Peterborough City Council in Cambridgeshire is asking residents for feedback on a proposal to extend the City Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for a further three years. The plan would keep restrictions on behaviours such as street drinking, littering, spitting and public urination in parts of the city centre — including Bridge Street and the Cathedral Precincts — in place through to May 2029.
Under the PSPO, authorised officers — including council Prevention & Enforcement officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and Police Constables — can issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) of £100 for breaches such as spitting, urinating in public or aggressive begging. The council’s PSPO guidance also notes that, in some cases, breaches can result in prosecution, with a maximum fine of £1,000. The Peterborough City Council Engagement Hub is hosting the public consultation and survey on the proposed City Centre PSPO.
The council says the measure forms part of wider work to improve the city centre’s appearance, safety and economic prospects and sits alongside the ‘Shaping the Future of Peterborough City Centre’ programme. The city’s regeneration page lists a parallel public survey on the ‘Shaping the Future’ work.
The public consultation on the City Centre PSPO is reported on the council’s consultation pages as running until Friday 28 February 2026; if approved, the re‑implemented order is expected to come into effect in May 2026 and run for three years to May 2029. Note: there are differing date listings on various council pages and consultation documents — reporters should link to and cite the active engagement-hub consultation page when publishing.
The council’s PSPO guidance also says officers will generally avoid issuing fines to people who are genuinely homeless and will instead offer support and referrals to housing services.
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