Current Public Space Protection Orders
Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) cover a range of issues.
Alcohol
This PSPO was renewed on 1 March 2024, for 3 years and covers the whole of Sandwell and enables council environmental protection officers and police who are concerned about anti-social behaviour, to:
- require a person not to drink alcohol (or what is believed to be alcohol) in a public place
- require a person to surrender the alcohol (or what is believed to be alcohol)
If the person fails to comply with the PSPO, they face a £100 fixed penalty or prosecution with a maximum penalty of £1,000.
Dog Fouling
This PSPO covers the whole of Sandwell and was renewed and extended on 1 March 2024, for 3 years. It requires a person in charge of a dog to pick up their dog's mess and have a receptacle on them, such as a dog poo bag to enable this. The order also now excludes dogs from enclosed children’s play areas and other enclosed sports areas.
If the person fails to comply with the PSPO, they face a £100 fixed penalty or prosecution with a maximum penalty of £1,000.
BBQs / Fires in Public Spaces
This new PSPO, effective from 1 March 2024 for 3 years, covers the whole of Sandwell and prohibits individuals having BBQs / fires on any public land including parks and requires anyone found in possession of items which could be used in connection with such activities to surrender them.
If the person fails to comply with the PSPO, they face a £100 fixed penalty or prosecution with a maximum penalty of £1,000.
West Bromwich Town Centre
A PSPO covers West Bromwich Town Centre, helping the police and council prevent and tackle anti-social behaviour.
This PSPO, which follows concerns raised by local people and businesses, has received strong support in public consultations and was renewed from 1 November 2021 for a further three years.
You can view a map of the area in which the following activities are prohibited:
- Acting or inciting others to act in a manner that causes, or is likely to cause, harassment alarm or distress to any person.
- Threatening any person with violence and/or being verbally abusive towards any person.
- Begging or asking members of the public for money or loitering for the purpose of begging or asking members of the public for money.
- Causing a motor vehicle or trailer to stand on a road and/or footpath so as to cause any unnecessary obstruction of the road and/or footpath.
Authorised council officers (e.g. environmental protection officers), police and police community support officers can enforce the PSPO.
People breaching the PSPO face a fixed penalty notice of up to £100 or a fine of up to £1,000 on prosecution.
Nitrous Oxide
A Boroughwide PSPO relating to Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas) was introduced on 1 December 2021.
Nitrous oxide is recognised as a public health risk. Its use is particularly prevalent amongst young adults and is closely linked to anti-social behaviour. The litter caused by discarded nitrous oxide canisters is also a borough-wide issue. The discarded empty canisters both litter areas and pose risks to children, the wider public, wildlife and council employees when they get entangled in grass cutting machinery.
In response to residents’ concerns and to provide us with powers to address this issue, Sandwell Council's cabinet agreed on 3 November 2021 to proposals to introduce a PSPO on the inappropriate possession of nitrous oxide.
The PSPO makes it an offence for any person, when requested by an authorised officer, not to surrender any nitrous oxide canisters, with effect from 1 December 2021 for a period of three years. The PSPO is intended to help combat crime and anti-social behaviour in the borough and support public health.
Non-compliance can result in a person being issued with a fixed penalty notice of up to £100. Failure to pay can result in a prosecution with a maximum penalty of £1,000.
On 8 November 2023 the law changed and possession of nitrous oxide is now a criminal offence.
Mount Pleasant Street/Lyng Lane
A PSPO restricting travel along the footpath of 20-30 metres length located 5 metres north west of the rear curtilage of 22 Newhall Street, West Bromwich (E: 400330.76, N: 290687.68) and terminating at the footpaths junction at Lyng Lane (E: 400305.30, N: 290683.31), was introduced on 6 November 2020, as shown on the PSPO order and plan.
Gating orders
As of 20 October 2017, existing gating orders became PSPOs.