Powers to prevent people drinking in public places in Nottingham have been extended for another three years in a bid to clamp down on anti-social behaviour. Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) have been in place across the city centre for the past three years and are due to expire in October this year.
Councillors decided to extend the powers for another three years, following a public consultation, at an Executive Board meeting on June 20. Cllr Sajid Mohammed (Lab), the portfolio holder for neighbourhoods and safety, says the powers have been successfully used “more than 5,000” times over the past three years.
However, he says the order excludes venues which have al fresco dining, such as pubs and bars, as to avoid negative impacts on the local economy. Councillor David Mellen, the leader of the council, who represents Dales Ward for Labour, said it the extension of the powers would not “spoil everybody’s fun”.
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“When it was introduced people thought this would be the city council spoiling everybody’s fun and being kill-joys,” he said. “It has not been that at all. It has actually protected people and allowed people to have enjoyment without being subject to people’s bad behaviour once they have had too much to drink.
“It is not stopping people having a picnic in a park and maybe having a glass of wine and a beer with that, it is trying to stop people drinking excessively and making other people’s lives a misery. I think this has worked and I am pleased it is being brought back again.”
Councillor Linda Woodings, who represents Basford Ward for Labour, explained the order had made a substantial contribution to the city council’s work in obtaining a Purple Flag award, which recognises Nottingham’s vibrant and safe night-time economy. “The city centre should be a family-friendly zone, where on an evening out for a meal you should feel comfortable bringing your children into the city centre to have a family meal together,” she added.
“It has not spoiled people’s fun at all, if anything we are a more inclusive night-time economy because in the early evening you see lots of families out in the city not worried about anti-social behaviour fuelled by alcohol. Initially, when they were introduced there was a big concern they were going to be used disproportionately, that has not been the case at all and I’ve never had a complaint.”
