Council at risk of legal challenge over plans to extend crackdown on anti-social behaviour

Lawyers at human rights group Liberty have objected to the extension of a Public Space Protection Order in the area which they say ‘criminalises people for being poor’.

Some of the measures the council wants to extend are bans on loitering around pay machines, drinking alcohol in a public place other than a licensed premises, asking the public for money and taking drugs.

The campaign group said the proposed blanket ban on begging will ‘target vulnerable members of society with financial penalties they cannot afford’ which will result in them being ‘unreasonably criminalised’ for non-payment.

They also noted that the council could be liable to a legal challenge after they represented a resident in Dorset in an appeal to the High Court against a similar order brought in by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

This action prompted council officers to recommend removing the conditions relating to begging and rough sleeping.

The PSPO was first introduced in 2017 under huge public pressure to tackle anti-social behaviour from a number of rough sleepers in the town centre. It expires at the end of 2020 and the council is asking residents and groups to comment on the proposals.

Liberty lawyer Lara ten Caten said: “If you become homeless, your local council should be trying to offer support and help, not targeting you with fines you can’t possibly pay.

“Public Spaces Protection Orders do not ‘protect’ the public from homeless people – they criminalise people for being poor.

“Doncaster Council must be honest with residents about its plans and questions in the consultation should be clear and cover the whole PSPO. The council should not hide parts of these proposals from residents then use their apparent support to justify cruel measures against rough sleepers.”

Doncaster Council in response said they welcomed the submission from the group and urged residents and businesses to respond to the consultation.Details of how you can access the survey and more information about what Doncaster Council is proposing can be found here www.doncaster.gov.uk/towncentrePSPO