Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs)

Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) are designed to tackle anti-social behaviour or activities in a specified location which are negatively affecting a community. 

PSPOs impose conditions and restrictions on people using a regulated area, and give the police and local authority additional powers to deal with certain activities.

• PSPOs in Adur
• PSPOs in Worthing
• Penalties for breaching a PSPO
• PSPO enforcement

PSPOs in Adur

The following PSPOs are in place in certain locations in Adur (maps are in the attached PDFs):

Dog Control

Details of Dog Control PSPOs are available on our Controlling your dog in public page.

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PSPOs in Worthing

The following PSPOs are in place in certain locations in Worthing (maps are in the attached PDFs):

Dog Control

Details of Dog Control PSPOs are available on our Controlling your dog in public page.

Public drinking

Alcohol fuelled anti-social behaviour has increasingly become an issue in Worthing town centre in recent years, with a significant impact on local residents and businesses. 

Under the PSPO it is not an offence to drink alcohol in public in the designated area, but it is an offence to refuse to comply with a request by an authorised officer to stop drinking or surrender alcohol. 

• Worthing Borough Council, PSPO 2022 Number 1 - Public Drinking (1,299KB)

Unauthorised overnight camping 

Unauthorised overnight camping can lead to anti-social behaviour, littering, inappropriate disposal of waste and damage to facilities. All of this has a negative impact on residents and the local environment.

• Worthing Borough Council, PSPO 2022 Number 3 - Overnight Camping (1,255KB)

Adur & Worthing Councils have many services in place to help support people living on the streets in our community. For more information please see:

• How we help rough sleepers

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Penalties for breaching a PSPO

Anyone who breaches a PSPO can be issued with a fine, or Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN).

If the fine is not paid and a court summons is issued, a fine of up to £500 may apply.

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PSPO enforcement

PSPOs can be enforced by police officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and any officer designated by Adur & Worthing Councils. 

These officers have been trained to ensure that orders are enforced in a fair and proportionate way, and to identify when someone may be vulnerable or in need of additional support. In these instances officers will liaise with the relevant support agencies to work with the individual concerned.

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