Wandsworth Council has extended its Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for another three years to combat alcohol-related anti-social behaviour and the use and possession of novel psychoactive substances. The decision, made at a Cabinet meeting on Monday, 22 September 2025, follows a public consultation demonstrating support for the proposals outlined in the draft PSPOs.
The existing borough-wide PSPO, initially implemented in October 2023, was set to expire on 24 October 2025. The council has opted to extend the order, with a variation to remove dog control provisions, until 24 October 2028. A new, separate PSPO specifically addressing dog controls will also be introduced.
Breaching the PSPO related to alcohol and psychoactive substances can result in a maximum penalty on conviction of a level 3 fine not exceeding £1,000. A constable or authorised person can issue a fixed penalty notice (FPN) of £100, reduced to £75 for prompt payment within ten days.
The report pack noted that the Metropolitan Police raised no objections to the extension, but noted that effective implementation would depend on the capacity to carry out enforcement activity. The council has stated that if the 2023 Order is extended for a further 3 years, a robust enforcement strategy will be put in place, where hotspot areas are identified and proactively monitored and through close working with the Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams.
The new PSPO for dog controls will include requirements for dog walkers to remove faeces, keep dogs on leads in restricted areas, and prevent dogs from entering exclusion zones such as play areas. Four additional open spaces are proposed to be added to the restricted areas: Oasis Green Space, Swaffield Pocket Park, Nine Elms Open Space and Graveney Pocket Park.
The newly added open spaces have specific restrictions: Oasis Green Space, Swaffield Pocket Park, and Graveney Pocket Park are designated as dog exclusion areas, while Nine Elms Open Space requires dogs to be kept on leads.
Minor amendments were also proposed to the restricted areas within Wandsworth Park and York Gardens to reflect changes to the boundaries or locations of play areas from which dogs are excluded. These changes are reflected on the maps which form part of the new order.
A map of York Gardens showing the dog control areas is shown below:
According to the public reports pack, since the 2023 Order came into force, 61 fixed penalty notices had been issued for breaches of dog controls. In addition to these, 357 verbal warnings were issued in 2023/24 and 374 verbal warnings 2024/25 for breach of the dog control provisions of the 2023 Order.
The consultation, which ran from 24 July 2025 to 10 September 2025, showed support for all proposals.