Public Consultation: Public Spaces Protection Orders (2026) for Stockton Town Centre & Norton Town Centre

Overview

Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) are designed to prevent individuals or groups committing anti-social behaviour (ASB) in public spaces. PSPOs are very common across England & Wales, especially in town centre areas. Stockton-on-Tees has had one in place since 2023, covering the town centre areas of Stockton and Norton. PSPOs only last 3 years, and so the current Order is due to expire in April 2026. PSPOs are made by local authorities under powers conferred to them by the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

As per the request from the Council’s Community Safety Select Committee this year, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council has evaluated the current Order, its conditions and implementation procedures, and is now looking for public views on revised editions, to come into effect upon the expiry of the current Order in 2026.

The revised PSPO sees the Order split in two, with different conditions covering Norton and Stockton Town Centres. This is because legally, the Council must be able to evidence that the activities we are seeking to restrict:

• Have, or are likely to have, a detrimental effect on those in the locality, and that such activities are, or are likely to be, of a persistent or continuing nature, and
• are, or are likely to be, considered unreasonable, and therefore justify the restrictions proposed (i.e. the conditions of the Order).

The revised Orders have been strengthened in line with our community safety initiative, Operation Shield, implemented with partner agencies to make our town centre a welcoming and safe place to visit, work, and live. The proposed Order will run in tandem with the operation and the recently introduced Reducing the Strength Scheme.

As well as strengthening the current conditions of the Order, we are also revising our enforcement policy, to ensure the implementation of the new PSPO is effective. Although the Council will lead on the implementation of PSPOs, the enforcement of any new Order will now be shared between the Council and Cleveland Police.

The proposed Stockton Town Centre PSPO 2026 will run from April 2026 to April 2029. Note that the zone it applies to has been altered – you can find the proposed zone within the draft Order. The draft Order includes prohibitions and requirements, which can be summarised as below:

• Street drinking: the consumption of alcohol will be prohibited within the PSPO zone, and the Council’s Civic Enforcement Team will deploy to all calls regarding alleged street drinking in the area. However, as per Section 63 of the Act, a breach of PSPO only occurs if the drinker either fails (i) to comply with a request by an officer not to consume alcohol or (ii) to surrender alcohol, or what is reasonably believed to be alcohol or a container for alcohol. A list of exemptions to this condition can be found within the draft Order (e.g. consumption within licensed event spaces, etc.).
• Begging: where a person makes any verbal, non-verbal or written request for money, donations or goods, including the placing of hats, clothing or containers, so as to cause or is likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress to any person.
• Loitering and causing ASB: where a person without reasonable excuse, loiters in a manner causing or likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress, to any person – this could apply in circumstances where a person occupies and obstructs a High Street doorway, refuses to move, and also refuses help & support from local services. Another example of this conduct could be where groups of people loiter in an intoxicated state and act disorderly (e.g. swearing, or being threatening and intimidating), causing other people to feel harassed, alarmed, or distressed.
• Driving of vehicles in an anti-social manner: the driving of any mechanically propelled vehicle, moped, quad bike, off-road bike, e-scooter, or e-bike, in an anti-social manner, where such manner means that their conduct has caused or is likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress, to any other person.
• A prohibition in relation to urinating & defecating in the street.
• A requirement for a person to move their motorhome or other such vehicle or temporary structure, like a tent, if an officer believes the vehicle or structure is to be used for an overnight stay in a public place. This will help us address illegal or unauthorised occupations of public land.  
• A requirement for a person to place their dog on a lead, except for when a dog is exercising in Trinity Gardens.
• A requirement for a person to pick up dog foul.
• A requirement for a person to provide their personal details to an officer when they have breached the Order or are causing ASB.
• A requirement to disperse from the PSPO zone when directed to leave by an officer, where the officer believes the individual is causing or is likely to cause ASB, or has broken any of the conditions of the PSPO, in the PSPO zone.

The proposed Norton Town Centre PSPO 2026, will run from April 2026 to April 2029. Note that the zone it applies to has been altered – you can find the proposed zone within the draft Order. This Order will include the following prohibitions or requirements:

• Street drinking: the consumption of alcohol is prohibited within the PSPO zone, and the Civic Enforcement Team will be expected to deploy to all calls regarding alleged street drinking. However, as per s63 of the Act, a breach of PSPO only occurs if the drinker either fails (i) to comply with a request by an officer not to consume alcohol or (ii) to surrender alcohol, or what is reasonably believed to be alcohol or a container for alcohol. A list of exemptions to this condition can be found within the Order (e.g. the consumption within licensed event spaces, etc.).
• Begging: where a person makes any verbal, non-verbal or written request for money, donations or goods, including the placing of hats, clothing or containers, so as to cause or is likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress to any person.
• Loitering and causing ASB: where a person without reasonable excuse, loiters in a manner causing or likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress, to any person – this could apply in circumstances where a person occupies and obstructs a High Street doorway, refuses to move, and also refuses help & support from local services. Another example of this conduct could be where groups of people loiter in an intoxicated state and act disorderly (e.g. swearing, or being threatening and intimidating), causing other people to feel harassed, alarmed, or distressed.
• Driving of vehicles in an anti-social manner: the riding/driving of any bicycle or mechanically propelled vehicle, moped, quad bike, off-road bike, e-scooter,or e-bike, in an anti-social manner, where such manner means that their conduct has caused or is likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress, to any other person.
• A requirement for a person to provide their personal details to an officer when they have breached the Order or are causing ASB.
• A requirement to disperse from the PSPO zone when directed to leave by an officer, where the officer believes the individual is causing or is likely to cause ASB, or has broken any of the conditions of the PSPO, in the PSPO zone.