Latest news with #PublicSpacesProtectionOrder
BBC News
11-06-2025
- BBC News
Darlington bird feeding ban as part of council crackdown
Stricter measures to curb rising antisocial behaviour and feeding pigeons in a town centre are to come into force in Borough Council has updated its Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which allows the issuing of fines to people for being abusive or order, granted at a council meeting on Tuesday, is designed to give officers powers to tackle offenders without needing to arrest new restrictions will also bring in a public bird feeding ban, following public safety and health concerns from residents and businesses. The move follows a 125 percent increase in youth-related incidents reported to Cleveland Police, when comparing data from 2023/24 to 2024/ centre officers have reported a rise in people deliberately riding towards members of the public before veering off at the last moment, causing fear of injury and distress. Other problems are being caused by bikers, skateboarders and scooter riders performing stunts and riding recklessly on roads and in pedestrian areas, the Local Democracy Reporting Service addition, people are continuing to feed the "substantial bird population in the town centre", despite signs being put up warning them not to, thereby "contributing to multiple issues for the council, residents and businesses to manage." Adaptations to local buildings and birds of prey being flown have also been used as a deterrent against the pigeons. Meanwhile, the new PSPO, which covers all of the borough, will provide additional powers to combat begging, side waste and stray dogs.A council report stated: "A significant amount of support is in place for those individuals who find themselves homeless and in need of support."Officers will routinely make referrals or signpost these individuals to these services." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Metro
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Metro
Gran fined £100 for setting up a table in the street because it broke Asbo law
A grandmother could be left with court costs of up to £1,000 for setting up a camping table in a city centre. Heather Rawling was campaigning against council cuts in Leicester and had set up a 6ft (2m) camping table to hold leaflets and petitions. The 72-year-old was approached by a warden within around 30 minutes who ordered her to dismantle it – but when she said no, she was handed a fine. Heather was told the table was in breach of a public spaces protection order (PSPO), which are designed to reduce anti-social behaviour like street drinking, riding e-bikes, and using loud speakers. But the gran-of-one, a member of the Socialist Party, fears the additional rules against tables and other 'unauthorised structures' are designed to suppress freedom of speech and political campaigning. She explained: 'We were in the city centre and had a little campaign stall where we were protesting against the cuts by Leicester city council. 'I accept the PSPO can be needed to deal with people on e-bikes, noisy speakers or street drinkers. 'But this was a small camping table which we had for leaflets and so people could sign a petition. 'I firmly stood my ground as I feel this is an attack on people's rights to campaign. 'There are people up and down the county who do campaign stalls and tables everywhere. 'All I had was a camping table two metres long in a wide pedestrian area. I don't think we were in anybody's way. There was plenty of space. 'I was not obstructing anybody, I wasn't causing a nuisance. The council might think I'm a nuisance, but in terms of passers by and pedestrians, they didn't care at all. 'The warden asked me if I was aware of the PSPO and explained what it was and asked me if I was prepared to take the stall table down. 'He asked for my details and I was reluctant to at first. He even said he would call the police so I gave him my information. 'He issued me with a fixed penalty notice. 'I think this was political – we were asked to take it down because we were campaigning about council cuts.' Three days after the incident on May 31 Heather, a gran-of-one, received a fine of £100 in the post. She has vowed to plead not guilty and fight the fine in court – but she reckons she could be £1,000 out of pocket if she loses. She explained: 'The danger is if I lost in court, they could charge court costs. I am taking a risk, but I feel strongly about this issue. 'I'm not going to pay it on principle, and if I have to go to court, I will. 'All groups should have a right to campaign. 'The council issued the PSPO order that includes amplification, people on e-bikes and e-scooters. At the end of the order they've tagged on unauthorised structures like stall tables. 'We are in an era full of austerity and cutbacks and despite more and people getting angry about what's happening they don't want us to protest about it.' A Leicester city council spokesperson said: 'This group had put up a table, in breach of the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) that covers the city centre. More Trending 'One of our wardens asked them to take down the table and advised that if they didn't, they would be issued with a fixed penalty notice. 'They refused to take it down and so a fine was issued. 'The PSPO does not restrict freedom of speech, but it does restrict the nuisance of amplifiers, gazebos and other structures that more than 1,100 respondents to our consultation told us negatively impacted their experience of Leicester city centre. 'Many groups have been respectful of this so far and, as a result, the environment in the city centre is noticeably improved.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Trump likens LA protests to foreign 'invasion' amid attempt to block him from using troops MORE: Rioters throw petrol bombs and fireworks at police during second day of Ballymena riots MORE: Man found dead in a car outside Asda in Leicester
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Park equipment vandalised while under construction
New equipment at a park in West Bridgford has been vandalised while still under construction, a borough council has said. Wooden benches were graffitied and fencing was damaged in order to gain access to the site at Bridgford Park over the weekend of 24 and 25 May. Rushcliffe Borough Council said it was now increasing security patrols at the park while the work continued. Councillor Jonathan Wheeler, the authority's portfolio holder for leisure & wellbeing, said it was "exceptionally disheartening" that the features were vandalised before even being used. "We have worked hard with Nottinghamshire Police to lower anti-social behaviour in the area in recent times including using CCTV to identify culprits. "In the last 12 months police have also been engaging with young people that in some cases led to home visits to speak to parents and saw arrests of those who refused to curb their criminal behaviour," he said. Sgt Che Sands, from Nottinghamshire Police, said they took reports of vandalism at the park "very seriously" and they were working with the council to ensure high-visibility patrols were taking place routinely. "Bridgford Park falls under a Public Spaces Protection Order, meaning any anti-social behaviour or criminal damage offences will be dealt with by either criminal or financial punishment regardless of age. "We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour in West Bridgford and continue our work to clamp down on it," he said. The council has urged anyone with information on the vandalism to contact them. The authority said the new features were still due to open in the coming weeks following a £300,000 investment. They include a new climbing structure as well as a "balancing trim trail, social hammocks and inclusive equipment". Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Play park vandalised for second time this year Anger over frequent closure of vandalised toilets
Daily Mail
05-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Strict new rules for dog owners in London: Council brings in ban after spate of attacks
Tower Hamlets council are introducing a strict set of rules for dog owners after a string of attacks left an 11-year-old girl with life-changing injuries and saw two Cane Corso's shot dead after mauling a woman. Under the new rules, which were approved under a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), dogs will still be allowed to play freely off-lead in all parks and green spaces in the borough. However, dogs will be banned from certain areas such as gated children's play areas and sports areas and there will be a requirement for a maximum of four dogs per person, unless they have a professional council-issued dog walker licence. Dogs must also be kept on leads on or near roads, pavements and communal estate areas and owners must put them on a lead if requested by an authorised officer. Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) will be introduced for any breach of these rules as well as for owners who fail to pick up their dog's faeces. People who are registered blind and/or deaf and those with a physical or mental impairment who use dogs for assistance, will be exempt from the rules in line with the Equality Act 2010. Out of all the 32 London boroughs, Tower Hamlets has the eighth highest crime reports relating to dog attacks. The council will be joining neighbouring boroughs Newham and Hackney which have had dog control PSPOs in place for many years. There were 92 dog attack crime reports in the borough between April and October 2024, according to internal police data. Councillor Shafi Ahmed said Tower Hamlets Council understands the majority of dog owners are responsible and their animals posed no risk of harm. But he noted 'several high-profile incidents' had left residents concerned about dangerous dogs and expressed worries about the risks to children. In September 2022, an 11-year-old girl was left with life-changing injuries after she was attacked by a dog on a road in Tower Hamlets before being rescued by passers-by. Footage of the savage attacked shared to social media showed the girl screaming on the floor as the dog bit down on her arm and hand. One passer-by was then seen attempting to pull the dog off the child while bystanders looked on in shock. As the dog's owner fled the scene, a man could be seen rushing out of his vehicle to help the girl before running back to what appeared to be a taxi to grab a bat which he used to pummel the dog until it released her. She was taken to hospital for treatment to her hand which sustained life-changing injuries. The owner, Siddique Ali, 43, was tracked down by police 12 days later following a public appeal and was jailed for 14 months for being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury to a person contrary to Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act. However, Ali's two dogs were never located. He was also banned from keeping a dog for 10 years and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £187. Detective Inspector Luke Hampton of the Met's Central East Command said: 'Ali had no control over the animal that attacked the child and even left the scene knowing that she had been seriously injured.' In February 2023, footage captured the moment police officers struggled to restrain a vicious dog after it bit a 13-year-old boy at a bus stop in Mile End. The teenager was taken to hospital for treatment and the dog was recovered by police. It is unknown whether or not officers managed to track down the owner. The Cane Corso owner was handed a suspended prison sentence in November 2023 after pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control (without injury). Pictured: the location of the incident, Commercial Road in Poplar In May 2023, a Met Police officer shot two Cane Corso's dead after they attacked a woman in Poplar, Tower Hamlets. The woman, who was walking her own dog at the time, sustained an injury to her leg after she had been knocked to the ground by the large dogs whilst trying to protect herself. Her dog was bitten and suffered a cut on its nose and had chunks of fur missing. Police found the owner, who was in his 40s, and the two Cane Corsos at the scene and attempted to negotiate with the man. After he refused to hand over his dogs, one of them jumped up at one of the officers before the man ran away with the animals. The armed officers officers pursued him to Limehouse Cut Canal but he would still not let them take the dogs. During the conversation, one of the Cane Corsos became loose and tried to run towards the officers but was stopped by the owner. Seconds later, one broke free from its lead and lunged at the dog handler before being shot dead by a firearms officer. The second dog was detained by the dog handler using a pole capture device and was tasered. However, it then broke free and was followed and shot dead by the same firearms officer as he feared for his colleagues safety. The dog owner was then tasered and arrested. After checking their systems, it revealed that he was disqualified from keeping dogs for 20 years as part of an order handed to him in 2019. The case was referred to the IOPC after the Met Police received complaints of misconduct and discrimination against the man because he was homeless. But after completing their independent investigation, IOPC officers found no evidence to uphold these claims. The Cane Corso owner was handed a suspended prison sentence in November 2023 after pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control (without injury). The clip showed the mutt chasing and attacking the horse with such aggression that the startled animal threw the officer from her saddle. She sustained 'minor injuries' He also pleaded guilty to possession of dogs whilst under a 20-year disqualification order. Earlier that month, he admitted to the same offences in connection to another incident in Westminster in February 2023 which saw a Pomeranian dog left blind after being attack by the dogs. In July 2023, police seized three dogs after they mauled a four-year-old boy in a park in Poplar estate. Officers found the boy at the scene with bite injuries, which were not life-threatening, and he was taken to hospital, accompanied by his 'shocked' mother. The dog's owner, reportedly warned of bringing the pets into the estate's shared playground where they are banned, was also bitten but refused hospital treatment. In August 2023, video footage captured the moment a dog attacked a police horse before a mounted officer was thrown from her saddle in Limehouse. The clip showed the mutt chasing and attacking the horse with such aggression that the startled animal threw the officer from her saddle. She sustained 'minor injuries'. According to The Sun, the owner, who was believed to be 12-years-old, tried to run after the tan Staffy mix as it attacked the horse. After the hound was trodden on by the horse, officers were able to tame and seize the dog. The frightened horse who had injuries to its legs attempted to flee before officers were able to reclaim the animal.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
New dog rules introduced by Tower Hamlets council
Dogs will be banned from all gated children's areas and must be kept on a lead on pathways after an east London council approved new rules under a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO). The move, by Tower Hamlets council, follows several attacks by dogs since 2023, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Councillor Shafi Ahmed said the council knew the majority of dog owners were responsible and their animals posed no risk of harm. However, he added, "several high-profile incidents" led to residents expressing concern about dangerous dogs, particularly about risks to young children. Tower Hamlets has the eighth highest crime reports relating to dog attacks out of all 32 London boroughs. Tower Hamlets will join neighbouring boroughs Newham and Hackney, which have had dog control PSPOs in place for many years. According to internal police data, there were 92 dog attack crime reports in the borough between April and October 2024. New rules to tackle 'out-of-control' dogs proposed Dog foster carers needed urgently - charity Don't go into water to save your dogs, owners told Under the new rules, dogs will still be allowed to play off-lead freely in all parks and green spaces in the borough but the following measures will be introduced in the autumn: Dogs will be banned from certain areas such as gated children's play areas and sports areas A maximum of four dogs per person, unless they have a professional dog walker licence issued by the council Dogs must be kept on leads on or near roads, pavements and communal estate areas Owners must put their dog on a lead if an authorised officer asks them to Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for dog fouling as well as all of the above. The new rules will not apply to people who are registered blind, are deaf and those with a physical or mental impairment who use dogs for assistance, in line with the Equality Act 2010. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to
