Agenda item

(A)Public Space Protection Order: London Marathon Related Disorder – to consider proposals to make a Public Space Protection Order.

For Decision

POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

(Deputy Catherine McGuinness)

7 February 2020

(A) Public Space Protection Order: London Marathon Related Disorder

Section 59 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides local authorities with the power to make Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs). PSPOs are intended to deal with a particular nuisance or problem in a specific area that is detrimental to the local community’s quality of life, by imposing certain conditions or prohibitions.

In recent years, problems had arisen in the City in relation to visitors during the day of the London Marathon, with notable amounts of anti-social behaviour and violent disorder. Despite significant efforts to address this through other means, the problems had remained and, consequently, following a request from the City of London Police the Safer City Partnership (the Community Safety Partnership for the City of London) had begun the process of seeking a PSPO for an area encompassing the London Marathon route in the City, to be active only for the day of that event.

The PSPO would provide the City Police with additional powers to prevent public drinking and intoxication in specific areas, by refusing entry to designated areas to those carrying alcohol or nitrous oxide, or by confiscation of these within the area.

Following the approval by the Policy & Resources Committee of the proposal to seek a PSPO in November 2019, a process of public consultation was undertaken, through which no significant objections were expressed. The Court of Common Council was now recommended to authorise the making of a PSPO in accordance with Section 59 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, on the day of the London Marathon along the route of that event, as set out in Appendices 1 and 2.

Resolved - That approval be granted to the making of a PSPO as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, in accordance with Section 59 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, along the route of the London Marathon as shown in Appendix 2.