Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO)
Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) are intended to deal with persistent anti-social behaviour in a local area that is detrimental to the community's quality of life. They do so by imposing conditions on the use of that area to ensure everyone can enjoy public spaces without experiencing nuisance and annoyance.
Given the wide ranging scope of a PSPO, they are used sparingly and only after every other option has been exhausted. Breach of a PSPO is a criminal offence subject to a fine on conviction of up to £1,000 however, where possible a warning will first be issued before the issuing of a fixed penalty notice (FPN).
Payment of the FPN discharges liability to conviction of the offence. The council works in partnership with the police to ensure the effective enforcement of PSPOs in Westminster.
Current PSPO consultations
We are currently consulting on three PSPOs:
- On-street ASB in South Westminster
- Expanding the nuisance vehicle PSPO to cover a wider area; and
- Problematic behaviours associated with Pedicabs
On-Street ASB
Between February and April 2025, we published a call for evidence on the ASB issues impacting people who live, visit, or work in South Westminster, and sought people's views on the types of behaviours that were causing them, and whether they would support a PSPO that aimed to tackle them. Following that call for evidence, we are launching a two-week consultation on a draft PSPO to restrict specific anti-social behaviours in this area. You can respond to the consultation at:
On-street ASB PSPO Consultation | Commonplace
This consultation will be open from Friday 20 June 2025, to Sunday 6 July 2025, with a decision expected by late July 2025.
In addition to the PSPO consultation, we are also expanding the scope of our call for evidence to invite people who live, visit, or work in Westminster, to provide feedback on the on-street ASB issues that impact them anywhere in the borough, not just in the South of Westminster. You can provide feedback at:
Have Your Say Today - Anti-Social Behaviour Call For Evidence - Commonplace
Expanded Nuisance Vehicles Order
When we consulted on renewing the nuisance vehicle order in June 2024, we invited feedback on a handful of areas where we had received complaints about similar issues, but which weren't within the boundary of the PSPO. After reviewing that feedback, we are launching a two-week consultation on expanding the nuisance vehicle order to cover a wider area. You can respond to the consultation at:
Expanding the Nuisance Vehicles PSPO | Commonplace
This consultation will be open from Friday 20 June 2025, to Sunday 6 July 2025, with a decision expected by late July 2025.
Pedicabs
The number of pedicabs operating in Westminster has increased significantly over recent years, alongside complaints over certain aspects of their use. While Transport for London (TfL) are consulting on a licensing scheme to regulate pedicabs in the City, the council is consulting on interim measures to address the most problematic behaviours that people who live, visit, or work in the area, have raised. You can respond to the consultation at:
This consultation will be open from Friday 20 June 2025, to Sunday 20 July 2025, with a decision expected by late August 2025.
Active PSPOs
There are four, active PSPOs in Westminster covering:
- Responsible dog ownership
- Street drinking
- Street gambling; and
- Nuisance vehicles
Dog control
The City of Westminster Dog Control PSPO excludes dogs from a small number of restricted areas in the city.
It places a requirement for dogs to be on leads at all times or when directed in others, and makes dog fouling an offence anywhere in Westminster.
This order was renewed on 25 June 2024 with new areas added and subject to specific requirements. It is due to expire on 24 June 2027 unless extended.
Street drinking
The City of Westminster Controlled Drinking Zone (CDZ) PSPO does not ban street drinking, but makes it an offence for anyone who, without reasonable excuse, fails to surrender any alcohol in their possession when asked to do so by a police officer, police community support officer, or authorised person from the council.
This order is due to expire on 24 June 2027 unless extended.
Street gambling
The City of Westminster (Westminster and Golden Jubilee Bridges) PSPO makes it an offence to carry out street gambling, or to assist others to, on and around Westminster and Golden Jubilee Bridges.
This order is due to expire on 19 December 2025 unless extended.
Nuisance from vehicles
The Nuisance from vehicles Public Spaces Protection Order 2024 makes it an offence to carry out a number of anti-social activities related to vehicles in the designated area between Midnight and 6am. Please see the order below for full details of the restrictions in place and the area covered.
This order is due to expire on 30 December 2027 unless extended.
How to pay a PSPO fixed penalty notice
You can pay your PSPO fixed penalty notice online or phone: 020 7641 2210 between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday.
Please input your reference number and amount due as stated on the letter when paying the fine to ensure that the payment is allocated to the appropriate case.
