Barnet Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee has raised questions regarding public awareness of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) and the reporting of breaches, alongside discussions on the effectiveness and proposed expansion of these orders.
During a meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, councillors reviewed the existing PSPO framework and considered the introduction of new measures. The committee discussed the renewal of PSPO1 for a further three years, which prohibits activities such as alcohol-related anti-social behaviour, harassment, alarm or distress, failure to pick up dog fouling, driving vehicles on green spaces without permission, misuse of fireworks, excessive dog control (more than six dogs), public urination/defecation, spitting, littering, aggressive begging, promoting unlicensed music events, and the misuse or possession of intoxicating substances. It also prohibits starting open fires or BBQs in green spaces.
Three new PSPOs were also under consideration: PSPO2, which targets bird feeding (specifically pigeons); PSPO3, introducing gating orders in specific areas of Burnt Oak ward; and PSPO4, addressing loitering in designated wards that causes nuisance, annoyance, intimidation, harassment, alarm, or distress, and where individuals refuse to move on when asked by an authorised person.
Councillor Dean Conway highlighted concerns about public awareness of PSPOs and the process for reporting breaches, suggesting improved publicity. Maggie Highton-Brown, Head of Community Safety, confirmed that a communication programme is underway, featuring animated videos on social media. If you're on Facebook and things like that, it pops up with a little animated video. We've done publicity in various spaces and places on it,
she explained, noting that the programme is currently underway
and targets the general public.
Councillor Kath McGuirk questioned the overlap in reported issues, such as my road
and town centres,
and how these were being identified. The committee also sought clearer distinctions between PSPO offences and those covered by other legislation. Councillor Peter Zinkin requested that future reports identify the PSPO as a separate event, as it were, and look at at what under it has actually happened? Because it's almost impossible to distinguish that at the moment.
Ms Highton-Brown agreed to this, stating, Yeah, happy to do that.
The committee agreed that future reports should provide more specific data on the impact of the orders.
Statistics on PSPO breaches were also discussed. In the financial year 2023/24, 327 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) were issued for breaching the Barnet Borough Wide PSPO. For 2024/25, 150 FPNs were issued. Between April 2023 and March 2024, out of 1794 closed cases, 134 resulted in an FPN for a PSPO breach, and one resulted in a PSPO breach closure. For April 2024 to March 2025, 20 FPNs were issued for PSPO breaches.
The process for reporting a breach involves residents contacting the Community Safety Team. Authorised officers can issue an FPN, which, if paid, discharges liability for conviction. Failure to pay can lead to court proceedings, with a maximum penalty of £1,000. The current FPN for a PSPO breach in Barnet is £100, reduced to £70 if paid within 14 days. Penalties for specific prohibitions vary, with fines not exceeding level 2 or level 3 on the standard scale, depending on the offence.
The committee agreed to make recommendations for future reports to provide more specific data on the impact of the PSPOs, with Ms Highton-Brown stating they would look into that and perhaps give some other options when it comes to like further consultation.
Further details on the PSPOs can be found in the Review of the Boroughwide Public Space Protection Orders PSPOs.
Agenda frontsheet 24th-Mar-2026 19.00 Overview and Scrutiny Committee Public reports pack 24th-Mar-2026 19.00 Overview and Scrutiny Committee
