Public spaces protection orders
59Power to make orders
(1)A local authority may make a public spaces protection order if satisfied on reasonable grounds that two conditions are met.
(2)The first condition is that—
(a)activities carried on in a public place within the authority’s area have had a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality, or
(b)it is likely that activities will be carried on in a public place within that area and that they will have such an effect.
(3)The second condition is that the effect, or likely effect, of the activities—
(a)is, or is likely to be, of a persistent or continuing nature,
(b)is, or is likely to be, such as to make the activities unreasonable, and
(c)justifies the restrictions imposed by the notice.
(4)A public spaces protection order is an order that identifies the public place referred to in subsection (2) (“the restricted area”) and—
(a)prohibits specified things being done in the restricted area,
(b)requires specified things to be done by persons carrying on specified activities in that area, or
(c)does both of those things.
(5)The only prohibitions or requirements that may be imposed are ones that are reasonable to impose in order—
(a)to prevent the detrimental effect referred to in subsection (2) from continuing, occurring or recurring, or
(b)to reduce that detrimental effect or to reduce the risk of its continuance, occurrence or recurrence.
(6)A prohibition or requirement may be framed—
(a)so as to apply to all persons, or only to persons in specified categories, or to all persons except those in specified categories;
(b)so as to apply at all times, or only at specified times, or at all times except those specified;
(c)so as to apply in all circumstances, or only in specified circumstances, or in all circumstances except those specified.
(7)A public spaces protection order must—
(a)identify the activities referred to in subsection (2);
(b)explain the effect of section 63 (where it applies) and section 67;
(c)specify the period for which the order has effect.
(8)A public spaces protection order must be published in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State.
60Duration of orders
(1)A public spaces protection order may not have effect for a period of more than 3 years, unless extended under this section.
(2)Before the time when a public spaces protection order is due to expire, the local authority that made the order may extend the period for which it has effect if satisfied on reasonable grounds that doing so is necessary to prevent—
(a)occurrence or recurrence after that time of the activities identified in the order, or
(b)an increase in the frequency or seriousness of those activities after that time.
(3)An extension under this section—
(a)may not be for a period of more than 3 years;
(b)must be published in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State.
(4)A public spaces protection order may be extended under this section more than once.
61Variation and discharge of orders
(1)Where a public spaces protection order is in force, the local authority that made the order may vary it—
(a)by increasing or reducing the restricted area;
(b)by altering or removing a prohibition or requirement included in the order, or adding a new one.
(2)A local authority may make a variation under subsection (1)(a) that results in the order applying to an area to which it did not previously apply only if the conditions in section 59(2) and (3) are met as regards activities in that area.
(3)A local authority may make a variation under subsection (1)(b) that makes a prohibition or requirement more extensive, or adds a new one, only if the prohibitions and requirements imposed by the order as varied are ones that section 59(5) allows to be imposed.
(4)A public spaces protection order may be discharged by the local authority that made it.
(5)Where an order is varied, the order as varied must be published in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State.
(6)Where an order is discharged, a notice identifying the order and stating the date when it ceases to have effect must be published in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State.