Autumn 2023 consultation
- Nuisance drinking
- Dog mess
- BBQs and fires on public land
Visit our consultation hub to have your say on how we tackle these issues in Sandwell by taking part in our Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) consultation.
The consultation runs until 16 November 2023.
Current PSPO orders
Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) cover a range of issues.
Dog fouling
This PSPO covers the whole of Sandwell and requires a person in charge of a dog to pick up the dog's mess.
If the person fails to comply with the PSPO, they face a £100 fixed penalty or prosecution with a maximum penalty of £1,000.
Alcohol
This PSPO 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 fixed penalty or prosecution with a maximum penalty of £500.
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 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.
It is not illegal to possess nitrous oxide and it can be purchased legitimately. However, it is illegal to sell or give away to someone who wants to use it for its psychoactive effects.
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.
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.
More information on these orders