Council reconsiders antisocial behaviour clampdown

A plan to crack down on public urination, riding bikes or scooters on pavements and lighting fireworks in restricted spaces will be reconsidered by a north London council.

Haringey Council approved a public spaces protection order (PSPO) in December but its overview and scrutiny committee voted to refer the decision back to cabinet on Tuesday.

Breaching a PSPO is punishable by a fixed penalty notice of £100 but can reach up to £1,000 if the case goes to court.

Jon Glackin, the founder of Streets Kitchen, a grassroots organisation that supports those experiencing homelessness, made a deputation and called the orders "a bad thing".

He said he had witnessed the impact of PSPOs in other boroughs including "Hackney and Camden" and described it as "very negative".

Mr Glackin said if the "same ambition" to introduce and implement the PSPO was put into combating rough sleeping the borough would see improvements.

Committee member Lester Buxton asked how frequently Mr Glackin came across unverified homeless people and to provide examples of why they were unverified.

Mr Glackin said: "In order to be verified you have to be spotted by an outreach worker and my problem is that there aren't enough outreach workers."

He said government cuts to funding were responsible but added a "mistrust" of outreach workers and the implementations of PSPOs made it "even harder" to be verified.

While acknowledging the "devastating" impact of anti-social behaviour (ASB) councillor Tammy Hymas, the lead signatory, said: "My contention with the PSPO is not sufficient evidence has been offered to demonstrate that they will reduce the number or severity of ASB incidents in the borough.

"Therefore I think the significant risk of harm that PSPOs are likely to cause to marginalised members of our community cannot be justified."

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