Waltham Forest Council has extended its Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) until 2028, continuing efforts to address anti-social behaviour (ASB) across the borough.
The decision, made at an Executive Decision meeting on 18 August 2025, aims to provide enforcement powers to authorised officers to prevent and reduce ASB, which negatively impacts residents, businesses, and visitors. The existing PSPO was set to expire on 4 September 2025.
The PSPO addresses issues such as street drinking, aggressive begging, and threatening language. The extension, supported by the Metropolitan Police, will allow officers to issue fixed penalty notices and pursue civil injunctions against those who breach the order.
The agenda for the meeting stated that Councillor Khevyn Limbajee, Portfolio Lead Member for Community Safety, was the decision maker.
The council considered several options, including taking no action or increasing visible presence. However, the report pack stated that Option 3, the implementation of the PSPO, was the recommended option. It provides a targeted, legally enforceable mechanism to address ASB, empowering officers to intervene early and consistently with clear conditions and penalties.
A review of the PSPO conducted in March 2025 showed a decrease in enforcement actions (fixed penalty notices, community protection warnings and notices) between April 2022 and March 2025, compared to the previous period of 2019 to 2022. The report pack attributed this to better compliance, awareness of the prohibitions, and the effectiveness of informal actions.
The report pack stated that there was strong public support for the extension of the PSPO, with 96.4% of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing with the proposal. The consultation process included an online survey, in-person engagement at community centres and libraries, and stakeholder meetings with the police, businesses, and residents.
The consultation summary report indicated that vehicle related ASB, intimidation/harassment, public urination, people drinking, verbal abuse, and aggressive begging were all issues in the borough. 
Some respondents called for the PSPO to address issues such as drug dealing, drug use, and phone snatching, but the report clarified that PSPOs cannot be used to enforce matters already covered by existing legislation.
The draft PSPO order prohibits the following within the restricted area:
- I. No person shall refuse to stop drinking alcohol (unless they are in a licensed premise or at a venue where a temporary event notice is in place) or hand over any containers (sealed or unsealed) which are believed to contain alcohol, when required, to do so by an authorised officer in order to prevent public nuisance or disorder.
- II. No person shall beg in a manner reasonably perceived to be intimidating or aggressive.
- III. No person shall be verbally abusive to any person or behave in a way which causes or is likely to cause harassment alarm or distress to another person.
- IV. No person shall urinate, defecate or spit in a public place. This includes the doorway or alcove of any premises to which the public has access.
- V. No persons shall gather in groups of 2 or more whilst engaging in nuisance or criminal behaviour. This will not apply to persons going to or from a parked vehicle or waiting for a scheduled bus at a designated bus stop unless they are engaging in nuisance or criminal behaviour.
- VI. No person shall cause a motor vehicle of any description to stop on zig zag markings outside a school premises during prescribed hours as indicated by the appropriate signage.
- VII. No moped/motorbike driver shall gather in groups of 3 or more or drive/ride in such a way to cause harassment, alarm, distress or annoyance to the community.
Superintendent Sarah Jackson of the Metropolitan Police expressed her support for the extension in a letter included in the reports pack, writing:
I support this order and in light of the upcoming due to end date I would support an extension of the current order for the entirety of Waltham Forest borough with no changes to be made.
The Equalities Impact Assessment concluded that the policy would have a positive impact on protected characteristics by preventing the negative impact of the nuisance caused by car meets. It also stated that the terms of the PSPO would not usually be enforced against children aged 17 years and under, and that all members of the community would be treated fairly and equally regardless of their age. Where necessary, additional support measures would be put in place through prevention, education and sign posting to relevant services. Young people will be referred into the safeguarding mechanisms and under 18's parents/guardians will be spoken with.
The map of the PSPO area shows that the order covers the entire borough.
