Sheffield city centre order breaches halve as support approach wins praise

Recorded breaches of Sheffield’s city centre public spaces protection order have halved, while organisations supporting people experiencing street homelessness have praised its emphasis on helping vulnerable people.

According to The Star, figures for the order’s first 18 months show a monthly average of 186 breaches after the initial six-month period, when the average was 381. Sheffield City Council’s communities, parks and leisure policy committee discussed the figures on Monday 2 November.

Councillor Joe Otten welcomed the reduction as evidence that the order was working. However, councillors also raised concerns that some anti-social behaviour could be moving elsewhere and requested further investigation.

Support alongside enforcement

Advice and support were provided on 895 occasions. Organisations working with people experiencing street homelessness praised the approach in a letter to the Central Neighbourhood Policing Team, saying attention to safeguarding alongside public protection helped their work and strengthened trust.

Councillor Marieanne Elliot, responding to Councillor Otten’s question about Green councillors’ opposition to the order, said she remained opposed in principle. She said work to shape it towards support rather than harsher measures remained important, with support her priority.

People were directed to leave the area covered by the order on 1,639 occasions. Alcohol was confiscated 166 times and drugs 54 times, while 358 notices warning of intended action were issued.

No fixed penalty notices had been issued, but six cases had reached court, resulting in fines totalling £2,384. The committee heard that around 20 further court cases were in the pipeline.

Loitering accounted for the most recorded breaches, ahead of aggressive begging, alcohol possession and drug possession. Public urination or defecation accounted for the fewest.

Source: The Star