Plan to extend Public Space Protection Orders in Wakefield city centre
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Wakefield Council is set to strengthen its commitment to tackling anti-social behaviour by extending the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in Wakefield city centre.
“Everyone should feel safe in their local community. We won’t tolerate behaviour that harms our residents, businesses or visitors. That’s why we’re working hard with local partners to tackle anti-social behaviour.
“The Public Spaces Protection Order is not about stopping activities that many of us enjoy, it’s about addressing persistent issues such as street drinking, drug use and erratic behaviour that negatively impact public spaces.”
Cllr Daniel Wilton
Cabinet Member for Communities
The PSPO gives Wakefield Council and West Yorkshire Police additional powers to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice, of up to £100, in specific circumstances, including:
- Refusing to stop drinking or surrender alcohol in controlled drinking zones
- Breaching conditions of an existing PSPO
Cabinet members will decide at their next meeting if they will continue with the city centre PSPO for another three years, widen the geographical area it covers and introduce new prohibitions to deal with a wider range of anti-social behaviours.
This includes not behaving in a manner that causes harassment, alarm, distress nuisance or annoyance. And not begging within 10 metres of a cash or payment machine or approach any person to beg for money.
The report, before Cabinet, also recommends extending it to include more of the city centre after evidence was found that the area around the Westgate Leisure and Retail Park was being used by people drinking alcohol, leading to anti-social behaviour.
West Yorkshire Police support the extension of the current PSPO for another three years.
In 2024-25, the Council successfully applied for 32 Criminal Behaviour Orders. Maintained four Public Spaces Protection Orders across the district. And issued 164 fixed penalty notices for anti-social and nuisance behaviour.
The Council are also reviewing the powers available to tackle aggressive begging, substance misuse, and anti-social gatherings. And will use the full extent of the PSPO to ensure people feel safer.
A decision will be made at the next Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 18 November. It starts at 10.30am and can be watched live or later on the Council’s website.