Community safety partners welcome new measures to tackle town centre ASB

Article date: 9 June 2025

Called a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) and authorised under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, these measures allow councils to set conditions on the use of identified public spaces and grant greater powers of police enforcement to address persistent anti-social behaviour and related issues within them.

With visible signage now in place explaining what can be considered a violation of the order, the PSPO is live and enforceable.

Responding last year to numerous reports of persistent anti-social behaviour in St Helens Town Centre, the council carried out a survey with residents and businesses to gather views about the issue and possible solutions, including the potential for a PSPO.

With survey respondents overwhelmingly in favour of a PSPO, and backing from community safety partners including Merseyside Police, Cabinet approved the measures in April this year.

The PSPO's restricted area covers locations where ASB has been consistently reported including Victoria Square and Lowe House Church, and extends as far south as the Cannington Roundabout, north to the boundary of Moss Bank Ward and covering parts of Windle Ward, east past the rail line towards Fingerpost, and west to include the Linkway West retail park. 

People found to be in breach of the restrictions can be asked to leave the area and not return for 24 hours. 

Officers may issue a fixed penalty notice to anyone they believe has committed an offence. A person committing an offence will have 14 days to pay the fixed penalty notice of £100, failing which they may be prosecuted.

Councillor Trisha Long, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, said: "The impact of alcohol-related anti-social behaviour as a result of street drinking in St Helens Town Centre is unacceptable and, with the feedback from residents, businesses and partners, plain to see.

"Now enforceable with the backing of Merseyside Police, this Public Space Protection Order will help officers to prevent anti-social behaviour and deal effectively with the issues we're seeing. We'll do everything we can to make sure St Helens Town Centre is a safe and welcoming experience for everyone who lives, works or visits here." 

Inspector Tara Smith of the Neighbourhood Policing Team at St Helens said: "We're pleased that the PSPO for St Helens town centre is now live. Our collaborative work to build a strong evidence base through public consultation shows overwhelming support from both residents and local businesses for these new measures.

"Now the PSPO is implemented, we will be robust in our approach to enforcement. The PSPO gives us additional powers to tackle anti-social behaviour in the town centre, and we ask the local community to help by being vigilant and reporting any anti-social behaviour occurring in the town centre.

"Together, with the support of St Helens Borough Council and ongoing commitment of our community partners we can help make St Helens a safe and pleasant place for residents and visitors to enjoy."

To report anti-social behaviour, contact Merseyside Police on the non-emergency line 101. Always call 999 in an emergency or if a crime is in progress.