Barnet Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee has reviewed the effectiveness of the borough-wide Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs), which were introduced in December 2022 and are due to expire in December 2025. The committee met on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, to discuss the renewal of the existing PSPO (PSPO1) and the introduction of three new orders (PSPO2, PSPO3, and PSPO4).
PSPO1, which targeted issues such as alcohol-related nuisance, harassment, dog fouling, aggressive begging, and unlicensed music events, has been effective in tackling anti-social behaviour, with significant community support for its renewal. Evidence for its effectiveness comes from community consultations and its role in enabling Community Safety Team officers and the Police to address issues more quickly. An assessment indicated that it successfully contributed to reductions in problem behaviours and deterred repeat offending. 
The three new proposed PSPOs aim to address specific issues across the borough. PSPO2 is a borough-wide order prohibiting the feeding of pigeons in public spaces. PSPO3 introduces gating orders for specific gated-off areas located between Market Lane and Silkstream Road, and adjacent to the stairwell leading to Watling Avenue, as well as gated-off areas between the old Market in Barnfield Car Park and the adjacent stairwell to Watling Avenue, targeting anti-social behaviour within these areas. PSPO4 is a borough-wide order targeting loitering in designated wards—Burnt Oak, Colindale North, Colindale South, Edgware, Finchley Church End, West Finchley, and East Finchley—where the loitering is perceived to be causing nuisance, annoyance, intimidation, harassment, alarm, or distress, and the individual refuses to move on when asked by an authorised person. 
Councillor Sarah Conway, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, stated that PSPO1 had been effective and that there was significant community support for its renewal. However, concerns were raised by Councillor Dean Conway regarding public awareness of the PSPOs and how to report breaches. A communication programme is underway, including animated videos on social media and publicity in various spaces. However, awareness varies among residents, with some being very aware and others not. Councillor Conway suggested improved publicity and making it clear how to report breaches. Councillor Kath McGuirk noted that members like to know what's going on in their ward and suggested signposting residents through community groups and residents' associations. Maggie Highton-Brown, Head of Community Safety, acknowledged that there is always more work to be done on increasing awareness. 
Councillor Kath McGuirk also questioned the overlap in reported issues, such as my road
and town centres,
and how these were being identified. Councillor Ferrer inquired about the effectiveness of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs), specifically the rate of non-payment and the process for chasing these. Barnet has a payment rate of over 70% for FPNs, which is considered one of the highest rates within London. If an FPN is not paid within the required timescale, court proceedings may be issued for the original offence. It is noted that individuals tend to pay after court proceedings are initiated, though the specific success rate for these proceedings is not detailed. The meeting information does not provide a breakdown of this rate or specific comparisons to other London boroughs beyond stating it is considered high. 
Councillor Peter Zinkin, Vice Chair and Leader of the Conservative Group, raised a point about the clarity of data presented, suggesting that PSPO-related data should be separated from other enforcement data. He specifically mentioned that the table in the Fixed Penalty Notice section should be divided into offences relating to the Environment Act and other acts, and those purely related to anti-social behaviour, which are presumably PSPO ones. This distinction is important for understanding the specific impact of the PSPOs, as it is currently difficult to distinguish the PSPO element from other enforcement data. Councillor Zinkin also pointed out inconsistencies in the reporting of certain offences, such as 'CST 18' and 'CST 16, highways act, interruption of the user', requesting clearer distinctions between PSPO offences and those covered by other acts. Maggie Highton-Brown explained that the Community Safety Team annual reports cover all enforcement activities, not just PSPOs. Councillor Zinkin requested that future reports identify PSPO data as a separate event to better understand its impact. 
The committee agreed to make recommendations for future reports to provide more specific data on the impact of the PSPOs. The full details of the review can be found in the Review of the Boroughwide Public Space Protection Orders PSPOs.
