned by the council to include car parks, verges, laybys, highways, and streets maintained at the public expense.

The council does not intend to use the PSPO to target individuals who may be homeless or rough sleeping and would always seek to engage and offer relevant support and appropriate advice in line with homelessness legislation.

Enforcement of the order

If a person is found to be in breach of the public spaces protection order they can be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) of £100. Failure to pay the FPN within 14 days could lead to prosecution under provisions in pursuant of the order laid out by the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. (Maximum £1000 on conviction).

The council’s preferred and current approach is to educate and encourage responsible behaviour. Enforcement will be considered where this guidance is ignored.

List orders and maps

List orders

Public spaces protection order maps

We have only produced maps for areas that do not have a fenced or a clear boundary – therefore not all the dog exclusion or dogs on lead maps are shown here.

Should you have a specific query about a listed area as shown on the Dog Control Order under Schedule 1 (dogs on leads) or Schedule 2 (dog exclusion) then please contact us.

Anti-social behaviour protection order maps

These maps show the towns and the boundaries that the ASB orders cover.

Contact

Email: PSPO@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

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